The secondary is a mess. At times, the Ravens need a GPS to know where they're going. None of their cornerbacks has a physical presence, and the best of the bunch is Lardarius Webb, whom the Ravens are slow to play because he is a rookie.
Landry is slow and hesitant, which is not unusual for a player returning from a serious neck injury the season before. With Reed, it's hit or miss with his gambling, and it's costing the Ravens.
The rest of the team's problems can be worked out. They have a kick and punt returner in Webb, even though the Ravens didn't want to use him because of the money they invested to sign Carr during the offseason.
But with Webb in place, the Ravens should be solid on special teams, especially with punter Sam Koch.
The problem, though, could be kicker Steve Hauschka. He might be good someday, but he won't get over the 44-yard potential game-winner he missed Sunday until he converts on another attempt that decides a game.
Until then, he is an unproven commodity, unlike the player he replaced. Pssst, its Matt Stover.
The Ravens need a big-play wide receiver like Joan Rivers needs another face-lift. If the Ravens want to open up their passing game, they have to let second-year quarterback Joe Flacco throw more into tighter windows across the middle as he did Sunday.
Before then, Flacco usually stayed to the outside with comeback routes, which the Bengals took away a week ago. Throwing those types of passes over the middle is exactly what Brett Favre, Tom Brady and Carson Palmer did the past three weeks to beat the Ravens.
Can all this be accomplished in two weeks?
Probably not.
And whenever the Ravens play a top-notch quarterback, they're going to struggle. But if they make a few more plays here and there, that should keep it interesting for the rest of the season.
And if not?
Oh well, it's still better than being in Tennessee or Washington.
