The Ravens are in the playoffs, by hook, crook, or CH-47 Chinook. Thusly, we have to consider this season a relative success.

We’re not Yankee Fans. I digress.

The insufferability of any insufferable fan base, be them Yankee baseball, Duke basketball, or Virginia lacrosse is that they have expectations. Being a fan, technically, should involve no expectations. Think about it: every single year, without fail, half of the NFL’s playoff field drops out the following season. This year, the Dolphins, Steelers, Titans, Giants, Panthers, and Falcons were replaced by the Pats, Bengals, Jets, Saints, Cowboys and Packers. Every single year this happens. What makes this year especially brutal is that all four of the bye week teams – the top seeds in each conference – failed to get in.

They all had expectations.

The Giants had the best running game in the league, with a killer defensive line and a 5-0 start. The Falcons and Dolphins were surprise-story darlings that had massively improved. The Titans lost only Albert Haynesworth from the best team in football. The Steelers really thought they could repeat, returning absolutely everyone. The Panthers were probably less optimistic with Jake Delhomme under center.

John Harbaugh vowed to turn the Ravens into the league’s next great dynasty. Granted, he probably wasn’t talking about overnight. But if you want to talk about progress, he’s led his team to the playoffs two out of two seasons. All you have to do is get in and you’re doing the right thing (unless you’re Marty Schottenheimer). The only time the Ravens have done it was when the greatest defense of all time was still intact. The Bills (10 years), Lions (10), Texans (8), Browns (7), Niners (7), Raiders (7), Rams (5), Broncos (4), Chiefs (3), Bears (3), Redskins (2), Bucs (2), Seahawks (2), and Jags (2) all have zero post season appearances since the Ravens have had two.

The team has flaws – an erratic passing game and suspect secondary – but what team doesn’t?

- Indianapolis can’t run the ball.
- San Diego is softer than Simba.
- The Pats just lost their slot receiver/returner/running game replacement.
- Cincinnati peaked around Halloween.
- The Jets have a rookie quarterback who can’t play when it’s cold.

And that’s just the AFC.

You never know what’s going to happen, unless of course you’re Pittsburgh, and you know when your tee-time is. --- MIKE ROSOLIO.