Preview: Ravens vs Broncos - AFC Divisional Game

Could the Broncos be re-living the John Elway glory days with Peyton Manning?

• For the first time since the 1997-98 seasons, the Broncos faithful have something to be happy about going into this playoffs. They have a great QB behind center. Not since Elway have Broncos fans had so much optimistic hopes on winning another championship. Manning is having one of his better seasons at QB and if, he does pull off the championship feat, will have his second championship. That will tie him with his younger brother, Eli.

Can Ray Lewis continue to bring the energy needed for the Ravens defense to beat the Broncos?

• The Ravens defense going into the playoffs have been less impressive and had been that way since Lewis went out with this biceps's injury back in October. However, with him playing his last game in Baltimore, this defense played quite well against the up and coming Colts. Despite him dropping a very easy interception and the Ravens D being on the field for 37 minutes. If those two things happen again this weekend, the Ravens season will come to an end. 

Can Joe Flacco make enough big plays vs. this Broncos defense or will Broncos D be too much for Flacco?

• Flacco will have to play keep away with Manning if he hopes to win this game. Now the question is, will the vaunted Broncos D let him? Playing very well, the Broncos defense is holding opponents under 100 yards rushing and under 200 yards passing. If they have their way, they will take out both Flacco and Rice, which would be mean "Blowout City" for the Broncos. Can Flacco exploit the defense and use his strong arm to go over the heads of their safeties, all while trying to make sure that Von Miller doesn't take his head off? 

Remember 1996 season:

• I usually do one intangible with these previews, so I'll do one on a possible history lesson that Broncos don't want to hear. When was the last time the Broncos went 13-3 and was the #1 in the AFC? Well you guess, 1996. For those who remember this, it didn't end well. To add injury to insult, the Super Bowl that year was held in New Orleans. This year's Super Bowl is........you guessed it, New Orleans. That year the Broncos we're the most dominate team in the AFC with the 2nd place team that year being the New England Patriots, who happen to be the 2nd place team this year. If you believe in omens, then you know this may not end well for Broncos fans. Being a double-digit favorite against the upstart Jacksonville Jaguars, most people outside of Denver, believed that the Broncos would destroy them by at least 3 TD's. I sense that most think the same way with this weekend's game with the Ravens. The Jaguars won that game, which is considered by few as the biggest upset in NFL history. Something to think about for Broncos fans this weekend: BE VERY CAREFUL OF THIS GAME!!!

X-Factors: Ray Rice vs Broncos Front Line

• Can Ray Rice control the line of scrimmage and help take the load off Flacco?

Confidence Picks: Ravens (10) vs Broncos (10)

• QB's: Flacco (4) vs Manning (3)
• Defense: BAL (4) vs DEN (3)
• Coaching: Harbaugh (2) vs Fox (4)

Prediction: Ravens 27-24

Preview: Colts vs Ravens - AFC Wild Card

Can Flacco lead this Ravens team to a Super Bowl?

• This could be the "make or break" year for Flacco. Now we must admit, last year in the AFC Title game he played very well only to watch Lee Evans drop a sure game-winning TD and a Bill Cundiff game-tying field goal miss wide left. You would think that he would go through this season with a chip on his shoulder to go and get back to the game that's haunted him this season. But he's not playing up to par, and some have questioned if he's a elite QB. Well if he loses this game, those questions will become serious doubts as to if he'll ever reach that level of "elite". 

How will Luck fair out in his first playoff start?

• Well for his rookie season, he's done beyond what's needed for any other typical rookie QB. Now lets see how much he's really come along now that it's "Money Time". If the Ravens defense play how they've historically plays, then this could be a long day at the office for Luck. But if the Ravens D play the way they've played during this season, then it could be a easy afternoon for Luck. This will be a hard test for one Andrew Luck, but after the challenges this team has overcame over the last year, anything can happen.

Will Lewis and Suggs make a difference to a Raven's D that's has been struggling as of late? 

