NBC’s SNF Crew In The House

From Top: WR Anquan Boldin, CB Josh Wilson, and LB Dannell Ellerbe get their headshots taken in preparation for NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcast

 

Ravens-Steelers Week…Feeling Like ’08

Well we have quite a matchup to look forward to this Sunday night. And it only seems appropriate that the Steelers come into town with the same record as the Ravens: 8-3.

High Stakes? You bet. But really, would you want it any other way?

The lead-up to this game feels an awful lot like the lead-up to the one 2 years ago on Dec. 14, 2008, when 10-3 Pittsburgh arrived to face 9-4 Baltimore.

That game more than lived up to the hype. It was a defensive slugfest and the Steelers came away with a memorable victory that clinched the division crown. Ben Roethlisberger drove his team 91 yards down the field and capped off the drive with this unforgettable play (which I recorded btw, sorry it is so blurry!!):

You’re going to hear many quotes from players of both teams this week that sound a lot like what Terrell Suggs said in his post-game interview last Sunday in regards to the the opposition this week:

“Our teams are similar, and we just don’t like them, but we respect them. It’s going to be championship football.”

The words are a little stronger on the internet between the fan bases. Venture over to the Scout.com Ravens page or read the comments to The Baltimore Sun’s Ravens Insider posts. The fans of these  teams can really fire up a war of words. Its quite entertaining and it proves  just how much this game means to the two cities involved.

The last two ravens victories over Pittsburgh have been great. An overtime win last year at home and a come from behind win this year at Heinz Field. However the guys under center for those two games? Dennis Dixon and Charlie Batch respectively. Not to knock either of those two…but as a Ravens fan, I want to play Roethlisberger, and I want to beat him. Overcoming Pittsburgh just isn’t as satisfying or fulfilling when he isn’t playing.

Because like it or not, the man is an incredible quarterback. He is hard to bring down and he can improvise like no other when he gets flushed from the pocket.

Want to know what else is a hard pill to swallow for Ravens fans? The boys in purple haven’t defeated Big Ben at M&T Bank Stadium since November 2006, when he took that infamous hit from Bart Scott. Hard to believe its been that long, huh?? Granted, he didn’t play in ’07 or ’09…but still, its been 4 years!! And they last time they beat him period was just a month later when they took down Pittsburgh on the road to complete their first and only season sweep of the Steelers to date.

The big story this week will be the status of left tackle Michael Oher’s knee sprain. If he cannot go on Sunday, Oniel Cousins will get the start and faces the daunting task of protecting Joe Flacco from James Harrison for four quarters. More on that as the week progresses.

Peace.

Week 1 Preview: Baltimore Ravens @ New York Jets

January 16, 2010…that was the last time the Ravens played a game that mattered. Seems like a long time ago huh? Well the wait is over, September 13th has finally arrived, and what a game we have tonight!

The Jets and Ravens are very similar teams. They both have the young quarterbacks with plenty of experienced weapons on offense. Defensively, both squads play good ol’ “smash mouth football”.

There has been quite a bit of talking leading up to this game, and it’s fun, but I’m not gonna address the jabber. I want to look at the types of games both teams need to play to come away with a win tonight.

First off, believe the hype, Darrelle Revis is the real deal. He is as good as advertised and has to ability to take a whole side of a field away from the opposition. That opens up options for the New York defense to blitz, especially with their safeties. And everyone knows Rex Ryan loves to blitz. He will be sending extra guys at Joe Flacco early and often to try to fluster the third year signal caller. On the other side of the field will be Antonio Cromartie, who is also a very skilled corner, not as talented as Revis. However he does have lightning fast speed. If he comes up with an interception, he is likely to take it to the house.

That being said, Revis can only cover one guy at a time, tonight that guy will be Anquan Boldin. Baltimore has plenty of other options to go to other than Boldin when airing it out. Flacco will have to spread the ball around to targets Todd Heap, Derrick Mason, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Ray Rice in the flat.

