After Big Ravens Win, Question Versus Titans is: 'Now What?'

Is there such a thing as having too big a win on the opening week of the NFL season?

The Baltimore Ravens beat up on their bitter AFC North rival in a 35-7 domination of the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week One. Even the Ravens themselves were somewhat surprised by the final score.

Now, the question is whether the team has anything left for a follow-up this weekend versus the Tennessee Titans. 

“Is it possible the Baltimore Ravens won their Super Bowl on opening Sunday,” ESPN analyst Skip Bayless tweeted. “Waited all offseason for that game. Dominated nemesis. Now what?”

The Ravens must travel to Tennessee to play the Titans, who lost 16-14 last week to the Jacksonville Jaguars. But a win in Tennessee is far from a given as long as the Titans can trot out running back Chris Johnson, who never got going last week after missing all of training camp, but rushed for 1,364 yards in 2010. 

So, “now what?” Now, the Ravens must prove that they can maintain the intensity they showed against the Steelers from week-to-week, regardless the quality of their opponent.

“Thanx Bmore for the support. AFC player of the week. We all just workin on that Lombardi.” – Tweeted by outside linebacker Terrell Suggs (@untouchablejay4) on Sept. 14

T-Sizzle, as his teammates sometimes call him, had perhaps the biggest impact of any Raven in beating the Steelers, and he was appropriately awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his disruptive, three sack performance.

Aside from the league’s weekly award, Suggs has had praise heaped upon him all week. The Baltimore Sun wrote that he was the heir-apparent to Ray Lewis as leader of the Baltimore defense, and Press Box wrote that the former first round draft pick has grown up since the Ravens selected him in 2003.

Suggs has always been a good player for Baltimore, as exhibited by his franchise record 71.5 career sacks, a mantel he earned after passing Peter Boulware on the all-time list Sunday.

But, if you remember correctly, Suggs has always been a pretty good Raven, too. He’s at least been loyal.

Don’t forget that it was Suggs – not Lewis – who suggested the two of them and New York Jets linebacker Bart Scott all take a little less money to stay together in Baltimore when the three were free agents in 2009.

The Ravens made Suggs a rich man. And now, he’s repaying them for that show of loyalty.

“IT'S ONLY GONNA GET BETTER RT @BJack50 #Ravens Flacco & @RayRice27 on this weeks New Sports Illustrated cover AWESOME http://lockerz.com/s/138387692” – Tweeted by former Ravens receiver Qadry Ismail and linebacker Brad Jackson.

Sports Illustrated cover curse, anyone? Should the Ravens be at all concerned?