As the Ravens prepare for the stretch run, they have two major concerns heading into the final four regular-season games.
If the Ravens want to become nearly unbeatable in the AFC, they have to score more touchdowns inside the red zone instead of kicking field goals.
And they have to improve their play in the secondary.
It's not that the Ravens are giving up tons of yardage. After all, they are No. 5 in pass defense allowing an average of 198.6 yards a game.
But since the Ravens lost to Seattle nearly a month ago, there have been numerous breakdowns in the secondary, some exploited and some not.
It's just not physical mistakes, either. The Ravens are simply losing guys in coverage. It happened against Seattle. It happened against Cincinnati and San Francisco. Shoot, they lost Cleveland running back Peyton Hillis for a 52-yard reception a week ago, and then were confused on Evan Moore's 22-yard touchdown reception later in the game.
It's OK to have breakdowns when the competition is below par. But when the competition is quarterback Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger or Aaron Rodgers, the Ravens will pay.
It's clear that cornerback Cary Williams has to step up his game. Fellow cornerback Lardarius Webb is playing extremely well, so the opposition will go after Williams. Rookie cornerback Jimmy Smith has also been on the tail end of busted coverages.
The Ravens thought he would be able to overcome his mistakes by late in the season, but he is behind after missing nearly five straight games with a high ankle sprain.
More TDs, less FGs
Of 41 possessions inside the opponents' 20-yard line, the Ravens have scored just 19 touchdowns, and kicked 18 field goals. That will produce a lot of wins during the regular season, but that won't succeed in the post season.
We've seen this before. Following the 2006 regular season, the Ravens lost a playoff game to Indianapolis 15-6 and the Ravens held quarterback Peyton Manning and the Colts without a touchdown.
"Oh, in January of 2007," said Suggs. "Not giving up a touchdown and still losing. I think a lot of us felt like that was a big year for us, but it was their year — we were wrong."
If the Ravens don't start scoring more touchdowns, it could be another team's year again.
"If there are little windows, then believe me, we take the chance and throw them in there because we have guys who can go up and make the plays," said Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. "We ran a couple plays on the goal line and down in the red zone in Cleveland, and there really wasn't anything there to take.
"And if you try to force balls in there, then you're pretty much going to throws picks or balls that should be picks."
Keeping quiet
Sometimes, there is just as much pressure playing a winless team as an undefeated one. If the Ravens were playing Pittsburgh Sunday, there would be a lot of yapping in a high energy locker room.
The Ravens aren't talking a lot this week. They'd prefer not to wake up Indianapolis (0-12). The Ravens have been in this situation before, and they lost to Miami 22-16 in overtime in 2007.
Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron was the Miami head coach.
"I am going to be totally honest with you. Yeah, because I lost to an O-fer team," said Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs of his fear of playing a winless team. He remembers the loss to the Dolphins. "A little slant route got us. This is the NFL and they are professionals and we expect them to line up and come up in here and play. They are just as big a threat to us as if we were playing anybody else.
"There was just so much going on. I think that game actually got our coach fired. I think that was the nail in the coffin. "
Enough about injuries
Okay, my media brethren, let's skip the questions about whether the win against Indianapolis will lose its luster because Manning isn't the quarterback.
I can't take them any longer.
This is the NFL and injuries are a part of the game. I could care less if Manning plays. I don't care if Ray Lewis plays. It's getting late in the season and there is a good battle going on for a first-round bye and home-field advantage in the post season.
So if the Ravens make it to the Super Bowl without playing against Manning, Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady, there will be no one crying over at The Castle.
As the late Al Davis would say, "Just win baby."
Fumbling problem?
Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney says the Colts haven't focused on Flacco's fumbling problem, but it's clear that they have. Flacco has fumbled 11 times this season, losing six.
"Not really any more than anyone else," said Freeney of paying attention to Flacco's fumble-itis. "That's the way we go about going after the quarterback, regardless of who is back there. Maybe Flacco has a lit bit more tendency to fumble, but that doesn't change our process."
Yeah, right. Note to Flacco: tuck the ball.
Patience wearing thin?
Ravens coach John Harbaugh cut placekicker Billy Cundiff some slack last week after he missed two field goals against Cleveland, but that won't happen again.
If Cundiff continues to miss, he'll be replaced. Few coaches and even fewer teammates have patience with a kicker. They only have one job, and that's to kick the ball regardless of the weather or playing conditions.
Running cold
When it comes to late season and cold weather, few teams have been as successful running the ball at the Ravens under Harbaugh since 2008.
Since then, the Ravens have averaged 161.8 yards a game in December/January, good for the NFL's second best average.