Speaking of Rice, I believe he is more dangerous on those flare passes and toss plays tonight. Do not expect much from him rushing up the middle. The Jets have a beast in Kris Jenkins at nose tackle. He can take up so much space and will be a challenge for center Matt Birk on first and second downs. Against a defense as physical and brutal as New York’s, getting backs Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain at least half a dozen carries each is crucial. Rice isn’t built to take such a pounding for four quarters.

On to the Jets and their offense. Mark Sanchez enjoyed a solid rookie campaign and is looking to continue his growth as an NFL quarterback. He has plenty of viable options at his disposal to help him win not only tonight but throughout 2010. The addition of future Hall of Famer Ladainian Tomlinson as well as 15-year veteran Tony Richardson adds depth, experience, and stability to a young corps of backs in Shonn Greene and John Conner. Receivers Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes are solid options who have great hands as well as breakaway speed. However, Holmes is out for tonight’s game. He is missing the first four games of the season due to a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy this past offseason. Jerricho Cotchery will have to step up and fill in his place tonight. Tight end Dustin Keller averaged just over 11½ yards per catch last year but only hauled in two TD’s. I like him to have a big 2010, watch out for him across the middle.

This leads to the one glaring weakness of the Ravens, their secondary. With Ed Reed on the PUP list for the first six weeks of the season, and Dominique Foxworth gone for the year, the Ravens are vulnerable and everyone knows it. Baltimore will have to work with Fabian Washington, Josh Wilson, and Chris Carr at corner. Lardarius Webb is listed as a game time decision, however I expect him to suit up and get plenty up snaps. Tom Zbikowski fills in for Reed at free safety, while Dawan Landry provides the most experience and talent of the group at strong safety.

There are lots of big names at the skill positions for both teams, and they very well could be the difference in the outcome of the game. But I believe it will all come down to who can dominate in the trenches, specifically when New York is on offense. I already mentioned earlier that Kris Jenkins will cause disruption in the middle of the Ravens line, but more importantly is if the Jets big men can hold up against a tough Baltimore front seven. If they can, it gives Sanchez the necessary time to pick apart the corners and safeties. A poor effort up front will lead to sacks, hurries, and in turn, poor decisions by the second year QB.

I believe nose tackle Haloti Ngata is a bit better than Jenkins due to his speed and athleticism. Remember last year in the preseason (against the Jets) when Ngata droped back into coverage like a linebacker and picked off Sanchez and took it to the house? Center Nick Mangold, fresh off signing an 8-year, $57.4 million contract, will have the tall task of blocking Ngata all game. And a great matchup I’m excited to watch will be left tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson against a leaner and quicker Terrell Suggs.

So many storylines and matchups to digest in this one. Both teams have “super” aspirations if you know what I mean. Lots of questions will have been answered by the conclusion of this evening’s battle. Time for the prediction: I say the Ravens get off to a slower than expected start, and possibly fall behind. But the offense has too many weapons and will unleash its firepower in the 2nd half. The defense will bend but not break, and limit the Jets to field goals when backed aginst the wall. BALTIMORE 27 – NEW YORK 16

Rejoice!! The NFL Is Back

Whats good everyone. Not gonnna do a full-fledged preview of tonight’s Vikings-Saints like I did for last season’s Thursday night opener, but I do have some thoughts on the game as well as a prediction.

-Just based on what happened last January in New Orleans, one would have to say Minnesota is the better team here. I mean they outplayed and out-gained New Orleans easily in the NFC Championship game and should have come away with the win. A pair of fumbles by star running back Adrian Peterson and a ill-timed interception by the ageless Brett Favre sealed the Vikings fate. Their third loss in the NFC Championship game in 11 years, and this one hurt more than ever because it came from self-inflicted wounds.

-Fast forward to tonight’s game. The Saints are looking very sharp. They have all of their key offensive weapons returning and the only weakness I sense with them is at the safety position with Darren Sharper who is starting the season on the PUP list. The Vikings have living legend Brett Favre back under center, however I expect him to be a bit rusty. I know he was amazing last year, putting up career high numbers in completion percentage and TD-INT ratio, but he is another year older. And at 40 years old, one more year equates to a sizeable drop in production. He will be without his go to receiver from a year ago, Sidney Rice, who is also starting the season on the PUP list. But with arguably the best running back in football, Favre doesn’t have to be perfect. He just has to avoid the costly mistakes. Tight end Visanthe Shianco hauled in 11 touchdowns in 2009 and is a great threat at in the redzone. If the Vikes want to have a shot at winning tonight, both Peterson and Shainco need to step up.

