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.
Your Oline is probably better than Atlanta's, though Gaither tends to blow hot and cold. It's not like when you had Jonathan Ogden, who could shut down the Russian Army by himself. Your WRs have played much better than expected to date, but 2/3 games have been against very poor defenses. I think Leigh Bodden will contain Derrick Mason, and the Pats will key on the running game and make Flacco and the other WRs beat us. Mason is a fine WR (we tried to get him), but I don't see him having a huge game.
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.
Anything can happen, and this game could easily go either way. But if I had to hazard a guess, we will focus on containing your running game and on trying to confuse Flacco. I see the Ravens putting up 14-17 points, with Flacco throwing at least one significant interception. IF TB continues to improve and can avoid turnovers, I see the Raven's secondary being vulnerable. My prediction is the Pats put up 24-28 points and hold Baltimore to 14-17, but it's just a guess.
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.
I just don't see your secondary having the talent to shut down our passing attack. I don't want 430 yards passing, thank you. But I wouldn't be surprised to see TB throw for something like 300 yards and 3 TDs. If Welker is back healthy I think we will throw Welker and Edelman both at you and drive your guys crazy with the short passing game, and then go over the top to Moss, Watson, Baker and Galloway. The big questions are whether we can run on your defense at all, and how we handle the pass rush.
The first 3 quotes you cited were from my post, so I have replied to each of your responses. The remaining quotes were not from me.
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 Ravens have so far done what good teams do: beat up on inferior competition (KC, Cleveland), and win the tough ones against other good teams (SD). They've executed well so far, and are clearly one of the elite teams right now.
I do think your offense is similar to Atlanta's. Slightly better OL, slightly more vertical passing attack with Flacco, similar use of the TE, WRs decent but not exceptional, and an excellent running attack. You don't have a Michael Turner, but you have 3 excellent RBs with different styles and use them to complement each other. Best offense the Ravens have had this decade.
Your defense is clearly vastly superior to Atlanta's. But so far this season it has not looked like the Ravens' defenses of old. It's too early to tell. I think your secondary is vulnerable, and you've lost some talent at LB. But it's still a potentially top defense. Ngata is a monster - I'd build my defense around him if I could pick one guy, even over guys like Suggs and DeMarcus Ware.
You guys obviously have a top team. No disrespect. This game could easily be a preview of the AFCCG, though that's a long ways away and lots could change between now and then.
