Posted by Edward Lee, Baltimore Sun, November 15th, 2011

The Ravens’ demoralizing 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks Sunday was a step back for a team poised to take charge of the AFC North and the overall conference.

But why the Ravens performed so dismally is a subject that befuddles many of those who watched Sunday’s game and the team’s showings in losses to the Tennessee Titans on Sept. 18 and the Jacksonville Jaguars on Oct. 24.

Former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver and NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin is one of those puzzled by the Ravens’ play this season. But he continues to back the Ravens over the Pittsburgh Steelers as the better team in the division – for now.

“If I am watching these two teams getting ready to play each other, I would probably still take the Baltimore Ravens,” Irvin said on the network’s “NFL GameDay Final”. “But the inconsistency worries me. They play so well when they play a tough team, and then the next week, they play so poorly when they play a lesser opponent. I don’t understand why they’re so inconsistent.”