• Well to add one future first ballot Hall of Famer and a dominating Pro Bowl defensive player can make a difference to any defense in the NFL. All of this was BEFORE the news that came out this week about Ray Lewis hanging it up after this playoffs are over, now may add a new sense of urgency to a defense that's been slacking all season. If this the last hoorah for Lewis, then you better believe it that this defense will go out with a blaze and all hands on deck.

Colts Head Coach Chuck Pagano recovery from leukemia and the soon-to-be retired Ray Lewis, which story will motivate their team more?

• Before this week, the storyline of this game was going to be about the "Chuck Strong" (campaign that Colts used during the recovery of leukemia by their head coach) before the news came out that the Ravens franchise player was set to retire after the playoffs (or when their team gets eliminated). Pagano, who was the DC of the Ravens just last season, has had a huge response from his team after they found out about him having leukemia. Most could say that their season was decided on "Chuck Strong", which is a great story. Against, which could be the Ray Lewis last game at home in that stadium forever. Yea this could be a slight problem for the road team. 

X-Factors: Ray Lewis Retirement vs Chuck Strong Season

• Which will be that "extra" for each team: Chuck Strong for the Colts or Ray Lewis possible last game at home?

Confidence Pick: Colts (21) vs Ravens (9)

Prediction: 31-17, Ravens

2012 Super Bowl Predictions

The two teams who will be in New Orleans on February 3rd, 2013 is:

AFC Champions: Baltimore Ravens

• For this team, I believe that this could be the final swan song for what will go down as one of the greatest defensive cores in NFL history. Ray Lewis and Ed Reed held this defense together for years and this could be the last season for one, if not both players.
• So close last season was this team from going to and playing in the Super Bowl. This season they should dominate as usual. 
• Joey Flacco must become the leader for this team if they have any chance at getting to the Super Bowl. After watching Eli Manning take more control for the Giants last season, Flacco must be able to take the next step and have himself a career season.
• If the Ravens can get Terrell Suggs back at least 70-80%, this team could be back in the Super Bowl just like that.

NFC Champions: San Francisco 49ers

• With a team that's return every starter from last year's lights-out Defense, this team reloaded on offensive this year and could be one of the deepest teams in the NFL this season.
• Can the young WR's and Randy Moss make this 49ers offensive a little more explosive then it was last year? If they can, this team is a lock to the Super Bowl.
• Alex Smith must and I mean MUST continue to improve as he might be asked to win more games for the 49ers this season. I believe he had a good postseason last year and would need to pull off another performance like he did against the Saints in the playoffs to get this team into the Super Bowl.
• Well playing in one of the weakest divisions in the NFL be an advantage or disadvantage to this 49ers team. Competition in the season could be the fuel that sets this team off and go on a tear, if motivated throughout the season.

