BALTIMORE RAVENS (0-1) 27 DENVER BRONCOS (1-0) 49
SPORTS AUTHORITY PARK AT MILE HIGH STADIUM:
The Baltimore Ravens have a 2 game Delay Of Game streak going. Before the season was started, we had a 50 minute delay and just extra time with Ryan Seacrist. The NFL must really hate Baltimore. After all, the Ravens have leaped frogged the Panthers and Jaguars in all aspects of a franchise, and gave us a Kieth Urban Concert in lieu of the home game (just as happy they opened on the road and I could watch at home and the team’s feelings was we had to make the trip and at least get a “bye” of 5 days before practicing, and after the game, I am not sure 5 days will do it).
The Baltimore Ravens lost the coin toss and received the kick off. Baltimore had a 8 yd 3 and out with the Broncos having a 6 and out for 18 yd . Into the 7th quarter of play, still even. Flacco then led Baltimore on an 10 play 80 TD drive. Going 5-7 with 59 yd and ending with a 2 yd Vonta Leach TD reception. There was also 21 yd on 3 rushes. The Broncos had a non scoring 41 yd 3′ 58″ drive. The teams traded punts into the second quarter. Unfortunately on the Denver punt, Jones called for a fair catch and was letting the punt go past him when Bryden Trawick, S, R, plowed into a defenseless Jacoby Jones and leveled him like being dumped from an overhead spin. That was a bump in the game road and was quickly followed by trip into the ditch with a Flacco to Stokely interception and a Manning to Julius Thomas, TE, R, to tie the game. Baltimore went on a second 80 yd drive with a Ray Rice 1 yd TD run. Marshall Yanda fell on Michael Oher and rolled his ankle, a wheel fell off. Neither starter returned to the game. With Jones out, all other kick returners were gone, Bobby Rainey, Tandon Doss, or on the non-playing list due injury was Deonte Thompson. The car left the ditch and was careening down the road on two wheels. Manning took the Broncos on an 80 yd TD drive, Baltimore went 3 and out and after a Sam Koch punt and an Albert McClellan personal foul, and a Manning sack Baltimore goes upon an 82 yd drive and a FG.
The Ravens went into halftime with a 3 point lead and 8 quarters later (after Divisional Game) the teams were essentially tied. What adjustments were made? Baltimore has to deal with no Jacoby Jones and no Michael Oher. Marlon Brown, WR, R, was now tossed into the fray. Rick Wagner, T, R, was put in place of Michael Oher who has not missed a game. With Oher in Flacco was 12/19 and 22/43 after Oher was out and running for his life.
I made it into the beginning of the 4th quarter but with the Ravens going no where and me to work, thank god it was an away game and off to bed. Manning went onto 7 TD passes and got some revenge on January’s loss but the Ravens still have the Lombardi Trophy. But for 30 minutes, he made it look like he was playing the Colorado Buffaloes.
THE GOOD:
In the first half, Flacco directed 3 80+ yd scoring drives. The line gave him protection and he had time. The running game was so so. With Oher at RT, Flacco and the Ravens were 12 of 19 with a TD and with Wagner replacing Oher, 22 of 43 and running for his life. Much is made of the 58 yards rushing but without Oher there was no right side movement and with the turnovers, and the Ravens behind by 11, the run is gone and Denver’s D just laid their ears back and went red dog ballistic. The Ravens’ Defense got 4 sacks missing Arthur Jones. Dumervil-Suggs will put a scare in QBs this season and if they are blocked others can run free. Marlon Brown,WR, R, maybe our next young find. He had an exciting Exhibition Season and caught his first TD pass as a pro. Every team has a game like this each season, hopefully we will not see this again for 15 games.
THE UGLY:
Just like the Detroit Lions in 2005 or the New England game in Baltimore in 2007, the lack of control, Personal Foul Penalties, stupid penalties reared their ugly head. The Ravens led the league in penalty yards last season and cannot repeat that, especially against good teams. Free 15 yard chunks is too much. Although they held against the run, the defense had poor tackling on a number of the Broncos long plays and there was communication and coverage problems with the Defense. Also, not getting off the field on 3rd downs. The D did give up 3 running plays of greater than 5 yards which moved the chains or shorten FrankenNeck’s passes. Not figuring out how to cover Julius Thomas,TE, he is going to be a beast, the breakout TE this year. Dallas Clark’s hands, at 34 he looks worse than Stokely at 37. Ed Dickson, grow some hands man. You want to be the man, hold the ball. Michael Oher, sprained ankle but uglier, Jacoby Jones out for the first half of the season (is Tandon Doss available and will he come back?). The missed challenge that was the beginning of the Ravens melt and it was not pretty. Flacco’s dropped passes. Not that he did not throw 2 INTS and almost a 3rd but can the Ravens get any receivers to hold the ball or do we have a bunch of DBs masquerading as WRs? Denver also had revenge on its mind after the embarrassment last January and was ready where the Ravens, just do not have enough at this moment in the season to counter balance. I did not expect a 16-0 season and Denver is a top team and everyone’s pick for the Super Bowl. It is a long season.
UP NEXT:
The Cleveland Browns, 2.0 come to Baltimore to watch the Ravens raise the SB banner. Will we continue with the firsts, like Harb’s losing his first home opener or will we continue with his record with not losing to the Browns?
