Bleacher Report - Articles by Derek Kreiner

Throw Everything You Know About The Ravens and Statistics Out The Window

Derek Kreiner — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 23:57:54 -0400

If you've read any previous articles of mine, you know I tend to be big on numbers, stats, and diving indepth to break down every Ravens game. As as much as I love my stats, they all fail me today after watching this game. There are only three sets of numbers that matter to me today 31-26, 52, and 2-0.

31-26....

Was it pretty? No. Was it a game that you felt was in the bag at any point during the game? No. But a win is a win is a win. Forget the score and look at the statistics. Imagine a scenario in which the Ravens win this game. I'll wait.

I can't do it either. But a win it was and a big win against a tough conference opponent on the road. Like any fan, when the schedule came out I went up and down marking what I thought would be wins and losses. From the day the schedule came out, right up to right 33 seconds left in the fourth quarter today I thought this game would be a loss.

Teams going across the country and playing on the road do not have a very high win percentage. I would look up the number, but like I said, stats have no place in this article as much as it pains me to say it.

Nothing about this game made sense, the defense looked like they lost a step from the opponents half-yard line to their own 20. They then looked like a Super Bowl caliber defense as soon as the Chargers crossed into the Red Zone. The offense was engaged in yet another shoot out, and came out victorious again.

This is a Ravens team that is becoming an offense first team, and as much as I was questioned for saying that after last weeks win, it is even more obvious after the game last weekend.

Even though the offense was again the story, Ray Lewis came up huge on the most pivotal play of the game. After harassing the center of the Chargers offensive line all day, he came up huge on fourth and two from the Ravens 15 yard line.

Bursting through the line untouched like a man possessed, and driving Darren Sproles into the ground effectively ended the game. Some have said that Ray Lewis has lost a step, and while that may be true, what he has lost in physicality he has more than made up for in his knowledge of the game.

The announcers said it looked like he knew what the play call was going to be, and I have no doubt he did. Ray had Sproles in his cross hairs from the time that ball was snapped and ended the game in true Ray Lewis fashion, much to the delight of Ravens fans.

2-0

The Ravens, 2-0, are in sole possession of first place in the AFC North. Who knows what the rest of the season holds, or where this team will end up. It is sweet to enjoy while it lasts. As magical as last season was, at no point were the Ravens in sole possession of the division lead. Even after starting 2-0.

So while the future is up in the air, for one week at least we can enjoy the rare air at the top of the division. By the way, the only other time the Ravens have started 2-0 was last year. That ended with an appearance in the AFC Championship game, and the Super Bowl year, so there is alot of reason for some tempered optimism.

Enjoy the summit of the AFC and hopefully I'll be writing about the first 3-0 start in team history.

Ten Things We Learned from the Baltimore Ravens' First Game

Derek Kreiner — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 22:48:55 -0400

10: The Baltimore Ravens' Front Office Is Still Very, Very Good

I know that doesn't come as a shock to anyone in Baltimore, but Ozzie can still get it done.

Besides the obvious contributions from last year's first and second round draft picks, Joe Flacco and Ray Rice respectively, the Ravens first pick in the draft from 2001-2009 all played in this game, and all but one (Dwan Edwards 2004) started.

This list includes, Todd Heap, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Mark Clayton, Haloti Ngata, Ben Grubbs, Joe Flacco, and Michael Oher.

With the amount of turnover, and attrition in today's NFL, it's amazing that all of these players are still in the league, let alone still with the team that drafted them and making significant contributions. In fact, it's hard to imagine the Ravens without any of these players.

I know it's early, but the 2008 NFL Draft could soon be held near the same standard as the 1996 NFL Draft that yielded Ray Lewis and Jonathon Ogden. The Ravens' first three picks in 2008 Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, and Tavaris Gooden all played, and all played well for the Ravens in their first game of the season.

Interesting side note: I'm sure you've all heard by now, but the kicker the Ravens were targeting after the draft was Ryan Succop, who the Kansas City Chiefs selected with the last pick of the draft. Today he was 3-for-3 on extra points, and hit a 53-yard field goal. Not a bad debut.

9: Alot of People Gave up Too Early on Willis McGahee

While the numbers won't wow you: 10 rushes for 44 yards, and four receptions for 31 yards, McGahee showed today that he can still play.

He ran hard between the tackles and showed a burst to the outside, and added two touchdowns as the icing on the cake. Those of us, myself included, who were ready to show him the door after last year, may be eating crow at the end of this year if he continues on this pace.