Winner: Baltimore Ravens

2012 AFC North Preview

AFC North

Reviews are in order of Final Standings for 2011

1. Ravens (12-4): - For this Ravens team, last season's exit from the AFC Championship Game had to be very painful and costly. A dropped TD and a missed FG from going to the Super Bowl and now many feel as if this is their final year of "their window" for a Championship. Defensive future HOF's Ray Lewis and Ed Reed return for another season, but you have to think that their end of the road is coming soon. They lost another key defensive piece in Terrell Suggs, who tore his Achilles during the off-season and had a beak shot at returning this season. However, Quarterback Joe Flacco is ready to take the lead of this Ravens team that's looking to prepare for life after Lewis/Reed. But before all of that happens, this team is looking to make the best of their last chance. So the question for 2012: Will this Ravens team be in New Orleans on Feb. 3rd playing against the NFC Champs? 
2. Steelers (12-4): - The last 8 months has to put a bad taste in the Steelers mouths. Losing to a Broncos team that that should of beaten and not being able to play again until now, very frustrating for this team. With a new offense and a maturing WR corp could be good thing for Big Ben and this Steelers offense, who'll play a game without WR Hines Ward for the first time this entire century. Going into this season, the question is: Can the Big Ben adjust to the new offense ran by new Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley? Can the Steelers stay healthy for the long haul this season?
3. Bengals (9-7): - For a Bengals team that was "suppose" to be in rebuild mode, well that went project went by fast......very fast by NFL standards. This team made the playoffs, when most had them not even winning more then 6 games. That could be very dangerous for the other teams in this division once this team gets some experience under their belt. Out went Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson, in comes Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. Now with the extra year of "rebuilding" out the way, this team could be a serious threat in a year or so. But until then the question going into 2012: Can this Bengals team have the same or better record then last year and can they return to the playoffs in 2012?
4. Browns (4-12): - Well the Browns are just.....well the Browns. There season was bad, but they may have some hope the future. Drafting Trent Richardson from Alabama and Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma St. could be the two pieces this franchise needs to hopefully turn around this organization. Can Richardson have a great rookie season and get his team some more wins?

2012 AFC North Champion: Baltimore Ravens

BAL: (12-4)

PIT: (11-5)

CIN: (10-6)

CLE: (3-13)

4 Down - AFC Championship: Ravens vs Patriots

Ravens vs Patriots

• 1st Down: Joey Flacco, can he take the Ravens to the Super Bowl? - This game is a career-defining game for him. Flacco must play good for the Ravens to win this game. With the Patriots defense playing as badly as they are, Flacco has to and I mean has to exploit this defense for what it really is. 
• 2nd Down: Tom Brady vs Ravens Defense - Brady has historically struggled against this defense. This crew of players on the Ravens D are getting older and this could very well be their last chance at winning a Super Bowl. As for Brady, this could be his final 3 year run at another Super Bowl. Which force will outperform the other? We'll see on Sunday.
• 3rd Down: Ed Reed injury and criticism - Ed Reed harsh criticism or his ankle injury? Which one will be the big storyline heading into the game on Sunday? Well if you said the harsh criticism on his Quarterback Joe Flacco, then you're absolutely correct. But which one will have a lasting impact on this game? For the Ravens sake, they hope that the ankle injury isn't a factor in this game. We'll see.
• 4th Down: Each team will win if..... - Patriots: Keeping Brady upright, keep the Ravens Defense on the field for long drives and scoring early and often. Ravens: Putting Brady on his butt (hitting him often), Ray Rice running wild and Joe Flacco torches the Pats Defense.

Confidence Pick: Ravens

• QB: Flacco (3) vs Brady (1)
• Defense: Ravens (3) vs Patriots (4)
• Team: Ravens (1) vs Patriots (4)
• Ravens (7) vs Patriots (9)

My Pick: Ravens 31, Patriots 27

Possible Super Bowl Story lines........

As we gear up for the Conference Championship game on Sunday, I put up a poll to see what would be the "sexier" match-up for Super Bowl 46. Still time to vote, so do so. Each team may have a "story line" for the Super Bowl. We'll examine a few of those now:

New England Patriots: This will make 5 Super Bowls in 10 years. That would put them in the ranks of the Steelers of the 70's, Vikings of the late 60's and 70's, the 49ers of the 80's and Bills of the 90's as far as Super Bowl appearances in a 10-year span. Tom Brady is seeking his 4th Super Bowl title, which will put him with Terry Bradshaw and his Boyhood idol Joe Montana as far as Quarterbacks with the most Super Bowl titles. This would also mark the first time the Pats will be back in the Super Bowl since the almost "undefeated" season.

Baltimore Ravens: This team could be facing the "closing" of their window for winning a championship. Over the last few years, the Ravens have had the talent to get to a Super Bowl, it was just the fact that they could never beat the Indianapolis Colts or their dreaded AFC North Rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, this time the moons may have aligned for this Ravens team. Picture this Baltimore Sports fans, 28 years ago the then Baltimore Colts left town to move to Indianapolis. Since then, the Ravens and Colts have won a Super Bowl. However, the Super Bowl this season is where.........that's right Indianapolis. How fitting and sweet would this be for Ravens fans (ex-Colts fans) win a Super Bowl in the stadium and city of which their old beloved Colts now play in.

