Division Round Playoffs: Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos

[Deus Irae]

Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

The time draws near. I thought it might be nice for each matchup to have threads for the thoughts and wisdom of those on the board and elsewhere. So, have at it...

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Manning has owned Ravens

 

[PATS16N0]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

I think Baltimore has a solid chance to end Denver's season and burst the little bubbles of Bronco fans everywhere.

Peyton has a great win/loss ratio against the Ravens but in 10 or 11 games against them, he's thrown almost half as many interceptions as he has touchdowns. 18/8.

That's not too spectacular.

If Baltimore executes, they can win this football game. There's a lot of experience on Baltimore's defense. They won't (or at least shouldn't) be out of place constantly which is most of the battle for the types of teams Peyton feeds on during the regular season. Ray Lewis may have botched that interception last week but he was in the right place to get it for a reason.

If Ray Rice and Flacco have good games, they should be able to score more than an inspired Raven defense will allow.

I think all Baltimore needs to do is execute a complete football game.

Denver is statistically the weakest team in the NFL when it comes to defending Tight Ends (something that makes me extremely confident against them). Baltimore didn't have their TE in last time, whats-his-face. They were injured on defense, Flacco had a horrible game, etc.

They don't have a lot of room for error, though.

 

[Gronkandez]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs aren't close to 100% and Lardarius Webb is done for the year. That's a lot to overcome in a hostile playoff road game. and Joe Flacco is...well, Joe Flacco.

It will be interesting to see how Manning plays in the cold weather but unfortunately I don't see an upset happening.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs aren't close to 100% and Lardarius Webb is done for the year. That's a lot to overcome in a hostile playoff road game. and Joe Flacco is...well, Joe Flacco.

It will be interesting to see how Manning plays in the cold weather but unfortunately I don't see an upset happening.

Plus, the Ravens have a short week and have to travel with their older, beat-up players. And, the game is being played at altitude. I anticipate a blowout.

 

[The Gr8est]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs aren't close to 100% and Lardarius Webb is done for the year. That's a lot to overcome in a hostile playoff road game. and Joe Flacco is...well, Joe Flacco.

It will be interesting to see how Manning plays in the cold weather but unfortunately I don't see an upset happening.

Well Joe Flacco DID outplay Brady last year in a hostile environment so he CAN do it.

 

[SHOWTIME15]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Plus manning is not a cold weather qb, and its goiung to be 20 degrees on saturday. Easily the coldest game of the year for the broncos.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Although I am in the camp that the Broncos are overrated, I don't see the Ravens winning this game. I don't care how they played last weekend. They always seem to step it up in emotional home games. And playing an one dimensional Colts who tends to play down to better opponents didn't hurt.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Baltimore's defense is playing alot better. They owned the Giants and Colts. They had a good effort against these Broncos if not for Flacco's turnovers and poor special teams. 17 of their 34 points came from a pick 6, a TD off a drive starting at the Ravens 39, and a FG off Flacco fumbling at Denver's 46. I believe they will contain Manning but as I've said, the key will be Flacco managing a good game and will probably have to put 20 points on the board. That is entirely possible against Denver but this is Joe Flacco.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Well Joe Flacco DID outplay Brady last year in a hostile environment so he CAN do it.

Sad but true. Pretty sure Brady would agree too. Thank you Sterling Moore for not letting the Legend of Joe Flacco begin at Gillette!

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Also, I know what you're all thinking: '"It's been a couple of hours since Uncle Rico updated us on the Denver weather forecast, and he hasn't done it yet in this thread. What gives"?

The wait is over:

5 Day Weather Forecast for Denver - weather.com

High of 20. Should be dropping as the game starts.

 

[mosi]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Manning has owned Ravens

What he said. Manning owns the Ravens, their mothers and their children. This game will be a total blow out. The Ravens superbowl was last week. Ray-ray did his last dance at home and can now retire. The donkeys will win 35-10. And people will question if Flacco is a true Elite QB.