-Like I said earlier, this isn’t a complete preview, there are so many other aspects of this game I’d like to touch on, but in the interest of keeping this blog concise, it is time to wrap it up and leave you with one final thought and my prediction.

The Saints are the defending champs, and they are playing in front of their deafening home crowd. I can just see New Orleans coming out of the gate with the same type of intensity that they did in September of ’06, when they reopened the Superdome for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. Anyone who watched that game, specifically the first quarter, knew that the Saints were NOT going to lose on that night. SAINTS 27 – VIKINGS 16

P.S. – Ravens preview coming soon.

Ravens 2010 Schedule Officially Released

The 2010 schedule is finally here! The Ravens’ opponents have been known for quite some time now but now we know when the games will be played and which ones will be in prime time.

Here are a few of the highlights:

-Week 1: The Ravens will open their season on the road against Rex Ryan and the NY Jets on Monday Night Football (9/13).

-Week 4 will be played at Pittsburgh, and assuming Ben Roethlisberger is dealt a four game suspension, Baltimore will not have to face him in that match-up (10/3).

-Looking ahead to Week 13: The second Pittsburgh game…this one at home, will be a nationally televised Sunday night game (12/5) for the second year in a row.

-A week later, another prime time game. This time on Monday Night at Houston (12/13).

-And on six days rest, Baltimore welcomes in the defending champion Saints to M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 19.

Click here or above on the header titled “Ravens 2010 Schedule” to view the entire slate of games. Grab your calendar and mark down the games! This fall should be fun!

Weekend Recap

•Loved the final round of the Masters yesterday. Great golf, great drama. Personally I was cheering for Tiger. He’s my favorite and I thought it would be cool for him to go out there and win it all after going through a tumultuous winter of shame and disgrace. I know there were quite a bit of folks who just couldn’t bring themselves to cheer for the man, but you got to respect his game. CBS’ Peter Kostis made a great comment during yesterday’s telecast: “Say what you will about Tiger the person or Tiger the brand. Tiger the golfer is still exciting.” It looks as if viewers agree. Preliminary Nielsen  estimates indicated CBS’ rating for Saturday’s third round was 33 percent higher than 2009’s third round coverage.

•And although it was who Tiger drew the ratings, it was Phil Mickelson who finished atop the leaderboard to earn his third green jacket in seven years. Mickelson has always been “the peoples champ” and it was so enjoyable to see him win the tournament given the circumstances surrounding his wife Amy, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer. He played tremendous golf, shooting 67’s on Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. Sunday’s final round was also bogey-free for Mickelson, what a great way to finish.

•Now on to a topic slightly less heartwarming. The state of the 2010 Orioles after 6 games.  They own a record of 1-5, their worst start since 2002. Like I always do because I’m a homer, I’m going to look at this situation with the glass half-full.

The starters have for the most part done their job, through six games they rank 13th in the league with a 3.89 ERA. I know it’s early to be referencing stats but they really do not lie and the starters have held up their end of the bargain, plain and simple.

The run support was one run short in the first four losses. But on Saturday and Sunday scoring zero and two runs respectively is just not enough. Garrett Atkins is hitting .350 and Matt Wieters .409, however they bat towards the bottom of the order. No one else on the roster owns an average higher than .300.

Mike Gonzalez has now blown two saves and people are calling for his head. I was fine with the first one on opening night in St. Petersburg, and pretty frustrated when he did it again in the home opener on Friday. I’ve given him the benefit of the doubt but now my leash is short with him. He better rattle off a few solid scoreless innings before his next blown save. If he can’t, its time for Dave Trembley to make some changes at closer.

So it’s a new week of what is still a very young season and grabbing two out of three or dare I even say sweeping  this upcoming series against Tampa Bay is critical for the team’s confidence. After these three upcoming home games they hit the road for a seven game trip on the west coast against Oakland and Seattle. Then they have to face the Yankees and Red Sox for twelve consecutive games! The Birds went a combined 7-29 in ’09 against the two powers of the A.L. East.