San Francisco 49ers: This once proud franchise that dominated the 80's and 90's with great football teams had a 9-year absence from the NFL postseason. Well their back and what a great way to make a comeback to prominence then winning a classic game on the 30-year anniversary of "The Catch" with a play that will go down as "The Catch III" last week against the Saints. The 49ers would also have a good story line: The team with the Quarterback who was one the #1 overall pick in a draft that featured him and another quarterback who won last year before he did. Alex Smith would have vindication of he can get to and win a Super Bowl title. Having the word "Bust" attached to your career is like being black-listed by the Federal Government.

New York Giants: Following the path that won them a title 4 years ago, the Giants are looking to repeat history. Well for the Giants, there could be a few compelling story lines: Rematch Super Bowls. If the Giants make it to the Super Bowl, it will be the first time since the Dallas Cowboys and Buffalo Bills did it in '91 and '93. If they we're to match up with the Ravens, it would be a rematch of Super Bowl 35 and if the Patriots win, it will mark the rematch of Super Bowl 42 played 4 years ago.

Recap: AFC Divisional - Texans vs Ravens

Texans 13, Ravens 20

Recap:

• 1st Down: Can T.J. Yates manage this game against this Ravens defense? No, he didn't fair so well against this defense, even though the score was close for most of the game. Advantage: Ravens Defense
• 2nd Down: Flacco first home playoff game - Flacco went 14/27 for 176 and 2 TD's. I wouldn't say that those are great numbers, but I will say that he did win. Flacco will have to play better next week if he wants to lead this Ravens team to the Super Bowl. Advantage: N/A
• 3rd Down: Arian Foster vs Ray Rice - Foster had 27 Carries for 132 and a TD. Rice had 21 carries for 60 yards. Arian won the battle, but lost the war and the ball. Foster had one fumble he'd love to have back. Rice however, would of just loved to be in the offense more. Advantage: Foster
• 4th Down: With the Colts and Steelers out of the playoffs, can the Ravens get to the Super Bowl? Well the only team that stand in their way are the Patriots. A few years ago, the Ravens did go to New England and beat up on the Pats badly. They'll need to do that again to go to Super Bowl. Advantage: Well reserve judgement on this until next week.

What's Next: AFC title Showdown with the Patriots at Foxboro. 

4 Downs - AFC Divisional: Texans vs Ravens

Texans vs Ravens

• 1st Down: Can T.J. Yates manage this game against this Raven Defense? - Matt Schaub played the last game against the Ravens and played decent enough. Well with Yates, that play from the QB may be limited, if not eliminated by the Ravens D. Arian Foster must help out the young QB by keeping the Ravens Defense guessing. Opening up the running game can make Yates life easier on Sunday.
• 2nd Down: Flacco's first home playoff game - Well earlier this week, Flacco got a little testy with the media. Some would say that the pressure is starting to mound up on one Joe Flacco. This has to be the year that he gets the Ravens to the Super Bowl. Playing at home during the playoffs, can help a lot in that quest to get to Indy.
• 3rd Down: Arian Foster vs Ray Rice: under/over 100 yards and 2 TD's for both RB's? - Both guys are the offense of their team. If either player struggles, that offense will go down as well. Rice had 101 yards against the Texans in their week 6 match-up, but Foster was only able to get 49 yards on the ground. Whoever gets at least 100 yards rushing and a TD can put their team in a great position to win on Sunday.
• 4th Down: With the Colts and Steelers out of the playoffs, can the Ravens get to the Super Bowl? - Well the last 4 times the Ravens made the playoffs  (06, 08, 09, & 10) they were put out by either the Steelers or the Colts. With the Steelers getting put out by the Broncos last week and the Colts having the season of disaster, the Ravens should be able to get to the Super Bowl right? Right? Well considering that history would be on their side. Consider this, the Ravens are 2-0 all-time in the playoffs against both the Broncos and Patriots.

