It has been said that the Baltimore Ravens play to the level of their opposition. If they play a team that’s worse than them, the Ravens will play sloppy football. If they play a team that’s better, Baltimore will rise to the occasion and often pull the upset. But is it true?

The answer to that question can be found in the 2016 Ravens season.

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In Week 2, Baltimore visited the Cleveland Browns, a team that would go 1-15 in 2016. Things started out poorly for Baltimore, as the Browns scored 20 points in the first quarter alone. The Ravens would score 25 unanswered points to beat the Browns, but even then the Ravens played poorly; Joe Flacco threw two interceptions, and the team left points on the field due to penalties.

In Week 7, the Ravens visited the New York Jets, who would go 5-11 on the season. Things would actually start out well for Baltimore, with the team holding a 16-14 lead at halftime, but then things fell apart. Joe Flacco threw two interceptions, the Ravens recovered a fumble at their own goal line and then gave it back to the Jets when Timmy Jernigan fumbled while trying to return the ball. The Jets would score 10 points, and the Ravens lost to one of the worst teams in the league.

In Week 17, Baltimore hoped to finish the season on a high note against a Cincinnati Bengals team that missed the playoffs for the first time since 2010. Baltimore would put up its worst performance of the year instead. The Ravens failed to stop the Bengals offense at all during the first half, and the offense was simply inept. Baltimore lost by a score of 27-10, its largest margin of defeat all season.

It’s accurate to say the Ravens often played down to their opponents this year. Whether it is a sluggish start, failing to finish teams off late in games or penalties that are their undoing, it’s clear the Ravens can fall to any team at any time.

In Week 9, the Ravens were coming off a bye and needed to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers after losing every game in the month of October. Baltimore was able to smother the mighty Pittsburgh offense and then prevent them from completing a fourth-quarter comeback in a 21-14 win.

In Week 13, the Ravens faced a Miami Dolphins team that had won six straight games. Baltimore had its best offensive performance of the year, as Flacco threw four touchdown passes and running back Terrance West ran for another. The Ravens defense dominated the Dolphins offense, and Miami was handed their worst loss of the year, 38-6.

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Baltimore would make a strong comeback bid against the New England Patriots. At halftime, they were down 16-3 against the eventual Super Bowl LI champions, but rattled off 17 unanswered points to make it a game in the fourth quarter before losing by seven. But it did suggest that they could play at a much higher level.

It’s easy to point to that old saying of “playing to their opponent,” but if 2016 was any indication, it’s true. Maybe that is what is so maddening about being a fan of the team — one game they’ll struggle against inferior talent only to look like champions the next.