•And a very interesting and unexpected move in the NFL last night. The Steelers have traded wide receiver and Super Bowl 43 MVP Santonio Homes to the Jets for a fifth round pick in this month’s draft. Holmes will be suspended for the team’s first four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Well this is good news if you are a Ravens fan. Holmes has always been a dangerous weapon at receiver and has made big plays against Baltimore several times in his career, most notably in the 2008 AFC Championship Game when he scored on a 65 yard catch and run.

12/20/09 Gameday: Bears at Ravens

A snowy good morning to you.  What a bizarre weekend of rumors and speculation we have had. There were the rumors of today’s game  possibly being moved to Monday night. No one was sure whether the Bears would actually be in town to play the game until their plane landed safely at BWI airport last night a few minutes before 11 p.m. And how about the snow removal! Great job by the workers at M&T Bank Stadium getting the seats, ramps, stairs, and field ready for today’s contest.

As for the actual game: The Ravens mindset is where right where it needs to be right now. They realize that they have to win out to get a spot in the playoffs. They will not take any teams lightly, just ask last week’s opponent, the Detroit Lions.

At the beginning of the season, hopes were high in the windy city. They had traded inconsistent Kyle Orton to Denver and in return got one of the best young arms in the game in Jay Cutler. But Cutler’s 2009 campaign has been quite disappointing. He has been very prone to turnovers, throwing 22 interceptions! That number leads the entire league. He is still very capable of making all the throws necessary to win a ballgame. This season has been a combination of bad luck and poor decision making for Mr. Cutler.

At the running back position, the Bears have a solid foundation in Matt Forte. The 2nd year back out of Tulane is having a bit of a sophomore slump. He had a tremendous rookie campaign, rushing for over 1200 yards and eight touchdowns. He was also able to add four more receiving TD’s. Similar to Cutler, the talent is there, but things just haven’t gone Forte’s way this year.

Defensively, the Bears suffered a major setback in their season opener at Green Bay when middle linebacker Brian Urlacher was lost for the season. He is the heart and soul of their unit. And accross the board, the numbers are not the same as usual for this defense.

As for the Ravens, they had a nice little confidence boost last week, beating up on the lowly Lions 48-3. I believe that the way Ray Rice is playing right now, is just too much for the Bears. If they focus on shutting down #27, they will likely leave many open opportunities for Joe Flacco and his receivers to do damage. I honestly think Chicago will put up a solid fight on offense, but not enought to topple a team that smells postseason. RAVENS 31 – BEARS 21

Gametime Pushed to 4:15

Baltimore Ravens Press Release – The time of the Ravens’ game against the Bears, scheduled for this Sunday (Dec. 20) at 1 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium, has been changed to 4:15 p.m.

Officials from the City of Baltimore recommended the time change to the Ravens and the NFL, because of safety reasons. “This gives the city more time to clear the streets and other passage ways around the stadium. It also gives us more time to clear the stadium of snow,” Ravens president Dick Cass said.

Cass also noted that 700 people will be at the stadium tonight and tomorrow to help clear the snow. This crew will work through Saturday and until game time on Sunday. The workers will be housed at the stadium club levels.

Hey now! This means fans will be able to get a  few extra hours of tailgating in. Nothing helps beat the cold weather like a few beers.

Speaking of beating the cold, there was an article in today’s Baltimore Sun about the Ravens performance at home when the temperature is below 40 degrees. Their record is 10-1, winning the last 10 in a row. Quite impressive if you ask me.

I’m currently writing my preview for Sunday’s game. It will be posted at some point tomorrow. Stay tuned…

NFL Week 14 Game Preview: Detroit Lions (2-10) @ Baltimore Ravens (6-6)

It’s time to take a look at some quick trends/notes going into this afternoon’s matchup

-Slow starts have been tough on the Ravens this season. When they are trailing after 3 quarters, they are 0-6. They appeared to be on track for a serious comeback last Monday at Green Bay, but never tied or took the lead. Being down 17-0 at halftime certainly hurts a team’s chances of winning.