Confidence Pick: 

• QB: Yates (7) vs Flacco (5)
• Defense: Texans (1) vs Ravens (3) 
• Team: Texans (8) vs Ravens (2)
• Texans (16) vs Ravens (10)

My Picks: Texans 23, Ravens 31

Divisional Confidence Picks

This format is simple: I'll use 3 categories (Overall Team, Quarterback, and Defense) and then I'll rank those categories by using the numbers 1-8 (1 being the most confident and 8 being the least confident). Of those 3 categories, I'll combine the total and get the confidence number. Remember, the lower the number wins for each game.

Quarterbacks:
1. Brady
2. Rodgers
3. Manning
4. Brees
5. Flacco
6. Tebow
7. Yates
8. Smith

Defense:
1. Texans
2. 49ers
3. Ravens
4. Broncos
5. Giants
6. Saints
7. Packers
8. Patriots

Overall Team:
1. Saints
2. Ravens
3. 49ers
4. Patriots
5. Giants
6. Broncos
7. Packers
8. Texans

Saints (11) at 49ers (13)
Broncos (16) at Patriots (13)
Texans (16) at Ravens (10)
Giants (13) at Packers (16)

Results of the confidence picks suggest that the Saints, Patriots, Ravens and Giants will win over the weekend. However, I do believe that the Saints/49ers pick is the only pick I would change. I think the 49ers will win that game, it will be close.

Go West Young Man, Go West?

Week 15 could be the tell all for where the road to Indianapolis (Super Bowl) will go through. I'll focus a lot on the AFC (Since the Packers have the NFC locked down) and I'll look at 3 teams today who all will travel west of the Mississippi. In the AFC, four teams are 10-3, with the Texans leading the way through tie-breakers. But of those four teams, the Texans are the only ones that are at home and have clinched their division. The Patriots, Ravens, and Steelers all are on the road and all have huge games that could have meaning in the playoff race. 

Lets start with the big game of the weekend, Patriots at Broncos. This game could be huge, not because of the Tebow-ism that's taken over the league right now, but this game puts the 10-3 Pats against the 8-5 Broncos. This game could be for tie-breaking purposes as well as can the team of the decade beat the rising phenomenon named Tebow and the Denver Broncos. Could today be the "changing" of the guard? Over the last 10 years, the Pats have been the darlings of the NFL, but if "Tebow-ism" beat the Pats today, could all of that finally change? 

I'll get on that topic later, but the reason why I am doing this entry is because of the huge impact this game could deliver for this year's AFC postseason picture. If the Pats pull off this victory, many people would be happy because the Tebow-mania would subside for a week and for Pats fans this could put them closer to having home-field in the AFC. But, if the Broncos were to pull out the win, this could give them the AFC West title and at least position this team for a possible run at the #1 or #2 seed in the AFC. Which leads me into the next AFC game.

Ravens at Chargers tonight could be a huge test for a Ravens team that's trying to make themselves the #1 top dog in the AFC. Ravens may have exercise their demons in the Steelers this season (winning the season series between the two) but seem to have mental breakdowns against teams they have NO business losing too (i.e. Jaguars, Seahawks and Titans). The Ravens don't want to repeat the last trip they made to the west-coast. As for the Chargers, making late season runs is their MO. However, this could be the final nail in the coffin that's known as the 2011 NFL season. The Chargers would have to win out and get help in order to make the playoffs, but winning their last two game is a good symbol for this team that's use to winning in the month of December.

