FanHouse SamKoch

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

It was improbable. The Baltimore Ravens made another playoff run in 2008 based on a defense that used the art of suffocation (oh, and Ed Reed) and an offense that improved dramatically over the previous years. John Harbaugh was impressive as coach, putting a rookie quarterback out to toss the ball around and sticking with him through thick (17-29, 248 yards, 2 TDs in Week 9) and thin (11-28, 115 yards, 2 INTs in Week 15).

Now the team has to figure out what to do about a superstar in Ray Lewis, and how they should handle other important positional players (hello Mr. Stover) in order to return to (and move past) the AFC Championship game without their defensive coordinator.

Training camps are underway, the NFL season is right around the corner, and to get you ready for 2008, FanHouse previews all 32 teams, "heat index" style. We'll rate each club in 10 categories on a scale of 1 to 10, high score wins.

Quarterback: The position has been an issue in Baltimore since, well, the club moved from Cleveland. Brian Billick turned out not to be such a smart guy, after all, which explains Tony Banks, Elvis Grbac, Chris Redman, and Kyle Boller. Second-year player Troy Smith showed promise during a brief stints last season, but Joe Flacco is the team's newest franchise quarterback. Now it's just a matter of getting him up to speed on running the offense. Heat Index: 4

Running backs: Letting Jamal Lewis walk after the 2006 season was a no-brainer, even if he had a resurgence of sorts with the Browns. Willis McGahee is more than capable when healthy, and rookie second-rounder Ray Rice should see plenty of action. Heat Index: 7

The Baltimore Ravens kept the country on edge deep into the night on Monday as they ventured closer to a win against the Patriots than anyone else this season. They didn't make tonight's game with the Colts quite that suspenseful. There won't be any bags under the eyes or spirited conversations around the water cooler for those who watched tonight's game, a 44-20 slaughter that wasn't even as close as the final score indicates.

The first quarter was equally divided between Colt touchdowns and Raven mistakes. A Reggie Wayne touchdown, a Willis McGahee fumble and two Joseph Addai scores sandwiched around a Kyle Boller pick pretty much ended the game before everyone had stumbled in from the extended tailgating. When Michael Coe blocked a Sam Koch punt through the end zone to make it 23-0, people started streaming back out to finish the cases of beer and grilled sausages they'd left behind.

I'll be keeping up with the happenings down in Tampa (click here for real-time scoring), giving my observations in between offensive drives. Check back all game long. For my observations from the first half, click the link below.

FIRST HALF OBSERVATIONS: WIth a 17-0 lead at the half, it's hard to complain. McNair has been getting all the time he's needed in the pocket, and hasn't been sacked once. The running game has petered out after a strong start, but a lot of that is due to the Ravens having poor field position, and having to run when bottled up deep in their end of the field. Most important, there have been no mistakes, a real change for the Ravens offense. Grade: B.

On defense, could it have gone any better. The Tampa offense has been generating next to nothing. And when they did, the Ravens were able to stop them cold with two interceptions. And the Lewis sack was a great way to end the first half. Grade: A.

On special teams: Sam Koch has been booming the ball, and Stover nailed his one field goal attempt. Coverage has been competent. Grade: B.

BART SCOTT, WITH AUTHORITY: After dropping Cadillac Williams for a loss on second down, Bart Scott dropped Simms for a sack. Great way to start the second half.

TACK ON ANOTHER THREE: After a nice return from B.J. Sams, the Ravens get close enough for a 43-yard Stover field goal. 20-0, Ravens.

STOP THE BUCS INSIDE THE 10: The Bucs had their best drive of the day, making their way down the field with short passes, getting all the way inside the ten after a catch and run by Mike Alstott. They went for it on 4th and goal on the Ravens six, but Lewis got his hands on a Simms pass, and deflected it away from the intended receiver. Simms' passes have been deflected four times on the day. Still 20-0.

RAVENS ESCAPE FROM TROUBLE: It looked like the Ravens were going to be stuck deep until McNair completed a long pass to Wilcox. The drive petered out just across midfield, and Koch's punt -- which was a beauty -- rolled into the end zone.

ED REED WITH THE PICK: That's three on the day from Simms. This game is just about over, we still have a little more than a quarter to go.

MCNAIR TO WILCOX! 27-0, Ravens. Best drive of the day since the opening posession, finished off with a lob of a completion from McNair to Wilcox. That's three receptions for 52 yards and a TD for Wilcox.

I think it might be tiime to revise expectations for this team upward a bit. Meanwhile, the Bucs have thrown in the towel, benching Simms in favor of Bruce Gradkowski.

ANOTHER THREE AND OUT: Gradkowski completed one pass, and was nearly killed on a safety blitz. After the punt, Kyle Boller comes into the game.

NOT THE WAY TO START: And once he gets on the field, Boller reminds us why he was replaced. A fumbled snap from center and a delay of game call, three and out.

It must really be over when Billick lets Boller onto the field.

GOODBYE FROM TAMPA: Bucs can't move the ball, and Boller gets to run out the clock. 27-0 is the final. The first road win since November 2004, snapping an 11-game string. What a way to start the season. Even better, the Bucs blogger owes me a post where he gives us five reasons why the Ravens are better than the Bucs.