Sadly, if he continues to have a year like this, it's likely he won't be a Raven next year.

8: Staying with the Running Game: Ray Rice Is the Real Deal

This player's line will impress you: 19 rushes for 109 yards and two receptions for 12 yards.

Ray Rice showed us he is dangerous in space, and despite his small stature can play in this league and play at a high level. While I would avoid being overconfident about either back based on a very weak Kansas City defense, it's clear that at least against poor defensive units, the Ravens will be able to run the ball, and run it well.

Now all we have to see is Rice find the end zone.

7: Todd Heap May Have Finally Gotten out of Coach Harbough's Doghouse

It's starting to show on the field.

With his best outing in recent memory (that catch against Tennessee in the divisional round notwithstanding) with five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown, Todd Heap may be reviving his career.

It's often said that the tight end is a young quarterback's best friend, and while his presence was missing last year, it was sure felt today. Back to making those tough catches over the middle and dragging defenders with him into the end zone, it was a good thing to see.

Time will only tell if his body can hold up after years of poor quarterback play have subjected his body to some massive hits.

6: Jarrett Johnson Disappeared Down the Stretch Last Year

It may be just me, but it seemed as if Jarrett Johnson disappeared a bit down the stretch, last year. Well he reminded us all that we can't forget about him today.

With two sacks, and some pressure on the quarterback, along with a questionable roughing the passer penalty, Johnson provided the pass rush for the Baltimore Ravens. Admittedly, the rest of the unit wasn't as impressive as I thought it would be.

5: As tough as It Is To Say, the Defense May Have Taken a Step Back

I know it's hard to make judgements based on just one game, but it seems as if the unit that was previously known for bending, and not breaking is now an "only break once you bend unit".

After a dominant first and mostly second quarter, Kansas City seemed to find a rhythm against this defense.

While it could be said that the defense really only gave up 17 points (not counting the blocked punt and the time the Chiefs got the ball on the six yard line), I feel that 17 points from one of the weakest offenses last year, with a backup quarterback, a makeshift offensive line, a running back with absolutely no tread left on his tires, and only one legitimate receiving threat, is too much for an elite defense to give up.

4: Lucky for the Defense, We Saw What May be the Start of a New Era in Baltimore

The Offense was without a doubt the story today.

Setting a franchise record with 501 total yards, and while many will look down on this accomplishment because it came against a bad Chiefs defense, I will just point out that the Ravens have played bad defenses before, and never came up with this type of yardage and efficiency.

303 yards passing, 198 yards rushing, and a 58 percent conversion rate on third down are incredible numbers for an offense that just needed to keep the defense in the game in years past.

Key Stat: Time of possession was in the Ravens favor nearly 2-1 with a final line of 39:49 to 20:11. With an aging defense who may need a little more time to catch their wind then in previous years this will be vital down the line.

Win time of possession and you will win most games.

3: Someone Needs To Step up on Special Teams

With three men who can return kicks and punts in Ed Reed, Lardarius Webb, and Chris Carr on this team, someone needs to step up and provide explosive plays.

Preferably, it should be Chris Carr who was signed mainly for his return skills. I really don't like to see Ed Reed back there returning, as explosive as he is, the injury risk for one of the premiere players in the NFL just seems too great.

2: There Won't be a Sophomore Slump for Joe Flacco

I'll stand up and admit it, until this game today there was a seed of doubt in my mind if Joe Flacco was the real deal.

There was never any doubt he had the poise to play in the NFL, but I doubted if he would become a truly elite passer, and from what we saw in Week One, he is on his way.

I'm sure you've all seen the numbers, but here they are again: 26-of-43 for 307 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. That is good for a 60 percent completion rating, and he showed the athleticism to move in the pocket, and pick up yards on the ground if need be.

That touchdown pass to Willis McGahee was pure sandlot football and he showed athleticism to dodge defenders and make the plays that have caused Ravens fans so much heartache over the years coming from Ben Roethlisberger.

Without a doubt there is room for improvement, but Flacco showed us all that he has made major strides going into his second year.

1: Times Are Changing in Baltimore

43 passes in a victory. I never thought I would see that from the Ravens any time soon.

While the final stat line will show a much more balanced approach with 43 passes and 41 rushes, the Ravens were predominantly pass heavy in the first half, and many of those rushes came toward the end when the Ravens were trying to salt this one away.