 

[PATSYLICIOUS]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

What he said. Manning owns the Ravens, their mothers and their children. This game will be a total blow out. The Ravens superbowl was last week. Ray-ray did his last dance at home and can now retire. The donkeys will win 35-10. And people will question if Flacco is a true Elite QB.

Manning has beaten them with consistency but he's never actually 'blown them out' that I can recall. He's played fine but he's not putting up monster numbers. He's really been mostly fortunate that his defenses have been the one to really shut down the Ravens and make plays. So I'm not expecting him to blow them out the water here, I think that'll only happen if Flacco goes turnover happy.

 

[everlong]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

If Manning handles his nerves and the elements I don't think the Ravens can win. However with 20 degree temps, winds around 10 MPH and potential snow those dome/good weather passes just need to be a little off to becomes picks. Really that's the Ravens best chance. They turn Peyton over 3 or 4 times and Flacco throws up a couple of prayers that Bolden and Smith come down with.

 

[everlong]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Manning has beaten them with consistency but he's never actually 'blown them out' that I can recall.

In 07 the week after the Pats escaped to stay unbeaten they came out flat and Indy beat they by 30+ and it could have been much worse. But that is the exception to the rule.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Here's a more complete look at Manning vs Ravens:

Peyton Manning's on 9-game winning streak vs. Baltimore Ravens

Apparently he only beats them when he does NOT throw for more than 300 yards. Looking at the table in the column above, you could conclude that "Manning" has only beaten the Colts with his own strong play a few times.

And here's a column making the case for the cold favoring the Ravens.

Cold weather favors Ravens, not Manning - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN

Manning has never won a playoff game when the temperature at kickoff is below 40 degrees, losing in the postseason at New England (twice) and at the New York Jets. He threw one touchdown and seven interceptions in those games for a 46.2 passer rating, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Though ...

...
In two games this season with the glove, Manning is 2-0, with six touchdowns and one interception.

I believe those two "cold weather" wins were 35-45 degrees. Not quite the same as 20 and dropping.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

The ball is not round and quantum uncertainty sometimes reigns. Obviously Denver with Manning, a young big receiving corps and an aggressive defense should be favored over the injured aged Ratbirds, hampered by not elite Flacco, but any NFL player is capable of playing lights out on occasion and maybe Peyton has a stinker game like that against SD a couple years ago with something like 5 picks. Does rooting for the Ratbirds make me a bad person?

And what moron is giving these actual football assessment threads one star?

 

[ForThoseAboutToRock]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

What he said. Manning owns the Ravens, their mothers and their children. This game will be a total blow out. The Ravens superbowl was last week. Ray-ray did his last dance at home and can now retire. The donkeys will win 35-10. And people will question if Flacco is a true Elite QB.

Yeah it's a big opportunity for Flacco to put an exclamation point on the case he's trying to make for a new contract this offseason. If he plays well, pretty much regardless of win or loss, you figure Baltimore won't be able to afford to let him walk.

 

[JackBauer]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

Although I am in the camp that the Broncos are overrated, I don't see the Ravens winning this game. I don't care how they played last weekend. They always seem to step it up in emotional home games. And playing an one dimensional Colts who tends to play down to better opponents didn't hurt.

These are basically my sentiments.

I think the Ravens would at least have a chance to hang with a healthy Webb, but alas no such luck.

 

[CheeseMonkeys]

Re: Divisonal round breakdown: Ravens at Broncos

It's gonna be rough rooting for the Ravens but assuming we win our game, it will be much better playing at home for the AFCC. I think if the Ravens beat Denver they will have to be very lucky and either rattle manning early/win turnover battle. If that happens Hopefully they won't be so lucky the next game.

I wouldn't hate to see Pats at Broncos either... That would be an EPIC game. Manning is just not the QB I want to see our D matched up against.