Baltimore Ravens will be in the NFL playoffs in 2014 if…

And: The defense continues to make strides. That doesn’t figure to be hard considering that the 2012 Ravens, despite winning an NFL title, did it with an opportunistic unit (10 takeaways in the team’s four playoff wins) rather than a formidable one. And any comparisons to the recent Super Bowl champs and the team that won it all in 2000 were more than a little ridiculous.

Keep in mind that those Super Bowl XXXV champions allowed a combined 23 points in four playoff wins. That was hardly the case in ’12 when the Ravens allowed 31 points in their win over the 49ers alone.

But let’s return to the present. This past season, Baltimore ranked 12th overall in total defense and was much tougher against the run than in 2012, when they allowed the most rushing yards in franchise history.

This season, there is excitement brewing as the addition of first-round pick C.J. Mosley solidifies a linebacking corps that includes outsider specialists Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil (who combined for 19.5 of the team’s 40 sacks), as well as veteran Daryl Smith. The longtime Jacksonville Jaguars’ standout had quite a first year with the Ravens, leading the team in tackles (123) while adding five sacks, three interceptions, 18 passes defensed and a pair of forced fumbles.

The rest of the unit is sound, although there have been some concerns regarding banged-up cornerbacks Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith. Up front, veteran defensive tackle Haloti Ngata remains one of the best in the business at his position.