Ravens Go West, Face Chargers
Fresh off their offensive explosion against the Chiefs, the Ravens head west for a 4:15 start today against the Chargers. No shortage of angles on this one.
Starting with the obvious: no LaDainian Tomlinson. Conventional wisdom would play this to the Ravens’ advantage, but I don’t think so. The combination of Darren Sproles (small, quick, a playmaker) and Michael Bennett (a solid if unspectacular backup) has as much potential to hurt the Ravens as a declining Tomlinson — maybe more.
Temper that, however, with the fact that the Bolts will be without both starting center Nick Hardwick and, probably, right guard Louis Vasquez. The Ravens are not the team to face with two starting O-linemen out.
San Diego’s hopes, then, would seem to rest in Philip Rivers. He’s got the talent to pick apart the Ravens secondary. Whether or not he’ll have the time and open receivers to do it is very much in question.
For the Ravens’ part, they’re healthy and coming off a strong win. Their biggest concerns are minimizing mistakes and mental errors and playing better pass defense. Traveling doesn’t help with the former, basic personnel issues lie at the heart of the latter.
Beyond all that, we’re talking about two good teams. No obvious edge, no glaring differential in talent.
I think this one gets decided by which team plays smarter and cleaner. Penalties and special teams play will matter even more than they normally do. The Ravens have to come in with discipline and crisp execution — anything less and they don’t win.
My hunch is that they will, but it’s no gimme. 17-14 Ravens.
I will get over you
I know I will
I’ll pretend my ship’s not sinking
And I’ll tell myself
I’m over you
Because I’m the king of wishful thinking
@Greg – Ahhhh bad memories of when Drew only posted song lyrics for awhile ahhhh….
I’m feeling confident in this game although if I was a guy on a sport show and not a guy in Baltimore, I’d probably have to go with the Chargers at home. But honestly, it is way closer of a matchup for it to be that simple. It’s a big test for all facets of the Ravens game so I’m excited to see what’s up.
I’m itching for a big Ed Reed play.
@Greg – My prediction? Or just in general?
to me this is the first game where the ravens find out what life with dominique foxworth and fabian washington is all about. for years they had the physical corner in mccalister and the crazy blitz packages to make the qb uncomfortable. but with the new 4 3 defense, the ravens better hope they can get that penetration with four, or better yet break out the blitzes (my preference).
san diego has some big ass physical receivers so it will be interesting to watch.
crazily enough, i see this as the real statement game for the ravens offense if anything. the defense could obviously win the game as they’re capable of doing, but my gut is telling me that this just might end up being a last man standing type offensive game. do you hear me steve hauschka?
also i meant to mention last week that i’m kinda glad keyshawn said what he said. these receivers are pissed off right now, and i LOVE the ravens when they feel like they’re being doubted by the national media, as they were on offense AND defense last week.
all that said, ravens 27-24. if it’s flipped around, i won’t be surprised.
also this is the one day EVER i’m a jay cutler fan. i hope that fuckface has a career day.
and right on cue both teams are exploding offensively.
also J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS!
i seriously felt this game coming MAINLY BECAUSE THIS NEW DEFENSIVE SCHEME (and cornerback play) IS SUSPECT.
but i won’t bitch too hard til we lose i guess.
jesus my prediction reads like a game summary.
i must be the number one person in the country at getting pissed off at ugly wins but FUCK THIS haha
@Big Ben’s Motorcycle – Yeah, but it’s not completely unwarranted. Nail-biters week after week result in wins only so many times. That said, our red zone defense was the tits. Very impressive.
My boy Foxworth got severely beat on that size mismatch early on, but redeemed himself late in the 4th quarter with back to back good plays. The receivers couldn’t really get open, but how about McGahee this year so far?
Every time Sproles had the ball, you knew he was going to break one tackle. Damn is he slippery. Except for, you know, that last play. RAY!
yeah ray makes so many tackles and all but that play was the first one in years where i was like damn, electric ray of 2000.
1st place afc north so fuck it we won.
@neal s – Go West. Your title reminded me of how that song helped me through my last breakup.
@Greg – Ahh, gotcha.