Football in Baltimore jumps off to exciting start

Baltimore’s other birds, the Ravens, have jumped off to a great start in 2014. Posting a 4-2 record, the team has crushed opponents with very convincing wins over the Steelers, Panthers, and Buccaneers.
Quarterback Joe Flacco has thrown for over 1500 yards in just six games and 12 touchdowns, with only three interceptions. Helping Flacco out is new receiver Steve Smith. Acquired in free agency over the off season, Steve Smith has averaged over 16 yards per catch. When facing his former team, the Carolina Panthers, Smith posted 139 yards receiving and scored two touchdowns. Obviously still angry about being cut by the team even after calling Carolina home for more than 13 years, Smith had this to say about facing his former team.
“That film was a coaching session,” Smith said. “I’m 35 years old and I ran around them boys like they was schoolyard children.”
Baltimore faced many distractions at the beginning of the 2014 season. One of their leaders, Ray Rice, was forced off of the team and, for now, out of the league for a scandal involving his wife in an Atlantic City hotel. Through this, the team managed to focus on football, rallying behind new running backs, Justin Forsett and Lorenzo Taliaferro, and keeping the ball moving on the ground.

The Ravens also had to deal with losing key tight end Dennis Pitta to a severe hip injury that might take a serious toll on his career. Owen Daniels, a new target for Flacco, was picked up after being a pro-bowler as a Houston Texan and is filling the TE spot for Pitta.
The defense is also playing well. Rookie C.J. Mosely drafted out of Alabama, leads the team in tackles and provides a presence in the middle that the team hasn’t had since Ray Lewis retired two years ago.
Throughout six games, the team is in first place in the AFC North, looking to win the divisions for the first time since 2012, when the Ravens took home the Super bowl Championship. The Bengals won the division in 2013 while the Ravens sat out of the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
Fans are excited about the season ahead, and many people believe that this team could make a Super bowl run just like the team did in 2012.