CINCINNATI BENGALS:
The Bengals are becoming less of the Bungles after two trips to the Play Offs but are hunting for a win. Andy Dalton, QB has improved each season but can he take it to the next level? He has the WRs led by A.J. Green, one of the best of the NFL receivers and Mohamed Sanu and Marvin Jones will reduce Green’s double team. If not Pro-Bowl TE Jermaine Grisham will catch the ball. The running backs led by BenJarvus Green_Ellis are quite serviceable for the AFC North. The O Line seems quite strong at Tackle with Andrew Whitworth at RT and Andre Smith is at LT. The interior weakens from guard through center with center the weakest position. The D Line is a package. DEs Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson are terrors. Dunlap signed a 6 year deal and Johnson was hit with the Franchise Tag, they are good. At Defensive Tackle, Gino Atkins is the best by far and Pro Football Focus puts him as the best by 54.7 points. At LB they picked up James Harrison, late of the Steelers , to keep Rey Maualga and Vontaze Burfict company. A solid LB core but only 5 LBs for a 3-4 D (?). At DB the Bengals held firm on a solid corp. The kicking team is solid as are the Bengals. Looking at the first quarter, they have a tough schedule. Opening up at the Bears and then taking on the Steelers and Packers at home before ending at the Browns. They get a 3 game stretch with the Bills, Lions, and Jets which can be the light part of their schedule. Let’s give them 10-6 for the season and into the Play Offs for the 3rd year.
CLEVELAND BROWNNS:
The Browns, 2.1, are probably just another clone of Browns, 2.0, with Norv Turner as OC( this is where he excels, not as HC). With Brandon Weeden and Colt McCoy at QB, probably the weakest combo in the AFC North. But Turner is a QB magician, see Troy Aikman, Philip Rivers, et al. He just cannot run a team. With Trent Richardson they have one of the better RBs in the North. Weeden’s receivers and TEs are mediocre at best. The O Line is anchored by Alex Mack, C and Joe Thomas at LT after that the line is mediocre. Beyond Jabal Shepard at DE, the D Line drifts into obscurity. LB and DBs at best are average. And the kicking team, cuts Phil Dawson who is solid inside the 50 but signed are dear friend, Billy Cundiff. Looking at their schedule, 5-11.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS:
At QB, with Rapisberger, the Steelers have one of the best QBs in the league but he is beaten up and the question now is when does the beating takes its toll? He is big and tough but one cannot stand the beating he takes and not have a dramatic drop off at some point, Unlike the Ravens, the Steelers keep 3 QBs. Except for 2008, Rapisberger has not played a full season. As we age durability takes a hit. They have an above average RB group with Issac Redman leading the way early with last years injured sensation Le’Veon Bell coming on later in this season. At WR head case Mike Wallace took his show to Miami and they have an above average corp with Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders. With Heath Miller hurt, the Steelers are about as good as the Ravens at TE. The O Line is suspect again which leaves Rapisberger in danger. Mike Pouncy rates high but cannot finish a season and must have intelligence questioned for visibly supporting Aaron Heernandez (yes innocent until proven guilty but a lot of evidence piling up agin him). Rapisberger may find himself like his women, on his back against his will. Defensively the D Line is quite good but on the D we have 4 starters with 12 years and 2 with 11 years, half the starters are in their 30s and Polamalou is coming off a couple of injury seasons. This could weigh on the team as the season progresses. The LBs and DBs are good until age catches up with this group (see Ravens last year as season wore on). The kicking team is average but solid. Looking into their schedule. the Steelers will probaly be the 3rd AFC North team in the Play Offs with a 9-7 or 10-6 record. Their coaching staff is tops.
BALTIMORE RAVENS:
Hopefully we have seen the worse but in the NFL, you never know. Their O line and WR are quite suspect due to lack of depth. The D is going to be special. At QB and RB the ravens are solid and as is their starting O Line, unfortunately as Oher’s injury showed, there is no depth. And with Jones out for the first half (4-6 weeks following Week One, KR is suspect until Deonte Thompson returns. The DBs have to tighten up their communication and coverage and the MLBs have got to step up and control the middle. Kick coverage has been a problem for the past 5 years and so far looks the same. Kicking the Ravens have the best in the NFL. If the WRs find some stickum Flacco can be a top rated QB. Like all QBs he needs some help, a block and a catch but he can put the ball there. The coaching staff is tops and they will now earn their money. And we need to see what the Wiz can dig up this week to fill in some gaps at WR, KR, and STs but it is late. Not trying to be a homer but if these problems can be bandaged by coaching and players living up to potential then 11-5 is possible but so can be 8-8. Life in the NFl.
LEADERSHIP:
Much has been made by the loss of veteran leadership, ie, Ray Lewis. I think this is greatly over blown. Marshall Yanda is the only player on the roster who played with Lewis at his peak. Chris Collinsworth made the worthless comment about Albert McClellan’s Personal Foul would have received an earful from Lewis and would not do it again, Let’s go back to Detroit in 2005, Ray Lewis at his peak the Ravens had 21 penalties for 147 yds against the Lions with Lewis and Reed in charge at their peak of the Defense. The NE Pats in Baltimore on a blustery cold December night, 13 penalties for 100 yds including Bart Scott standing next to Ray Lewis throwing a Refs flag. This leadership debate is just TV fodder and the NFL Soap Opera. Suggs and Dumervil are going to let assholes interfere with their march to greatness and for Dumervil a SB? No way. Flacco is going to let the O sputter or Ray Rice will, not a chance. Hopefully the Ravens just need time to become a team which happens every NFL season, some more than others and with all the new D starters, some bumps are going to happen.
PICKS:
Cincinnati at Chicago: Chicago -2 Take the two points and Cincinnati but Chicago wins straight up
Miami at Cleveland: Cleveland -2. Take Miami and the points and straight up to win
Tennessee at Pittsburgh: Steelers -6.5 Take Pittsburgh and the points. It is a straight up Pitt win
Ravens Purple And Black Sundays 