-The injury report is pretty full today. As of 10:50 this morning, Mark Clayton (hamstring) has been ruled out of today’s contest. Look for more passes in the direction of Kelley Washington in Clayton’s absence. Ed Reed (hip) is doubtful and Terrell Suggs (knee) is questionable. I don’t expect either of them to play this afternoon. UPDATE: As of 11:41: Reed and tackle Jared Gaither (foot) are INACTIVE. Suggs is active and expected to play.

-With rookie quarterback Matt Stafford out, veteran Daunte Culpepper gets the start today for Detroit. He isn’t the player he once was in his glory days as a Viking. But he still has a great arm and is tough to bring down.

-Keep your eyes on receiver Calvin Johnson and rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew of the Lions. These two both have a tremendous set of hands and are good at getting open. They are young, talented, and represent the future of the organization.

-Prediction: The Ravens are coming off a tough loss. Although they had a short week to prepare, I think they will be very focused today. Getting on the board early is crucial. It will allow the D to pin their ears back and go after Culpepper. Big bounce back game today. RAVENS 35 – LIONS 13.

-Thats all I have for now. Kick off is just under an hour and a half away. I will do my best to send updates from the stadium via the cell phone. Never done that before. Let’s try it today!

Every Dog Has His Day

Ben Roethlisberger is sacked for a loss by Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Corey Williams. The Browns sacked Big Ben eight times in the contest.

Associated Press — There’s nothing Super about the Pittsburgh Steelers anymore. The defending NFL champions lost their fifth straight and had their playoff hopes sacked by the lowly Cleveland Browns, who ended a 12-game losing streak against their bitter rival by beating the Steelers 13-6 on Thursday night in subzero wind chills.

Ben Roethlisberger was sacked eight times and lost for the first time in 11 career games against the Browns (2-11), who extended Pittsburgh’s longest losing streak in six years and defeated the Steelers (6-7) at home for the first time since 2000.

The Steelers are going to need help to make the postseason, a stunning freefall for a team that hit the season’s halfway point at 6-2.

Oh I love it. This was a fun game to watch. The Browns’ season has just been miserable in 2009. But they went out their and played their asses off in 12 degree temperatures and 20 mile per hour wind gusts.

It’s been said before and it will be said again because it is so true. “Any team can beat any other team on any given Sunday” (Or in this case, Thursday haha). After what transpired tonight and last week when the Steelers fell to Oakland, the Ravens cannot overlook the Lions.

Things are boding well for Baltimore, if they can win out. According to the website PlayoffStatus.com, if the Ravens win their remaining four games, they have an 87% chance of making the playoffs. And that number is not taking into account the Steelers latest loss.

Flags Everywhere!

After reading some message boards and listening to local sports talk radio, I get the feeling that some Ravens fans are a little upset about the plethora of penalties that were called last night.

“They are out to get us” and “The league hates Baltimore” are silly arguments in my opinion.

I really don’t mind the 23 total penalties last night, because if you look at the box score, Baltimore was flagged 12 times to Green Bay’s 11. And if you eliminate Derrick Mason’s Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalty early in the fourth quarter (which is Derrick’s fault, not the ref’s), the two teams are even.

I do think the officials were calling it much tighter than what is normally expected. But it since it was tight both ways, it’s just plain wrong to blame any part of last night’s loss on the referees.

Halftime: Green Bay 17 – Baltimore 0

Green Bay's Nick Collins celebrates after intercepting a pass during the first half.

Quick thoughts after a less than stellar first half for the Ravens:

-The offense is not feeling it tonight. Very reminiscent of the Cleveland game exactly three weeks ago tonight. QB Joe Flacco forced a lousy pass into triple coverage on a flee flicker late in the first quarter and the result was a Nick Collins interception. He is 6 of 14 for 54 yards. Ray Rice has seven carries for eleven yards and fumbled the ball deep in packer territory. Give credit to the Green Bay secondary. They have really covered the ravens receiving corps well.

-Defense is holding their own, but penalties, specifically pass interference, have really hurt this unit. Green Bay drove down the field in 8 plays for 68 yards towards the end of the first half.