The offense was not just competent, they were superb, and kept this team in the game when the defense faltered. It will take time to get used too not having that sinking feeling when the Ravens are down by seven in the fourth quarter and that the offense will find a way to lose this one.

I even felt that unease when the Ravens were down early in the fourth quarter, but hopefully that feeling will be replaced with a confidence that with the ball in our offense's hands, we have a shot to win and we know that we will at least make it close.

Great game Ravens, and as always, any comments or critiques are appreciated. Hopefully, I will be writing again next week.

First Impressions of the Baltimore Ravens' Victory in Dallas (Top 10 Style)

Derek Kreiner — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 18:55:36 -0500

10. DeMarcus Ware should be the Defensive MVP. This is coming from a lifelong Ravens fan, and after watching that man play for a full game, he is a special talent.

9. The Dallas Cowboys were just out coached tonight. Superior offensive, defensive, and special teams play calling helped the Ravens compete and eventually win this game. That fake field goal call was genius. And yes I know it's only genius if it works. It did work, and so it's a genius call.

8. Ed Reed should be in the running for Defensive MVP. After re-watching the Ravens-Steelers game from last week, I was shocked to see Ed Reed fall down and allow a catch on a crucial third down, but then I couldn't stay mad at Ed for long. How many games has Ed Reed single handily won this Baltimore team?

7. Tashard Choice went three rounds too late in the draft this year. He has put up substantial numbers against the Steelers, the Giants, and the Ravens, going for over 100 total yards in all of those games with two touchdowns. He has 416 Yards on 79 carries (5.3 Yards Per Carry) and 20 Receptions for 177 Yards.

This is for the most part in three games, against stellar defenses. Just as a comparison, Darren McFadden has 100 carries for 451 yards, and 22 Receptions for 234 yards. Also, if you haven't seen it, this will make you like Choice even more...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAOkxgvboPk

6. Willis McGahee needs to become a better blocker if he wants to keep his place on this team. The long run was great, but this is two weeks in a row he has let rushers blow by him without even getting a chip on them. Luckily he redeemed himself this week.

5. Le'Ron McClain needs to hold onto the ball a little bit better. Luckily for the Ravens, his fumbles always seem to bounce the right way, but if he doesn't improve this could come back to haunt the Ravens. Also, he should not be in the Pro Bowl as a fullback, this is a tailback plain and simple. He's not even the best pure fullback on the team, let alone in the AFC. I love Le'Ron, but let's be honest. He got to the Pro Bowl for playing tailback not Fullback.

4. The Ravens Secondary has come along nicely. After the loss of Chris McAllister and Dwan Landry, I thought this team was heading down the road it went down last year, but this is a team with a different mindset and instead of moaning about their injuries, they use them as motivation.

3. 82 Yards and 77 Yards on back to back offensive plays. Wow. Just Wow. My girlfriend called when the game was 19-17 and I paused the game to talk to her, long story short (making a long story short is a skill she should learn by the way) I didn't get to see the plays live, but did get to hear the reaction of the other people in my house going crazy.

This Ravens' running game just gets so pumped up for the fourth quarter it is like they can sniff a victory. Willis McGahee partially redeemed himself for his poor play so far this year. He can fully redeem himself if his fresh legs can lead this team deep into the playoffs.

2. The Yamon Figurs experiment is officially over. When you have former players calling you out for being afraid to take a hit it's bad. When one of those former players is Deion Sanders, it's very very bad. Yamon just seems a little hesitant to hit the gaps running and seems to have become a little gun shy and lost his burst.

It's almost as if in his brain this is the way it goes as the ball is in the air toward him A: Catch the ball B: 10 Percent of the time fumble the ball C: The other 90 Percent of the time run into the back of my closest teammate. I'm not saying he won't have a successful career, it's just time to get him off kickoff and punt returns.

1. After watching the performance put forth by Derrick Mason tonight, T.O. should be ashamed of the effort he puts forth on the field. Derrick Mason made life easier for his quarterback, a lesson T.O could use. Derrick Mason played with a shoulder that dislocated itself at least twice tonight, and could barely move his arm, and yet played with a passion and a drive that propelled him to a night with six catches for 66 yards, a TD, and a fumble recovery.

T.O. finished with five catches for 63 Yards, and a TD, and also cut off his routes, screamed at Adam Jones for giving up a touchdown, dropped an easy touchdown, didn't look back, and showed poor effort on a play that he could have made. Playing with one less arm, and far less natural talent, Derrick Mason was an inspiration to his teammates, not a detriment, and showed himself to be the anti-T.O., and a player who could play on any team I root for in a heartbeat.

