So have you heard? The bird is the word! Well the Ravens bird that is.NFL schedules were released Tuesday which means that last night the complaints from fans began about who had the most ridiculous schedule out there. As well as bragging rights as to who has the toughest schedule for 2010. Well this blog is nothing like that, actually I lie. It's everything like that.
I am not basing my opinion on records from last year like Texans or Titans fans are (they are tied for the hardest schedule based on that). Their opponents bolster a .547 winning percentage from last season. Mainly due to the strength of their own division or just the Colts. Why wouldn't I base it on the same thing that many experts are? Simple, did personnel change? So the teams are all going to change, good or bad. If you want to check out the list go
here ---> http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/11663/sweating-out-the-schedule
With that said let me start off by saying that the Ravens have one of the toughest schedules in the league this year. They rank in the middle of the pack when it comes to last years record (12th, .508 percentage) but they are tied with the Lions at that spot. Leaning towards the Ravens being better then the kittens this year. Just a guess. While I went through last year and analyzed and predicted whether the team would win each game on my fridge (not man enough to put it in the blog I guess) I was completely wrong. I didn't see the Bengals not sucking last year, I'm not Merrill Hoge. Nor did I see the Steelers losing to such powerhouses as the Raiders, Browns and Chiefs. At least I got some enjoyment out of that.
So before this drones on let's get to this years schedule. Let's break it down to 4 game increments.
Weeks 1-4 - @Jets, @Cincinnati, Browns and @ Pittsburgh
Prediction - 2-2
The Ravens get the opportunity to play the first Monday Night game in new Jets/Giants stadium. Honestly in the first 7 games before the bye I could see them only getting 3 wins in that stretch. I would be upset and disappointed but it could happen. The Jets game will be the most interesting, not only for the simple fact that its Rex vs Ravens but more importantly its Rex's disciples against Rex's current followers. This could be a new rivalry that could challenge the gladiator fights in Rome for the amount of bloodshed. Two smashmouth teams that have similar gameplans, run and stop the run. What a way to open up Monday Night Football. Cincinnati will be tough but they really haven't improved their team. Still the same team who got blown out in the first round of the playoffs last season just with Antonio Bryant who fell off in production last year. The prediction for the home game against the Browns is that Delhomme will throw 4 picks, if he's the starter. At Jets, at Cincinnati and at Pittsburgh will all be tough games. Even with Big Ben out for the week 4 game (it has just been announced that he will be suspended for 4-6 weeks for personal conduct violations) against the Ravens, Dixon gave them trouble in Baltimore last season. More then likely he will start over Leftwich/Batch.
Week 5-9 - Broncos, @New England, Bills, Bye, Miami
Prediction - 4-0
I know what you are going to say. Obvious wins are agains the Broncos and Bills. Neither team has improved (Broncos are rebuilding trading Brandon Marshall to the Dolphins and Tony Scheffler to the Detroit). Besides, even if Brady Quinn starts for Denver, we own him. Plus those are home games, expect a beatdown of one or both of those teams. Before last season's drubbing of the Pats in the playoffs I would have immediately said there was no way we could win at Gilette Stadium. Now I have high hopes and the Ravens are going to need to go undefeated in this stretch to improve their playoff chances later. A win over the Pats in their house would assist in that. That and it would fuel the fire for me to tease my buddy Marcel who hails from the region. The Bills could be a surprise if they get something from the QB position. Odds are bad for that to happen though. Injuries seem to kill the Bills as well. Add that all the teams in their division got better while they seemed to only get worse (they lost Terrell Owens to free agency...maybe). Plus new coach; alright, thats it enough piling up negatives on the Bills. In week 9, after the bye, Miami pays us a visit. They just picked up a guy we were after last year in Brandon Marshall. Now if he only had a QB that could get him the ball. Marshall is going to burn us, pretty sure of that. Most big time receivers do. That's if Henne has the time to throw which, in our house, is unlikely.
Weeks 10-13 - @Atlanta, @Carolina, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh
Prediction - 3-1
We will finally have a head to head of Flacco and Ryan. The two first round QB's from a couple years ago. Should be a show that the Falcons will lose. Yes, I know they picked up Dunta Robinson. I am pretty sure that Boldin will truck him and Ray Rice will juke him out of his shoes. Their linebacking core is young and inexperienced. John Abraham will give Oher a test on the edge but this is a game we should win. Ryan needs to improve from his sophomore slump last year. The game against the Panthers could be interesting. Moore can go deep and Steve Smith is, oh wait wrong one. If they can actually run on our boys than they might stand a chance. This 3 game NFC South stretch ends against the Bucs in the nest. There is no way they pull of a victory in Baltimore, Josh Freeman will get abused in that game. While I could continue to analyze the game, why would I? The Bucs are rebuilding along with the Rams and Lions, these 3 will be vying for top 5 picks in next years draft. This all leads to the final season meeting against the Steelers. Now we all know they will still be near the top of our division because they are the Steelers after all. Add to the fact that the only tough opponent in their first 6 games when they will be without Ben is us and possibly Miami/Tennessee. As we all know, when both teams are playing well, 9 times out of 10 the home team wins. Facts are facts, even Kyle Boller beat them in Baltimore. Argue with that Steeler fan!
Weeks 14-17 - @Houston, Saints, @Cleveland, Bengals
Prediction - 2-2
The end of the season could be interesting. At Houston is a game that is up in the air in my eyes. Could go either way depending on what Texans team shows up. As far as New Orleans, they are the defending Super Bowl champs, Brees is on the Madden cover (by this time in the season he could have fallen to the infamous Madden curse) and their offense should still be strong. Cleveland as I said before will be a joke this year but by week 16 things should or could be clicking for them, think last year when they ended the Steelers hopes at the playoffs. When they realized Jerome Harrison could actually run the ball if given the opportunity, the defense began to play, for lack of a better term, defense. So who knows what can happen with a division rival on the road. Speaking of division rivals the Bengals come to Baltimore for week 17 which could be a division crown deciding game. If I were the NFL I would have scheduled the Steelers for the Ravens in week 17 to guarantee that everyone would play for both teams since the players hate/respect each other. The same could be said about some of the Bengals as far as respect but this should be a great game in what could be a lackluster week 17 where teams in the AFC South and West will likely be resting players.
So I have the Ravens going 11-5 which could win the division. Hopefully I am right and Flacco leads us to the playoffs for the third straight year. If I am wrong however, who will know? You won't tell anyone, will you?