If the Ravens can hang on the win this game, this would pretty much give the Ravens at least the #2 seed in the AFC and would very much wrap up the AFC North (with the Browns and Bengals left on their schedule). If the Chargers win, this would extend their other-wise not so good season by another week. Noteworthy to the Raven faithful, WIN THIS GAME TONIGHT!!!! Put the pressure on the Steelers!!! Which leads me to the final game of week 15.

Steelers at 49ers, this game has HUGE meaning on both teams who are in heated races within their respective conferences. This hurdle for the Steelers could be a tough one, being without the suspended James Harrison and having Big Ben injured and questionable to play in this game, the Steelers have to play the 49ers short-handed. As for the 49ers, who lost to the other AFC North top dog the Ravens a few weeks ago, will play a similar team in the Steelers. 

If the Steelers win this game, two things could happen: 1.) they could be leading the AFC North (if Ravens lose) or 2.) they could have locked down the #5 seed as a wild-card. The Steelers will go into Monday Night knowing the results of both the Pats, Ravens, and Texans games. If the 49ers win this game, this could lock down the #2 seed in the NFC and thus the 49ers would have two weeks plus a bye week to prepare for their first playoff game in 9 years.

So lets just say that the Super Bowl picture could be settled in the Wild, Wild West this week. Well I had to use something for the theme "Go West Young Man, Go West". We'll see what happens. Destination Super Bowl!!!!

Turkey Day Football Games Recap

Well had a good time with family and friends yesterday. Three football games, upset stomach, and a headache later.....I am here to give a recap on the football games from Thanksgiving.

First game was the Packers vs. Lions and this game was noted more for what one player did than the whole grand scheme of the Packers winning again going 11-0 for the season. Ndamukong Suh was ejected from the game in the 3rd Quarter after an act for which I'll say is just plain "stupid", this changed the game. The Packers just got stopped on a key 3rd & Goal and should have been kicking a FG to make it 10-0, until that incident. The Packers got the ball on the 2 and scored a few plays later. From that time on, Stafford throw a few INT's and the Packers scored on those mistakes and before you knew it was 24-0 and the game was essentially over.


Second Game featured the Dolphins vs Cowboys and this game, the Dolphins effort wasn't question this time around. Matt Moore played well against Tony Romo, whom despite two 1st quarter INT's, lead the Cowboys on a few good scoring plays of his own. This game came down to a last-second FG, and no it's wasn't snowing this Thanksgiving for all of you Leon Lett fans, but Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey nailed the game-winning kick in a 20-19 victory for the streaking Cowboys.


Third and final game was between the 49ers vs Ravens, the headline of this game was the Harbaugh family, bothers Jim and John Harbaugh teams faced off against one another in a possible Super Bowl preview. This game was just a defensive battle. The Raven's defense sacked Alex Smith not 1, not 2, not 3 (okay I'll kill the Lebron James reference) but 9 times. Joe Flacco threw the only TD of this game as the Ravens won 16-6.

This Week's Top 5

Top 5 Stories of the Week:

This is a brief one this week, since I'll be on vacation all weekend.

1. LSU vs Alabama: In this corner, we have the #1 team in the country with a "Crazy-like a fox" Head Coach.....from Baton Rouge, LA the Bayou Bengals, Geaux Tigers, The LSU Tigers! And in this corner, we have the #2 team in the country with a "Very demanding, strict and detailed" Head Coach......from Tuscloosa, AL, Rooooooollllllllllll-Tide, The Alabama Crimson Tide! Okay maybe I over did it with the "Michael Buffer" intros, but this is like a heavyweight match-up in the eyes of college football. 

2. Ravens vs Steelers: Just to simply put it, these two teams just don't like each other. Just for the record, I don't think you'll see any of those guys holding hands, singing Kumbaya anytime soon!

3. NFL Mid-season review: This week marks the mid-way point of the season.

4. Mayweather vs Pacquiao: Could this "fight of the century" finally happen? 

5. NBA Lockout continues: From the people of the " Please Please Please, stop the lockout" foundation (no such organization)