Honorable Mention: Ray Lewis, the offensive line in the second half, Cam Cameron, Rex Ryan, Sam Koch.

The Battle of The Beltway: Washington Redskins vs. Baltimore Ravens Preview

Derek Kreiner — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 06:19:49 -0500

A one way rivalry looms this week for the Baltimore Ravens and their fans.

The Washington Redskins come into town to play their first game in Baltimore, in a game that undoubtedly means more to the fans of Baltimore than to the fans of Washington or even the players for both teams.

This week, players from both teams have parroted the company line that this is just the next game, and each team needs this win to boost their playoff chances.

The Ravens currently stand at 8-4, good for second place in the AFC North, one game and a tiebreaker behind the Pittsburgh Steelers. They also currently hold the No.6 spot in the current playoff seeding, with a full game lead, and a tiebreaker lead (conference record) on the 7-5 New England Patriots.

The Washington Redskins are 7-5 good for third in the very tough NFC East, and currently hold the No.8 spot in the playoff standings right now, behind the Dallas Cowboys (8-4) and the Atlanta Falcons (8-4) and if the season ended today, they would be out of the playoffs.

A win is essential for both teams, for the Ravens, a win helps them keep pace with Pittsburgh, and ties them with the Steelers if the Steelers lose a very losable game against the Dallas Cowboys this week.

The Redskins are really hoping for a Dallas loss and a win of their own this week as this would move them a spot ahead of the Cowboys both in the division, and in the wildcard hunt.

Injuries could wind up playing a key factor in this game with the main story being Clinton Portis who is second in the league in rushing yards and is averaging nearly five yards a carry not participating in practice this week with knee and back injuries.

Other key Redskins Injuries are cornerback Shaun Springs (calf) and tackle Chris Samuels (knee).

The Ravens are far from injury free, however, and the following Ravens either were limited in practice, or did not participate this week: Derrick Mason (shoulder), Willis McGahee (illness) Ed Reed (thigh) Samari Rolle (thigh) and Jared Gaither (shoulder).

As a lifelong follower of the Ravens it has become clear over the years that when a Raven is listed as having a thigh injury, nine times out of ten it is a hamstring issue. These could be key with Washington having a speedy wide receiver corps who can get behind you quickly and make plays. If Shawn Springs is unable to go, it would provide a big boost to the passing game of the Ravens, although the nickle and dime backs for the Redskins, Deangelo Hall, and Fred Smoot could start on most teams.

Clinton Portis' injury could be a huge factor in this game, although the Ravens are ranked No. 2 in total rushing defense, they have not faced a back who is in the top five in rushing yards all year.

Even if he plays I don't see Clinton Portis running on the Ravens like the Giants did a few weeks ago; however, he offers a better option for the Redskins then backup Ladell Betts. Betts is a very capable backup; however, with the rush defense of the Ravens being as good as it is, their best chance to even manage a servicable running game is with Portis.

If I were a gambling man, I wouldn't be against Portis playing as he is seemingly a game time decision every week and has yet to miss a game this year.

The Redskins are a very underrated defense and are not viewed as dominant, but the numbers show another story.

As far as the rankings go the Redskins rank No.7 in Rush Defense allowing 90 yards per game, No.7 in Pass Defense allowing 192 yards in the air per game, and No.6 in Points allowed averaging 18.5 points per game.

On offense, the numbers are a little less balanced with the Redskins ranking No.5 in rushing with 139.4 yards per game on the ground, and No.20 in passing averaging just a tick under 200 yards passing per game.

The most telling number offensively, however, could be total points scored as this is a unit that is averaging eight points a game over the last three and are currently ranked 28th in the league in total points scored, averaging 17.3 yards per game.

On the Ravens side of the ball, the story is and has always been the Defense.

The Ravens rank No.3 against the rush giving up only 78.2 yards a game, a number which is slightly skewed based on the 200+ yard day the Giants had against this defense.

The Ravens rank second in pass defense, giving up only 175 yards through the air. This number is particularly impressive when taking into account the fact that the Ravens also have the largest margin of victory in the NFL this year at 19 points per game.

Despite the fact that opponents are quick to abandon the run in an attempt to play catch up to the Ravens in the third and fourth quarter, the banged up Ravens secondary and front seven have been excellent in defensing the pass.