-Still a slight window open for a comeback. Baltimore gets the ball second half. Adjustments must be made offensively.

Ed Reed OUT vs. Packers

A little less than 90 minuets before tonight’s contest, ESPN has reported that Ravens Pro Bowl free safety Ed Reed will not play against the Packers due to ankle and hip injuries.

He did not participate in practice on Thursday or Saturday, and was limited on Saturday.

Reed will miss his first start since November 27, 2005.

NFL Week 13 Game Preview: Baltimore Ravens (6-5) at Green Bay Packers (7-4)

-Good morning. I’m terribly sorry for not posting in over a month. I’ve been quite busy with school and have been too lazy to update this little site. But we are back on track, so let’s preview tonight’s important game against the Green Bay Packers.

-Lambeau Field: The Ravens are making only their third ever visit to “The Frozen Tundra”. They failed to win in their first two visits. Green Bay won 28-10 in 1998. In 2001, Brett Favre torched the Baltimore D for 337 yards and three TD’s en route to a 31-20 victory.

-Ravens on Monday Night: In recent years, Baltimore has struggled in their Monday Night appearances.  Entering the 2009 season, the Ravens had only one road victory on Monday Night…ever. That came in 2001 with a 16-10 win over the Tennessee Titans. They earned their second victory this season with a 16-0 shutout of the Browns on Nov. 16. And with the exception of a 49-3 blowout of Green Bay in 2005, The Ravens lost all of the other eight Monday Nighters they played in from 2003-2008.

Ray Rice: The guy has been simply sensational. A 5 foot 8 spark plug, Rice is averaging 127.5 yards from scrimmage per game, good for 2nd best in the NFL. He has amassed 100 or more yards from scrimmage in eight consecutive games. And Mr. Rice leads all running backs in receptions (61) and receiving yards (582).

Aaron Rodgers: After patiently waiting in the shadows of Brett Favre, Aaron Rodgers has emerged as one of the leagues top young quarterbacks. Rodgers is tough and has a laser for an arm. He has put up some decent numbers this season. His 104.9 passer rating is tied for third best in the league. And his 8.3 yards per attempt is ranks for fourth. But his offensive line has done a horrible job of protecting him, allowing a league worst 44 sacks. One can only imagine where his numbers would if he had protection similar to a Drew Brees (15 sacks) or Peyton Manning (10 sacks).

Prediction: This game is vital for both teams, which is why it is going to be so much fun to watch. The key to the game in my opinion has to be whether or not the Ravens can get to Aaron Rodgers. Not just pressure though, because that will not be enough. They need to take advantage of Green Bay’s O-line and put Rodgers on his back. Dating to the 2000 season, the Packers have posted an 18-4 record at Lambeau in December and January regular-season games. A bunch of things have to go right for the Ravens tonight. A few big plays from Rodgers and one or two costly turnovers by Baltimore will be the difference. RAVENS 26 – PACKERS 33

NFL Week 9 Game Preview: Baltimore Ravens (4-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (5-2)

Game Info:

Kickoff: 1 p.m. (EDT)

Site: Paul Brown Stadium (65,515) · Cincinnati, OH

TV: CBS

Announcers: Dick Enberg (play-by-play), Dan Fouts (color)

Previous Meeting:

In the teams’ last meeting on Oct. 11, the Bengals drove 80 yards and scored the game-winning TD with 22 seconds remaining, stunning the Ravens. It was the third straight win for the Bengals, and each of those victories came after trailing in the fourth quarter. Carson Palmer’s 20-yard pass to Andre Caldwell in the endzone sealed the victory for the Cincinnati. Cedric Benson rushed for 120 yards on 27 carries, becoming the first back in 40 games to gain 100 or more yards against the Ravens’ defense.

Keep Your Eye On:

CIN RB Cedric Benson. The fifth year back out of Texas has had resurgence in 2009, averaging 4.4 yards per carry (a career high) and scoring four TD’s (one shy of tying his career best of five). After 4 mediocre seasons in Chicago and another one last year in CIncy, Benson finally looks like the back everyone thought he would be when the Bears chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft. The Bengals are 3-0 this year when he gains 100 or more yards

BAL RB Ray Rice. This guy can do everything. He is explosive and remarkably powerful for his size. He is averaging 124.9 total yards from scrimmage per game this season, 2nd most in the NFL. In Rice’s last two games, he has averaged 11.2 yards per reception.

