Bring on the Ravens

[Double TE]

I just say use the naked eye test forget all the stupid stats. I am sure Pitt fans were comfortable with their stats when facing the Broncos.

To the naked eye test, the Ravens took a physical beating last week while NE not so much. Although Hernandez got dinged a bit. How do the Ravens stop the O that has Welker, Hernandez and Gronk lined up on the same side? Its the pick your poison formation.

Also now when teams only rush three or four and drop the rest in coverage, Brady audibles and hands the ball off, even in a shot gun to Woodhead and gets 6-7 yards. You counter that by putting NE in third and long situations.

I don't think the Ravens running game is better than Denver's although Rice is filthy. And NE held Denver in check. Unless Flacco turns into Jim Kelly, we have a big edge just based on the naked eye test.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

What will the teams who win the coin toss do? I say if pats win they will play D first..as always even though i love the thought of getting a TD first drive..but you know they won't receive it

BUT..if the Ravens get it..they will put pats O out there first as their strength is on D

 

[mgcolby]

What will the teams who win the coin toss do? I say if pats win they will play D first..as always even though i love the thought of getting a TD first drive..but you know they won't receive it

BUT..if the Ravens get it..they will put pats O out there first as their strength is on D

I think the Pats defer and the Ravens receive. I think the Ravens would want nothing more than to go on a long 6-9 minute scoring drive to start the game.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

I think the Pats defer and the Ravens receive. I think the Ravens would want nothing more than to go on a long 6-9 minute scoring drive to start the game.

See i see the opposite..if their D sets the tone and makes pats go 3 and out..that is huge..usually you always put your strongest out first

 

[mgcolby]

I just say use the naked eye test forget all the stupid stats. I am sure Pitt fans were comfortable with their stats when facing the Broncos.

To the naked eye test, the Ravens took a physical beating last week while NE not so much. Although Hernandez got dinged a bit. How do the Ravens stop the O that has Welker, Hernandez and Gronk lined up on the same side? Its the pick your poison formation.

Also now when teams only rush three or four and drop the rest in coverage, Brady audibles and hands the ball off, even in a shot gun to Woodhead and gets 6-7 yards. You counter that by putting NE in third and long situations.

I don't think the Ravens running game is better than Denver's although Rice is filthy. And NE held Denver in check. Unless Flacco turns into Jim Kelly, we have a big edge just based on the naked eye test.

And I would say that is why the public ends up on the wrong side of bets more often than not and why Vegas loves taking bets on sports.

Let me ask you this, if you were forced to lay money down on the Ravens-Texans game last week who would you have taken based on the naked eye test and how the teams finished up the year:

Ravens -9
Texans +9

???

 

[mgcolby]

See i see the opposite..if their D sets the tone and makes pats go 3 and out..that is huge..usually you always put your strongest out first

I pondered that as well and normally I would agree with you. But as we saw last week that can back fire on you quickly.

If the Pats take the opening drive of the game and march it down the field and score, it does several things:

1. Inserts seeds of doubt into some of the Ravens defenders
2. Puts even more pressure on Flacco to score on his first drive
3. Gets the Pats defense playing with their ears pinned back.
4. Gets the crowd into it even more


I agree that if the Ravens win that battle on the opening drive then it could be a huge momentum booster, especially if they get a turnover. But again, that can go the oppposite way very quickly.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

well we know what pats will do as they have done all year

 

[kkpat]

Is there a scheme to limit the Patriots' TEs? | National Football Post

Scheme to contain PATS

 

[jmt57]

Is there a scheme to limit the Patriots' TEs? | National Football Post

Scheme to contain PATS

First off, thanks for not starting a new thread on this and instead posting it here. It is a very interesting piece, but I'm getting dizzy with the number of new threads being started today.

Anyways, what Bowen overlooks is that it leaves both Welker and Branch in single coverage. That's the dilemma with the Pats offense; no matter how well you scheme, it's extremely difficult to effectively cover Gronk AND Hernandez AND Branch AND get an effective pass rush on Brady - even for a defense that is as talented as the Ravens are.


Edit: I thought I remembered there being a thread on this recently, but as I mentioned above, with the number of new threads being started in the last day or two this one was certainly easy to miss. There's a lot of good conversation on Bowen's plan here:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...204-matt-bowen-nfp-how-hed-try-stop-pats.html

 

[mrr185]

Hey guys, new to the board! Pumped about the Pats game vs. the Ratbirds. Here is a video to pump us up for the game!!

Pats playoff video - YouTube

 

[EJ Blitz]

Hey guys, new to the board! Pumped about the Pats game vs. the Ratbirds. Here is a video to pump us up for the game!!

Pats playoff video - YouTube

u trollin?

 

[Keyser Söze]

Imagine our defense put up a shut out.

That would be ******* amazing.

 

[Deus Irae]

Hey guys, new to the board! Pumped about the Pats game vs. the Ratbirds. Here is a video to pump us up for the game!!

