No Ray Lewis, no leader for Baltimore Ravens?

You know, I kind of got on Ray Lewis case earlier this season when the former BaltimoreRavens superstar commented on his former team now lacking the locker room leadership that he and Ed reed provided a year ago en route to the second Super Bowl title in franchise history.

Now, after seeing the Raven’s regular season, I’ve changed my mind and am in full agreement with Lewis’ assertion weeks ago. Clearly, this is a Ravens team in desperate need for leadership, particularly from inconsistent (again) quarterback Joe Flacco.

Baltimore paid its strong-armed signal-caller like an elite quarterback, but it’s clear to me that Flacco is more of a second-tier star than a flat-out superstar.

Whether you love him or loathe him, there’s no denying the Ravens’ are missing the kind of leadership Lewis provided his entire career in Baltimore.

Do the Ravens have a team leader? Is Joe Flacco an elite quarterback? Weigh in with your comments Eye n Sports fans and let me know!

Brady, Pats, treat Ravens like patsies!

I know the Baltimore Ravens have been an up-and-down roller-coaster ride of a team all season long after winning last season’s Super Bowl title, but I’m still surprised at the ease with which Tom Brady and the New England Patriots laid the smack down on Baltimore in what was a virtual must-win game for the defending champs.

The Pats treated the inconsistent Ravens like an afterthought in their emphatic 41-7 Week 16 blowout, leaving no doubt in my mind that the Ravens rare nothing more than mere patsies this season whether they reach the postseason or not. 

Manning to Broncos doesn’t ensure anything!

Baltimore middle linebacker Ray Lewis.

Maybe it’s me Eye On Sports NFL football lovers, but I’m just not a huge believer that Peyton Manning is instantly going to turn the Denver Broncos into a legitimate Super Bowl title contender.

Yes, I know that playing in the mediocre AFC West will give him a chance to lead Denver to a division title and playoff berth every season, but I say it still doesn’t guarantee the Broncos much of anything – mostly because they’ll be trying to get past a trio of ‘better’ teams in New England, Baltimore and Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu.

Besides, the aforementioned trio I also expect Houston and Cincinnati to be better than the Broncos moving forward into the next couple of seasons, with both teams having excellent defenses and very solid quarterbacks.

Hell, you also never know what the AFC West is going to bring each season – as Kansas City, San Diego and Oakland are all teams that could challenge for the division title.

While Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos does make them a lot better on offense than they were a year ago, it certainly doesn’t ensure them of winning the AFC or a Super Bowl title. As a matter of fact, I believe Denver will be hard-pressed to win the AFC each and every season Manning remains with the Broncos.

Ed Reed Tellin’ It Like it T-I Tis!

Daaaaaamn, Eye On Sports football lovers!

On Monday, Baltimore Ravens future Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed told satellite radio listeners just what he thought of quarterback Joe Flacco’s performance against the Houston Texans in the team’s hard-fought 20-13 win on Sunday – and it mirrors my thoughts exactly.

Here’s what Reed told reporters on Monday.

"I think Joe was kind of rattled a little bit by (Houston's) defense," Reed said on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Monday. "(The Texans) had a lot of guys in the box on him. And, I mean, they were getting to him. I think a couple times he needed to get rid of the ball. I don't know how much of the play-calling ... but it just didn't look like he had a hold on the offense. ... It was just kind of like (Baltimore's coaches) was telling him to do, throw the ball or get it here, you know, get it to certain guys. And he can't play like that."

Flacco completed just 14 of 27 passes for 176 yards, though he did throw two TD passes in the narrow win. Baltimore generated just 109 yards of offense after halftime – and if you ask me – I agree with Reed – Joe Flacco looked absolutely scared to me throughout much of the game – and at this point, I’m just not too sure he’s capable of being a prime time leader.

In spite of having one of the biggest arms in the game today, Flacco has the look of a quarterback that just wants to manage the game – not go out and win it!

Baltimore Back in Big Dance?

The Baltimore Ravens are just one step away from making their second Super Bowl appearance and first since winning it all in 2001, thanks to a likely touchdown-saving interception by Ed Reed late in regulation. The Ravens took out a very good Houston Texans team and their shockingly good rookie quarterback T.J. Yates, but they’ll face a far different beast when they battle Tom Brady and the Patriots next weekend - and I'm not too sure that often-inconsistent quarterback Joe Flacco has what it takes to lead this team to the promised land.