On offense, the Ravens are a rapidly improving unit and Joe Flacco holds the highest passer rating in the NFL over the last eight games. I'll let you think about that for a second before I continue.

In a league with Kurt Warner, Eli Manning, Peyton Manning, Brett Favre, and Drew Brees, Joe Flacco is the highest rated passer over the last eight games. That is not something I thought possible with this Ravens team going into this year. The Ravens are third in the league in Rush Offense averaging 143.8 yards per game, and are 27th in the league averaging 179 yards in the air per game. The Ravens are 11th in total scoring at 24.3 points per game.

For the sake of clarity, and to help wrap your heads around the numbers, here's a chart:

Category Ravens Rank(Average Per Game) Redskins Rank(Average per game)

Rush Defense 3(143.8) 7(90.4)

Pass Defense 2 (175) 7(192)

Scoring Defense 3(15.8) 6(18.5)

Rush Offense 3(143.8) 5(139.4)

Pass Offense 27(179) 20(199.7)

Scoring Offense 11(24.3) 28(17.3)

Many Ravens fans are drinking the purple Kool-Aid and thinking the Ravens will go in and dominate the Redskins on offense and put up points at will as they have the past couple of weeks.

I don't feel this will be the case.

I think the Redskins defense is good enough and hungry enough to keep this game close; however, I feel in the end, the pass rush will be far more effective for the Ravens, and am projecting 3-4 sacks for them this game.

I feel the Redskins will have between 1-2 sacks on Joe Flacco, and I predict the Ravens secondary will come up with enough plays for this defense to score one time as they have in their last two games.

I also feel the defense for the Ravens will be able to win the field position battle all day.

My final prediction is this, the numbers will be skewed in the Ravens favor defensively, the Redskins will be unable to run the ball and Jason Campbell will throw two picks or more.

The Ravens, however, will struggle to run the ball and pass it effectively, but will do enough to win this game.

Home Field Advantage will also be a factor as the Ravens are even tougher to beat at home. Prediciton of the final score, the city of Baltimore proves that they were right to not build a museum and the Ravens win 24-10.

Ravens-Bengals: An Early Look

Derek Kreiner — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:49:38 -0500

The game this week against Cincinnati is one that the Ravens should win, but this is the sort of game that has tripped up this Ravens team before. The Ravens cannot afford to overlook the Bengals, and I don't think they will.

Whether or not you believe that Brian Billick deserved to be fired, two areas in which this years Ravens team has been drastically improved over previous years is that of Game Planning and Halftime Adjustments.

The Ravens enter this game as seven-point favorites, a line I think is just about right. If I were a betting man this would be a game I would avoid, I think the Ravens will win this game, and win it going away, but I can see several ways this could be a closer game than most people think.

The Ravens had to take an early bye week, this may come back to haunt them if they don't jump out to a big lead. Although this team has shown no sings of slowing down, the Bengals are on 10 days rest, and as we've seen over the years with the records of teams that play on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, every bit of extra rest helps.

I believe one of the reasons the Eagles were so outmatched by the Ravens last Sunday was playing that extra 25 percent of a football game the week before.

The last game the Bengals played was without Chad Johnson, this Ravens secondary had done fairly well against Ocho-Zero over the years, but we've also seen what a truly motivated Chad Johnson can do against the leagues best secondaries.

If Chad Johnson has decided not to mail in the rest of the season, and comes out with a positive attitude and a chip on his shoulder, it could be a long day for Frank Walker.

On the flip side, for a Ravens victory we need to see more of the same from the Ravens receivers. Solid, timely catches by Derrick Mason on third down, and the occasional big play from Figurs, or Clayton. If Jonathan Joseph is able to lock down Derrick Mason, Clayton or Heap could wind up with a big day receiving.

The key to this game should be the Ravens pass rush on Ryan Fitzpatrick. If the Ravens get no pressure, or allow Fitzpatrick to make plays with his feet, this game could get ugly for the Ravens in a hurry. This Defense must apply pressure early and often, this will force Fitzpatrick to make mistakes with the football and give the offense a shorter field to work with.

However, the Ravens must protect Joe Flacco when he needs to throw, something this young, patchwork line has done a great job of this year, and should continue to do. The Ravens and the Bengals are 29th and 30th in Passing Offense respectively, so don't look for a huge game from either of these quarterbacks.

