Will History Repeat Itself

The Playoff Stars are Beginning to Align For the Ravens

Recently I had the opportunity to be the guest speaker for Ravens Nest 1 in Bel Air, MD. Among the things we discussed were the similarities of Ravens’ playoff teams of the past. Clearly there’s a style of play, a pattern of success that aligns with the franchise’s battle tested credos and philosophies about winning football. And this edition of the Ravens, just feels right. It feels like things are aligning.

To drive the point home, let’s take a short stroll down memory lane…

Back in 2006, the (13-3) Ravens closed the season in dominant fashion. They were on a roll and at the time seemed like the most balanced squad in team history. Offensively they were led by Steve McNair and Jamal Lewis while the team’s defense set statistical records, some of which still hold up. That playoff team was the AFC’s No. 2 seed, yet they proceeded to soil the bed at home against the Colts in the Divisional Round, losing 15-6.

In 2019, the Ravens looked like juggernauts, finishing the season at (14-2) and they were the top-seeded playoff team. But they seemed to lose their mojo during the playoff bye week and lost at home to the Titans in the Divisional Round by the score of 28-12.

Fast forward to 2023, when once again the Ravens were the No. 1 seed, finishing (13-4). Many starters rested during Week 17 and just like in 2019, it was nearly 3 weeks since the first units competed at game speed. And although the Ravens did win in the Divisional Round, 34-10 over the Houston Texans, they started very slowly in the first half. Eventually they lost to the Chiefs at home then next week by the score of 17-10 in the AFC Championship Game.

Historically, bye weeks seem to disrupt the Ravens momentum. It’s difficult to say exactly why. You might think that a healthy, rested team might perform better but that hasn’t been the case. At least not for the Ravens. That said, a relatively healthy Ravens team with no downtime and one that can immediately carry momentum into the postseason, is a better playoff team. History supports that notion:

• In 2000 the Ravens won their first playoff game at home and the next two on the road on their way to a Super Bowl 35 win while scoring 34 points. They were led by a 28-year-old quarterback named Trent Dilfer.

• In 2012, 12 years later, the Ravens won their first playoff game at home and the next two on the road on their way to a Super Bowl 47 win while scoring 34 points. They were led by a 28-year-old quarterback named Joe Flacco.

• In 2024, 12 years later, the Ravens won their first play game at home, led by a 28-year-old quarterback named Lamar Jackson. To earn a Super Bowl berth, they will likely have to win two games on the road.

• Super Bowl 59 will be played in New Orleans. The last time the Crescent City hosted the big game was during Super Bowl 47 when the lights went out for…34 minutes, adding even more intrigue to the 12/28/34 club.

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Syzygy: In astronomy, the term for when three or more celestial bodies are aligned in a straight line.

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At the start of each season beginning in training camp, you’ll hear many players fight through the summer rigors with the rallying cry, “Embrace the grind”. Maybe it’s just part of the team’s DNA to do things the hard way. Maybe that galvanizes them. As fans of the team, it should galvanize us too.

Embrace the history – the playoff history.

Don’t be shy! Be bold!

Three more wins. Syzygy!

Speak them into existence – silly superstitions be damned!

Ladies and gentlemen, the stars are aligning…

[Bold Predictions: Ravens at Bills]

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Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/01/18/lombardis-way/playoff-stars-align-syzygy/