Coming off a 2-2 preseason, the reigning Super Bowl champs kicked off the season on Thursday, September 5ht in Denver against Peyton Manning’s Broncos. The expectation was for a good game, the Ravens entered the day as underdogs, but many Baltimore fans were still expecting to pull out a win.

     The NFL season did not kick off until 9:14 eastern time, due to lightning in Denver. The atmosphere was very different then the travel to Denver last year, where the Ravens pulled the upset over Denver in the snow. The game however, didn’t quite go as planned.

     The Ravens defense was picked apart by Peyton Manning, who threw for seven touchdowns and two to his new receiver Wes Welker. The Ravens offense stalled with Ray Rice only rushing for 36 yards. Denver turned it into a blowout, winning 49-27. Perhaps the bigger loss of the night was the injury of Ravens receiver/returner Jacoby Jones. Jones exited the game early, with an MCL sprain that he suffered during a return on Thursday night. Jones will not be playing for 4-6 weeks.

      Super Bowl XLVII MVP Joe Flacco kicked off his season with a bang, the Baltimore quarterback has already thrown for 573 yards this season, only through two games.  Week two however, played out a little differently for the Ravens. Charm City hosted the Cleveland Browns in Baltimore’s home opener.

     With over 71,000 fans in attendance, the Ravens unleashed the super bowl banner in the stadium. The Ravens started the game out slow, kicker Justin Tucker missed two field goals and running back Ray Rice had an early fumble. At half time Cleveland led, 6-0. Many Ravens fans were disappointed in the start.

     “We look just like the 2000 team, no offense,” says Junior Evan Seigel. Even without offense, Baltimore fans would love for the Ravens to look like the 2000 team, with the 2000 season also ending in a super bowl championship. After half time, the Ravens started to look more like super bowl champs. Baltimore took the lead midway through the third quarter. Bernard Pierce capped off a long Ravens drive with a five yard run into the end zone, and shortly after Flacco hit wide receiver Marlon Brown for 14 yards and a TD. Freshman Jack Stinar said “I really loved watching Joe Flacco put the team on his back and win the game again.”

      Rice however, left the game early due to what has now been confirmed as a strained hip flexor, and word has not been released on his return. Baltimore needs to get healthy, through two games of the season the Ravens offense has been really banged up. The team already lost two offensive starters, both big weapons for Flacco. Young talent has stepped up however; running back Pierce and receiver Brown both have touchdowns to their names. Many carries are now left to Pierce, who has rushed for 79 yards through two games.