Pats playoff video - YouTube

Over/under before banning?

 

[PatsWSB47]

Hey guys, new to the board! Pumped about the Pats game vs. the Ratbirds. Here is a video to pump us up for the game!!

Pats playoff video - YouTube

Cute. Welcome to the board I guess.

 

[mrr185]

I'm just trying to have a little fun with you guys. Looking forward to a good game on Sunday. Ton of respect for Belichick, Brady, Welker, Hernandez and Gronk. Yes im a Ravens fan. I was at the last Ravens/Pats game in Foxboro and had a great time at your stadium. How are you guys feeling about the game?

 

[PatsWSB47]

I'm just trying to have a little fun with you guys. Looking forward to a good game on Sunday. Ton of respect for Belichick, Brady, Welker, Hernandez and Gronk. Yes im a Ravens fan. I was at the last Ravens/Pats game in Foxboro and had a great time at your stadium. How are you guys feeling about the game?

You're improving. I go between confident and cautiously optimistic, given our playoff disappointments over the past couple of years. Still expect a win though:rocker:...need to keep the positive energy going. My condolences to you and your team. I know how you're going to feel Sunday night

 

[kkpat]

http://eye-on-football.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/34453330
Good analysis of the upcoming game

 

[mrr185]

Ha thanks, I gotta say I'm a bit nervous about this one. I've been listening to Boston sports talk everyday, NFL network, ESPiN and I think it boils down to which Raven team shows up. The one that came to play vs. the Jets, Steelers, Texans (the first time) can't be beat, or the one that lost to the jags, seahawks and the titans will get run out of the stadium. The one thing that sticks out to me is the fact that the Ravens have been relatively quiet all week, other than Reed's comments. Which I believe is a sign that the team is focused and is on a mission. It is the same analogy that you never pick a fight with the quiet kid at school and the one that runs his mouth can't back it up.
If Rice has a day it's over for you guys. No way you can block both Mt.Cody and Ngata without doubling one of them, then Suggs will get to Brady. One guy that doesn't get a lot of press but is a heck of a player that can rush the QB is Paul Kruger, he could make a play to change the game.
On a side note, I am also a PSU grad and was wondering your thought on BOB? and how he transitions to college?

Ravens 27 Pats 21

 

[mgcolby]

The spread on this game ranges anywhere from 7-9 points. I use Bodog or now Bovada and the spread has been -9 all week. At first the juice was -105 for the Pats and as the week progressed the spread stayed at -9, but the juice climbed for the Pats. At first I was leaning towards the Ravens and the points with my money. But then I started crunching the numbers. Every number, every eyeball test, and the season tells me the Pats win by 10+.

I was hoping the spread would drop to 8 or 7.5 but it hasn't. Tonight the juice went to +110 for the Pats -9. I couldn't help myself so I jumped on it.

I'm on the Pats big this weekend with more than my mouth. It is uncanny, every number, stat, no matter how you prep it, predicts 31 points for the Pats and 18-20 points for the Ravens. I have tracked spreads, stats, PPG, YPP.. etc.. for several years and I can't remember a game where all of the numbers fit and predicted everything nearly identical. The Pats can lose this game, there is no question about that. But if both teams hold true to form, we will be happy come 6pm Sunday night.

Here is hoping for a Pats victory, 1 point will do! But I can't shake this sneaking suspicion that it will be by much more.

Go Pats!

Normally I don't post my "plays" but this one is so strange (and I've had a few beers), so I feel like throwing it out there.

 

[princessbrady]

The spread on this game ranges anywhere from 7-9 points. I use Bodog or now Bovada and the spread has been -9 all week. At first the juice was -105 for the Pats and as the week progressed the spread stayed at -9, but the juice climbed for the Pats. At first I was leaning towards the Ravens and the points with my money. But then, I started crunching the numbers. Every number, every eyeball test, and the season tells me the Pats win by 10+.

I was hoping the spread would drop to 8 or 7.5 but it hasn't. Tonight the juice went to +110 for the Pats -9. I couldn't help myself so I jumped on it.

I'm on the Pats big this weekend with more than my mouth. It is uncanny, every number, stat, no matter how you prep it, predicts 31 points for the Pats and 18-20 points for the Ravens. I have tracked spreads, stats, PPG, YPP.. etc.. for several years and I can't remember a game where all of the numbers fit and predicted everything nearly identical. The Pats can lose this game, there is no question about that. But if both teams hold true to form, we will be happy come 6pm Sunday night.

Here is hoping for a Pats victory, 1 point will do! But I can't shake this sneaking suspicion that it will be by much more.

Go Pats!

Normally I don't post my "plays" but this one is so strange (and I've had a few beers), so I feel like

what does "juice" mean?

me personally I think I'd take the Ratbirds + the points. No way we beat them by 10. I think we win, but barely.