Carson Palmer vs. Ravens Defense: Back on Oct 11, Ed Reed intercepted Palmer in the first quarter and returned it for a TD. The rest of the game, Palmer was held in check. But on the Bengals final drive; he looked calm and collected while the Ravens’ defense looked slopy undisciplined. Chris Carr was called for an illegal contact penalty; Palmer completed four passes and ran six yards for a first down on 4^th and 1. Linebacker Ray Lewis was called for a personal foul when he delivered a hard hit Chad Ochocinco coming across the middle. And the final blow came on the 20-yard TD pass to Andre Caldwell right over the middle of the field. Getting pressure on Palmer early

Prediction: The Ravens showed last week that they despite their three consecutive losses, they are still capable of beating some of the best teams in the league. When this team doesn’t shoot themselves in the foot, they are a tough bunch to beat. The Bengals, however, are having a great season. They knocked off the Super Bowl champs, and came into Baltimore with confidence and walked out with a win. When their offensive machine is rolling, it is very difficult to stop. The difference in this one will be that Baltimore is more hungry for a win here than Cincinnati. RAVENS 34-21.

NFL Week 6 Game Preview: Baltimore Ravens (3-2) at Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

Game Info:

Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (EDT)

Site: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (64,121) · Minneapolis, MN

TV: CBS

Announcers: Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Dan Dierdorf (color)

Fast Facts:

– The Ravens travel to Minnesota for the first time in their regular season history. The Vikings are the last NFL team Baltimore has yet to play on the road.

– QB Joe Flacco has thrown at least a TD pass in 8 consecutive road games.

-Since 2006, the Vikings have allowed a league best 73.2 rushing yards per game. The Ravens rank 2^nd during that same span, giving up just 78.6 yards per game.

– The Vikings have given up just 4 turnovers on the season, the 2nd-lowest in the NFL.

Ravens Offense vs. Vikings Defense: The Ravens offense has sputtered in the past two games. After getting off to an explosive start, there has been a lack of balance between running and passing plays. Against the Bengals last week, they had a great deal of trouble developing any kind of rhythm, going 3-11 on 3^rd downs. Joe Flacco and company need to get on the board early in this contest to have a chance to win. Establishing the run, or at least attempting to, will be crucial. Minnesota’s run defense consistently ranks among the league’s best. And at 311 and 317 pounds respectively, Kevin and Pat Williams are big reasons why (pardon the pun). Pat is a savvy 13 year veteran who can singlehandedly shut down an opponent’s running game. Former University of Maryland standout E.J. Henderson patrols the middle of the field at middle linebacker and has a tremendous nose for the ball. If the Ravens are going to gain significant chunks of yardage this Sunday, they are going to have to do it by going to the outside with Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. Le’Ron McClain had zero rushing attempts in week 4 and only two last week. I’m looking for him to get more involved in the ground game this week. Receiver Derrick Mason was shut out a week ago for just the second time in 69 games as a Raven. Look for him to bounce back in a big way. Flacco is going to have to be quick in getting rid of the football because defensive end Jared Allen is simply a beast. Left tackle Jared Gaither is scheduled to return from his neck injury and play this week. Keep an eye on how he handles Allen. Two weeks ago against the Packers, Allen registered 4.5 sacks, a career high.  He also forced a fumble, and recovered it.  And he sacked Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the end zone in the second half for a safety.

