dominator88
10-09-2006, 03:46 PM
The Baltimore Ravens are sitting at 4-0 right now, a chic pick as an elite level team. Baltimore dominated their first two opponents, then rallied from behind on Steve McNair led fourth quarter game winning drives in each of the last two weeks. But those who think that the Ravens are as good as their record are going to be in for a nasty surprise on Monday Night as they travel to Denver for their toughest test of the season.
The Ravens rank #2 in the NFL in yards per game allowed defensively and #3 in the league in points allowed. But look at the four opposing quarterbacks that they have faced: Chris Simms, Andrew Walter, Charlie Frye and Philip Rivers, not exactly a murderer’s row of opposing quarterbacks. While Jake Plummer ranks a notch or two below the elite level quarterbacks in the NFL, he’s certainly a good notch or two better than any of the QBs that the Ravens have shut down thus far this season.
Offensively, the Ravens are a sub-par group, just as they have been in recent seasons. Their red zone offense has been nothing short of awful, producing only seven touchdowns all season. Their 3.4 yards per carry ranks in the bottom quartile of the league, while McNair’s stats are mediocre at best, with a 75.4 quarterback rating and only 5.7 yards per pass attempt. Facing a Broncos defense that has allowed exactly one touchdown this season, we can expect points to be very hard to come by for Baltimore on Monday Night.
Denver has a fantastic track record coming off a bye week under Mike Shanahan, 13-4 in that role, including wins by two touchdowns or more in each of the last three seasons. It’s surely worth noting that the Broncos have won their last 11 regular season home games. They have the type of balanced offense that Baltimore simply hasn’t faced this season, with big play weapons in Javon Walker at wide receiver and Tatum Bell at running back, capable of breaking off quick touchdowns against the Ravens defense. Look for Denver to firmly establish themselves as AFC contenders while exposing the Ravens as pretenders in their Monday Night showdown at Invesco Field.
Prediction: Denver wins 20-6
The Ravens rank #2 in the NFL in yards per game allowed defensively and #3 in the league in points allowed. But look at the four opposing quarterbacks that they have faced: Chris Simms, Andrew Walter, Charlie Frye and Philip Rivers, not exactly a murderer’s row of opposing quarterbacks. While Jake Plummer ranks a notch or two below the elite level quarterbacks in the NFL, he’s certainly a good notch or two better than any of the QBs that the Ravens have shut down thus far this season.
Offensively, the Ravens are a sub-par group, just as they have been in recent seasons. Their red zone offense has been nothing short of awful, producing only seven touchdowns all season. Their 3.4 yards per carry ranks in the bottom quartile of the league, while McNair’s stats are mediocre at best, with a 75.4 quarterback rating and only 5.7 yards per pass attempt. Facing a Broncos defense that has allowed exactly one touchdown this season, we can expect points to be very hard to come by for Baltimore on Monday Night.
Denver has a fantastic track record coming off a bye week under Mike Shanahan, 13-4 in that role, including wins by two touchdowns or more in each of the last three seasons. It’s surely worth noting that the Broncos have won their last 11 regular season home games. They have the type of balanced offense that Baltimore simply hasn’t faced this season, with big play weapons in Javon Walker at wide receiver and Tatum Bell at running back, capable of breaking off quick touchdowns against the Ravens defense. Look for Denver to firmly establish themselves as AFC contenders while exposing the Ravens as pretenders in their Monday Night showdown at Invesco Field.
Prediction: Denver wins 20-6