Go ahead and dream about what could happen today at Qualcomm Stadium if the CPR the Ravens performed on their offense continues to hold.
Close your eyes and envision Joe Flacco airing it out against the San Diego Chargers, spreading the ball around to his receivers as he did last week in the win over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Imagine another big pass-catching afternoon from Todd Heap, the tight end whose only role in the offense last season seemed to be: "Block that guy over there."
Think how entertaining it'll be if this Air Harbaugh thing really takes off and 500 yards of total offense in a game becomes the norm around here.
Sure, dream all you want about this team's newfound ability to move the ball.
But let's not forget this: The Ravens will still live and die with their defense.
The defense is what gives this team its identity. The defense is what gives this team its swagger.
The defense is still what intimidates opposing teams.
Trust me, when the rest of the NFL talks about the Ravens, the first thing that comes up isn't: "Gee, I hear they have a cool variation of the Statue of Liberty play ... "
No. The first thing opposing players talk about is still the killer "D."
The first thing they talk about is going up against Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Ed Reed, Kelly Gregg, Haloti Ngata and the rest and getting their heads bashed in.
So let's not lose sight of that in our rush to consecrate this Ravens offense as new and improved.
Not that it wouldn't be fun to see another shoot out on offense like we saw last week against the Chiefs.
More than 300 passing yards from Flacco, someone besides Derrick Mason catching a pass in the end zone, Heap (five catches, 74 yards against Kansas City) blowing up the middle of the defense like the old days - who wouldn't want to see something like that against the Chargers?
And here's the thing: No one's rooting harder for that to happen than the Ravens' "D."
"We've always had a really good tradition with our defense around here," linebacker Jarret Johnson said the other day. "But it's awesome to see our offense play like this. It's just going to make us better.
"Anytime they can hold the ball the way they did, put points on the board, give us some rest - we played 40-some snaps [against the Chiefs]; it's kind of a joke. So if they can do that, it's just going to make us that much better. The more balanced you are, the better you are as a team."
Personally, I'm hoping the wide receivers have a big day against the Chargers so we have another week of D-Mase going off on Keyshawn Johnson.
Is this little spat ever going to end?
Wow, remind me to never take a shot at Mason in print. Because this guy carries a grudge like Michael Corleone.
Poor Keyshawn. He has to be wondering what hit him. I never really thought the guy was calling the Ravens' receivers "bums." But that's how Mason took it, which is all that matters.
Keyshawn, go hide somewhere until this is over.
Actually, I'm also rooting for the offense to have a big day against San Diego because of Cam Cameron, the Ravens' terrific offensive coordinator.
Let me say this: It has been a long time since I've seen a coach this jazzed about an offense.
When I asked him whether the fans were getting too excited about the offense based on just one game against the lowly Chiefs, he cut me off.
"I was excited about it last year!" Cameron said. "Why would you want to play somewhere where they aren't excited about what you're doing?
"Defensively, special teams, that's what we're in this thing for. Let's get our fans excited, give them something to be excited about. You know, we're trying to win football games. But there's an entertainment value to this thing."
Oh, you're preaching to the choir there, coach.
All I know is, since this guy took over as offensive coordinator last year, the Ravens have been a lot more fun to watch when they have the ball.
Maybe they'll be fun to watch today, too, although a long cross-country flight and 70,000 fans screaming nasty things about your mother tends to take something out of a team.
So we'll see how the offense does, see whether Cameron can work his magic again and Flacco can spread the ball around the way he did last week.
But if the Ravens win, it'll be because of their defense.
It always is.
Listen to Kevin Cowherd Tuesdays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. with Jerry Coleman on Fox 1370 AM Sports.
