What they're saying about the Ravens - Media roundup

Here's a look at recent media coverage of the Ravens:

• ESPN.com's James Walker reports on performance-based bonuses for Joe Flacco and says the rookie quarterback will receive $200,000 for each postseason victory.The rookie first-round pick recently earned an additional $3 million in bonuses from the Ravens based on his first-year performance with the team. Flacco recently eclipsed a huge playing-time escalator in his contract of participating in 80 percent of Baltimore's snaps as a rookie. He will have $750,000 added to his base salary in the remaining four years of his contract.Flacco signed an incentive-laden, five-year deal worth up to $30 million in July, but this was one clause few anticipated him earning. Baltimore's plan was to bring him along slowly and either play him later in the season or next year.

But preseason ailments to Kyle Boller (shoulder) and Troy Smith (viral infection) gave Flacco the starting quarterback job by attrition at the beginning of the year. He had been lagging behind as the third quarterback in training camp up until that point.


• On ESPN.com's AFC North blog, Walker looks at two key factors facing the Ravens in the regular-season finale, including the potential of an upset by the Jacksonville Jaguars.Surely, Baltimore is a better team than the Jaguars. The Ravens have won four of their last five and are coming off the biggest win of the season against the Dallas Cowboys. But Jacksonville at times has shown flashes of last year's team that won a round in the playoffs. The Jaguars beat both the Indianapolis Colts (11-4) and Denver Broncos (8-7) this season, but they've also lost eight of their last 10.


• Mike Reiss of The Boston Globe breaks down the three games in Week 17 with implications for the AFC's last wild-card berth, including the matchup between the Ravens and Jaguars at M&T Bank Stadium. While the Jaguars headed in the wrong direction, the Ravens (5-11 a season ago) have rediscovered their defensive mojo in an impressive turnaround under first-year coach John Harbaugh. They rank third in fewest points allowed (15.8 per game), and coordinator Rex Ryan brings pressure from all angles. Offensively, rookie quarterback Joe Flacco has been at the controls from the get-go for an attack that is defined by power running. LeRon McClain has assumed the lead duties (832 yards), with Willis McGahee (647) in a secondary role. The Ravens like to wear teams down, and their 149 yards rushing per game rank second in the NFL, which will be the top area to watch Sunday. Derrick Mason leads the team with 74 receptions, more than double any other Raven.


• William C. Rhoden of The New York Times discusses the New York Jets' struggles in 2008, and he mentions the Ravens as one of the successful teams that the Jets should attempt to model in the future. So what makes some organizations adept and others inept? The Dolphins, the Falcons and the Ravens have had their share of missteps, but this season, at least, they have found the right combination of players, coaches and front-office executives that have given them a revived personality. The Jets, on the other hand, don't seem to have a direction or a personality."You go out and you try to acquire as much information as you can," Ozzie Newsome, the Baltimore Ravens general manager, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. Newsome said that five Ravens executives spent an entire week discussing what they were looking for in a head coach. They took the same approach discussing what the Ravens needed at quarterback.


• Looking ahead to a potential matchup in the first round of the playoffs, The Palm Beach Post's Edgar Thompson discusses the Miami Dolphins' chances in a rematch of the Oct. 19 game, which was won by the Ravens, 27-13.Anyone who's followed Miami's season, including a 27-13 loss Oct. 19 to Baltimore, realizes no team has manhandled the Dolphins like the Ravens did that day. Quarterback Chad Pennington had his worst first half of the season -- 8 of 15, 96 yards, 45.4 rating, interception by linebacker Terrell Suggs for a TD. The Ravens held the Wildcat formation to one yard on four snaps, including two plays for losses. The Dolphins defense allowed a season-high 139 rushing yards, including 101 in the second half, and was on its heels against rookie Joe Flacco, who finished with a career-high passer rating of 120.2 in only his six NFL start.Power rankings


• After the victory in the final game at Texas Stadium, ESPN.com moved the Ravens up one spot to No. 6 in its power rankings. If the Ravens reach the postseason, several teams will hope to avoid this physical group.


• SI.com's Don Banks ranks the Ravens as the NFL's No. 7 team, up two places from last week. Forced to tell the truth, which team do you think Jason Garrett would like to be head coach of right now: the Cowboys, where he's the presumed heir apparent to Wade Phillips; the Ravens, who wanted to hire him last January; or the Falcons, who also pursued him last offseason? What a kick in the gut it would be for the Dallas offensive coordinator if the Ravens and Falcons both make the playoffs, but the Cowboys stay home.


• The Ravens climbed one spot to No. 7 in FoxSports.com's power rankings. Convinced yet? Not one, but two rookie quarterbacks in the playoffs? Why stop at that, can Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco meet up for the Super Bowl? Stranger things have happened, and this year has been one of the strangest seasons yet.


• This week, CBSSports.com moves the Ravens up two spots to No. 7. Win and they're in. It's that simple, and they get a Jacksonville team that is banged up. The Ravens showed a lot of toughness going to Dallas and winning last week.


• The Ravens land at No. 8 on The Sporting News' power rankings, up one spot from last week. John Harbaugh and Joe Flacco just keep on giving. Harbaurgh's hardnosed style and Flacco's ever-improving game have provided plenty of early Yuletide cheer. As for their defense, you don't need to give it anything -- Ed Reed is doing his best Grinch impersonation by continuing to play takeaway.


• USA Today lists the Ravens at No. 6, which is one place higher than last week. A scary team if they end up with a wild card.


• Michael Silver of Yahoo Sports picks the Ravens at No. 6. When did Fabian Washington get so good -- and might it have something to do with his leaving Oakland?