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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.For our defense, Baltimore poses many of the same problems that Atlanta posed - a balanced offense with a big-play QB and a strong running game. They have a solid OL and 3 good RBs. Their WRs were considered weak going into the season, but they have managed so far. They are average over 34 PPG through 3 games.
It will be a good test of our defense to see whether we can continue to hold opponents to low scoring games. Through 3 games our defense has given up just over 14 PPG (17 + 16 + 10 = 43 points, not counting the Brady INT for a TD against Buffalo). 34 PPG vs. 14 PPG - something's gotta give.
Offensively, this should be a reprisal of the NY game and should give us a chance at redemption. Baltimore will attack from all angles, especially with their LBs. Their DL is stronger than NYs, their secondary weaker overall (their CBs are only average, though Ed Reed makes up for a lot). I doubt they have anyone who can shut down Randy Moss the way Darrell Revis did. If Welker is back, it will be a big plus. The key for the Pats offensively is obviously how they handle the defensive pressure. I'm guessing they will do a better job than they did against NY, and hopefully do a lot of the things I had hoped they would do against the Jets - run, use play action, use screens, use misdirection, use 2 TE formations with extra blockers to pick up the rush, etc.
Baltimore will be a tough game - though the weakness in the DB's will surely be exploited to greater extent than was the case against Atlanta.
Flacco is getting plenty of praise for his first 3 games - and rightly so, but who have they really played?
A rebuilding KC, a struggling San Diego team and a dire Cleveland team
Against Rivers they shipped 436 yards through the air and 26 points - i'm guessing, that without Tomlinson, they have become a good deal more one dimensional as an offense..
The way to attack this defense is to pass to open up the run - but i'd definitely recommend less shotgun (and yes, especially in the redzone).
Maroney, Morris and Taylor had a very nice outing this week - as a trio they can be very dangerous - I hope we don't get too far away from the relative balance of the Atlanta game.
I've been impressed with the efforts of the 4 man front to stop the run so far - Mcgahee and Rice are a decent tandem so they'll have to be consistent in defending them.
Flacco will be easier to defend if we can make him become more one dimensional - whether that be by scoreboard pressure or by nullifying the running game.
Flacco reminds me of Rivers in a lot of ways (not the way they carry themselves, the way they play).
The Baltimore and Atlanta games struck as really similar in terms of our chances. Both have pretty good to very good QBs, good running games, and a defense that is hit or miss.
I can't really gauge the Baltimore defense though. They did enough to win, but apart from the shellacking that took place yesterday, their defense hasn't been vintage.
For the love of anything holy, don't cite The Wire as a representation of the city. They have one of the most ridiculously Yuppytastic sections of any city I have ever seen.
I think our Oline and running game is better than Atlanta's. Our Oline is stacked with the addition of Oher who allows Heap to go out in patterns. While our WR have been considered "weak" they have been fantastic so far. Especially Kelly Washington who is playing like a man possessed after finally getting "his shot". I have still yet to find a DB who can cover Mason in the mid range passing game. Not flashy but gets the job done.
If your defense holds us to under 21 I will be surprised and you will deserve to win. I think the Pats will put up around 20 or so on our defense.
We dont have anyone to shut down Moss, but in 2007 he had a minimal impact against us with 4 for 34. We might not have the same players,but he will see the same coverage. The Chargers went max protect and just chucked it up to their 6'5 235 lb monsters all day. I think we sure that up and plan for that against you guys.
What have we really done? We have destroyed the 2 teams we were supposed to and beat a good SD team on the road, even when Rivers threw for 400 plus on us. And yes, we annihilated the Chiefs despite what the score said (501 yds to 188, biggest difference in yards since the year 2000 Super Bowl team) with them getting 14 garbage points off crazy plays.We dismantled the Browns 34-3 and no matter what you say they are an NFL teams and you don't normally win by 31 in the NFL.
I would not count on any of those guys doing much of anything. Matter of fact I will almost guarantee it. No one runs on us. The way to beat us is 5 wide through the air, not on the ground. Most teams try for about a quarter to run it, then just give up and throw it.
I will go so far as to say we have one of the best running games/ Oline in the league right now. Forget about a 2 headed monster we have 3, all who do things a little different then the other. Nothing has phased Flacco to this point and if you get up by 7 or 10 this offense wont break a sweat worring about it. This is the 2009 Ravens, not the Ravens of the past who can't come back from a deficit.
It is an absolute insult to compare our defense to Atlanta's and say we are "hit or miss". Our defense got rung up by the Chargers and one of the best passing attacks in the league, yet we are still 7th overall. Rest assure we have made the corrections and I doubt Brady will be putting up those numbers on us. he wil throw for 300,but 430 is not happening. We had a terrible matchup with those huge receivers in SD,outside of Moss that is not the case in this game.
The undefeated Ravens (3-0) rank second in the league in total offense after three games with an average of 430.3 yards per contest, eight yards less than the New Orleans Saints.
And they've been perfectly balanced, ranking fifth in passing offense with an average of 273.7 yards and fifth in rushing offense with a 156.7 average.
Alex: I'm worried about the Patriots. We haven't shown a great pass rush and our corners are undersized. How can we stop New England's passing attack so that we don't have another San Diego on our hands?
Mike Preston: Blitz the heck out of New England quarterback Tom Brady just like the New York Jets did two weeks ago. If you can hit Brady or make him move, you've got a shot.
The Ravens have to do a good job of mixing and hiding coverages. But, that's what happens when you play strong teams. Your weaknesses get exposed. Another key for the Ravens is being able to run the ball. Brady can't hurt you if he is standing on the sideline. The Ravens have to control the tempo and the clock.
Dave: How would you grade the Ravens' offensive line through Week 3? Are they one of the best in the NFL and which areas do they need to improve on?
Mike Preston: The Ravens' offensive line has performed well. I can't say where they rank among the best in the league because I haven't seen all the teams play. It's way too early to tell. But it's a young group, and they have started off very strong.
Despite only giving up 3 points to minor league team Cleveland Browns, I am not convinced that the Ravens D is legit. KC and SD put up 24 and 26 points on Ray Lewis' team.
We gave up 14 points to KC, 3 to Cleveland, and 26 to San Diego on the road; none of those totals bother me, I'm just annoyed by how small our CBs are, which bodes well for Moss especially.
What are the physical stats on your corners and who are they?
Ravens 10 - Giants 30
That was probably one of the bigger letdowns in Ravens history.
To be sure, the Ravens have lost many more important playoff games, but the Giants ran all over us last year like no one has in a decade.
That was probably one of the bigger letdowns in Ravens history.
To be sure, the Ravens have lost many more important playoff games, but the Giants ran all over us last year like no one has in a decade.
And we now have one of their run-blocking TE's.
How much has the D changed since then, personnel-wise?