Vikings Offense vs. Ravens Defense: Adrian Peterson is widely regarded as the best back in the league today; some even say he has the potential to be one of the best of all time. He is fast, agile, powerful, and smart. He is the heartbeat of the Minnesota offense and limiting his production is priority number one for the Ravens defense. Don’t forget about former Raven Chester Taylor. He is averaging a little over four receptions a game, so expect him to get a few balls thrown his way in the flats. Baltimore is fresh off of giving up a 100-yard rusher in Cedric Benson. It will be interesting to see if they have a repeat performance of last week or if the front seven can hold their ground against this talented backfield. And at quarterback its good ole Brett Favre. Love him or hate him, he is back and he is good. He can still throw lasers all over the field with great precision. His completion percentage of 69.1 is a career high. And he has only thrown two interceptions while tossing nine touchdowns. His footwork is a little slower than it was in his prime, so if the pocket breaks down he’s very likely to be sacked. The Baltimore pass rush has to get to #4 early and often to give the secondary a chance to make some plays.

Prediction: I’d say it’s a stretch to call this a must win game for Baltimore. But they really do need a win here. Going into the bye week with a record of 4-2 is a heck of a lot better than going in losing three straight and being 3-3. The key to the game has to be the Ravens’ offense. You have to assume that the D is going to give up some big plays. With Peterson in the backfield, there’s a great chance of that happening. The offense has to be more balanced than they have been lately and Joe Flacco has to be the confident guy that efficiently won 2 road playoff games last year. All teams face adversity. Right now the ravens are facing a ton of it. They a sour taste in their mouth after losing last week at home with first place in the division on the line. They have the talent and the experience necessary to win this game and I say they do. RAVENS 31 – VIKINGS 26

Week 5 Game Preview: Cincinnati Bengals (3-1) at Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

Game Info:

Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. (EDT)

Site: M&T Bank Stadium (71.008) · Baltimore, MD

TV: CBS

Announcers: Gus Johnson (play-by-play), Steve Tasker (color)

Fast Facts:

-33.3 percent (14/42) of Baltimore’s offensive drives have ended in touchdowns this season — the highest percentage of any team in the league.

-Cincinnati and Baltimore are tied with three other teams for the league lead in red zone TD percentage at 66.7%. The Ravens have 12 TD’s in 18 red zone trips, while the Bengals have scored 8 TD’s in 12 red zone visits.

-Since 2003, when Marvin Lewis took over as Bengals head coach, the Ravens and Bengals defenses rank 1-2 in the NFL in takeaways. The Ravens lead with 205, and the Bengals are second at 198.

-Cincinnati has allowed a running back to gain at least 93 yards in back to back games.

-The Ravens have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 39 consecutive regular season games.

Ravens Offense vs. Bengals Defense: After suffering a neck injury last week against the Patriots, it is unlikely that left tackle Jared Gaither will play this Sunday. If that is the case, Michael Oher will switch over from the right side over to the left as he did last week. He will have his hands full though, going up against defensive end Antwan Odom. Odom is tied for first in the league with eight sacks this season. Of Baltimore’s 66 offensive plays last week, only 17 of them were running plays. They will need more balance if they want to keep the Bengals D in check. Joe Flacco and his receivers can only do so much when the opposing defense knows what you are going to do. Le’Ron McClain had zero carries in Week 4. Look for him to get a little more involved this week. Willis McGahee has been a touchdown machine. He scored in his sixth straight game last Sunday and now has nine TDs (7 rush, 2 rec) since Week 16 of 2008, the most of any NFL player during that span.

Bengals Offense vs. Ravens Defense: Quarterback Carson Palmer is off to a mediocre start, with a 75.2 QB rating, which ranks 24th in the league. He has six TD passes but has also thrown five interceptions. Running Back Cedric Benson ranks third in the AFC and is tied for fourth in the league with 367 rushing yards. He is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has two touchdowns. Chad Ochocinco is the team’s leading receiver with 17 catches, a 15.2-yard average and three touchdowns. The story with Baltimore’s defense this year has been their vulnerability through the air. The run defense is as good as it’s ever been, holding opponents to an average of 59.5 yards a game, tops in the NFL.

Prediction: The Bengals are a good football team. If it weren’t for a miracle ending to their week 1 game against Denver, they would be 4-0. They squeaked out an overtime win over the lowly Browns last week, but have also come back after trailing double digits to the world champion Steelers. I wouldn’t be shocked if this turns out to be a close game late. But I just don’t see them finishing the job. The Ravens are a great football team at home. I don’t see them losing, especially with first place in the division on the line. RAVENS 30 – BENGALS 21.