Baltimore Ravens happy to be 2-0 despite shortcomings

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens admittedly haven't played flawlessly in two consecutive victories to start the season.

Nonetheless, they have shown the type of resiliency that has been a hallmark of the franchise.

With the 25-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 2, the Ravens moved to 2-0 for the fifth time in their 21-year history and first since 2009. Baltimore reached the playoffs the four previous times it opened with a pair of wins.

While there are areas that need improvement -- most notably with careless penalties and an ineffective running attack -- the confidence is building in Baltimore.

"We have seen progress," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Monday. "Our guys have done nothing but work really hard. Most importantly, they found a way to win games. We haven't made mistakes down the stretch that have cost us. That's really important. Sometimes, that can be the difference in the game."

Baltimore emerged from a game without any major injuries for the second consecutive week. Last season, the Ravens placed 20 players on injured reserve, which played a key role in their 5-11 finish.

"We didn't have anything serious coming out of that game and we're really grateful for that," Harbaugh said. "Guys getting into the recovery room should help us."

The Ravens believe they will be back in the playoff hunt this season if they can keep their key players on the field.

Quarterback Joe Flacco has looked solid after enduring a season-ending knee injury in 2015. When the Browns opened a 20-0 lead in the first quarter, Flacco didn't flinch and helped Baltimore score 25 consecutive points. That was second biggest comeback in Ravens history. Baltimore overcame a 21-point deficit against the Cardinals in 2011.

Flacco said the victory over the Browns could resonate for the entire season.

"I just told those guys that I couldn't be more proud," Flacco said. "It wasn't pretty, it wasn't great. Do you want to play that kind of game in September? Not necessarily, but every single game in January and come February, where we hope to be, is going to be like that."

The Ravens face another road test in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will be desperate to pick up their first win of the season.

"I am sure they feel like their backs are against the wall," Harbaugh said about the Jaguars. "When you look at their roster, you can't help but be impressed. We have to get ready for that."

--Ravens tight end Dennis Pitta returned to FirstEnergy Stadium for the first time since suffering a devastating hip injury that almost ended his career.

There was no hesitancy with Pitta, who showed once again that he is still an impact player. Pitta caught a team-high nine passes for 102 yards. Pitta also took a couple of big hits, but bounced back each time.

"Last time I was here, I didn't get to go home with everybody," said Pitta, who suffered the injury in Cleveland in 2014. "Fortunately, this time I do, and it's going to be a lot more fun this time around. I wasn't thinking about my hip going into this game. I would be doing myself a disservice to be thinking about it. I feel fortunate to come out of the game healthy. I took some shots in the game. My body held up and I'm feeling good."

When he is on the field, Pitta is a favorite target for quarterback Joe Flacco. Pitta missed most of the preseason with a finger sprain. Nonetheless, he and Flacco already appear fully in sync.

"He's a playmaker," Flacco said. "Having a tight end that can be a third-down playmaker is really important and valuable. You can't coach that. Hopefully that is just going to get better. Not just him, though; we saw some guys make plays down the field on the ball. There are things that need to get better, whether it's back shoulders or deep throws. Those are all things we have to keep working on."