I fully expect Fitzpatrick to throw for more yards than Flacco as I expect the Bengals to give up on the running game fairly early, as they realize it's not going to get going against the Ravens.

As usual, the Ravens will attempt to run the ball first, and the Bengals, as well as everyone in the stands, and everyone watching at home will be well aware of this fact. The Bengals will have 23 players, and a few fans from the stands in the box on first and second downs, and it still won't be enough.

The Bengals are giving up an average of 130 yards a game with their 24th ranked run defense. Look for a big day from the Ravens Three Headed Monster of running backs who are fourth in the league in total yards rushing. As for the Bengals' running game, there is a legitimate chance they end up rushing for less than two yards a carry.

The Bengals are 31st in the league in rushing, and are only running for 3.4 yards a carry, if Cedric Benson and Chris Perry average that against the Ravens, we could be talking about a Ravens loss come Monday morning.

Special teams is the one area besides the secondary that could be a concern for the Ravens. Too many times this year, the Ravens have given up big plays for the opposition on special teams, and Glenn Holt is a dangerous returner if given space.

Yamon Figures really needs to get it going, and if he can return to form as the explosive returner we know he can be when healthy, that would be a bonus for the Ravens down the stretch, otherwise look for more of Jim Leonard, and Ed Reed returning kicks and punts.

So here is a list of ways the Bengals can win this game, or even keep it closer than anticipated.

Another injury among the Ravens already thin Offensive Line, especially if Adam Terry and Jared Gaither are unable to play, even though it looks like the should be ready to go.
The Ravens pass rush fails to materialize and gives Ryan Fitzpatrick a chance to find a...
Chad Johnson who is motivated and eager to re-prove himself after his suspension.
Failure to protect Joe Flacco, leading to turnovers.
Allowing good field position by giving up big plays to Glenn Holt and the Bengals return game.

This is a game the Ravens should win, and I think they will. Although if you need more reasons that nothing is certain in the NFL, look at Oakland's manhandling of Denver last week, as proof that the adage of "on any given Sunday" while cliched, is also true.

Prediction: Ravens 24, Bengals 13

Ravens Still Have Much to Prove, Even at 7-4

Derek Kreiner — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 17:03:14 -0500

With five games left on the schedule, and the Battle of the Beltway looming, the Ravens could enter week 14 with an 8-4 record, and still having a lot to prove, if not to themselves than to the rest of the league.

If the Ravens win at Cincinnati, and that is a big if, as no game is guaranteed in the NFL, then the Ravens go into the Sunday Night game with Washington, with a chance to prove on a national stage that they are for real.

There are those that contend that the Ravens are still not for real based on the teams that they have beaten. The Ravens' wins have come against Cleveland (2), Oakland, Miami, Cincinnati, Houston, and a Philadelphia team that could only play the jokes of the AFC, the Cincinnati Bengals, to a tie.

Many say that the win against Philadelphia proves this team is for real, but as a Ravens fan, even I am still feeling a little bit of trepidation after seeing how this team has performed against the power teams in the NFL this year.

Philadelphia, despite high preseason expectations, is not a power team. This is a team that was struggling so badly that coach Andy Reid decided the move that gave his team the best chance of winning was to pull a five-time Pro Bowl quarterback for a second year player who had thrown all of nine passes in the NFL.

The Ravens have proven to me this year that they can play with the NFL's best, as long as they are not going against one of the Manning Brothers. Peyton and Eli have combined to go 32 of 51 (62.7 percent) with four TDs and one INT, in their two games against the Ravens.

While Eli's numbers were hardly impressive in his game, the Ravens as a unit haven't played well against either of these teams. The Ravens' defense, averaging 23.5 points per game, including those two games, gave up 30 to the Giants and 31 to the Colts.

To be fair, the Giants and Colts are playing some of the best football in the NFL right now, and losing to these teams is hardly something to be ashamed of; but it's the way the Ravens were beat. Flacco in these two games combined had a stat line that looked like this: 48 of 71 (67.6 percent), one TD, and five INTs for a passer rating of 57.5.

Going against teams of that caliber, you can't afford to give the ball away, especially with an aging defense that, even though it is playing at an extremely high level, still needs time on the sidelines to recharge.

The Ravens have also proved they can play with the elite teams in the NFL, with an overtime loss to the Steelers and a heartbreaking last minute loss to the Titans that was aided by a questionable (to be generous) call from the officiating crew.

However, these are two teams that are based on running the ball, which, excluding the game against the Giants, has been this team's strength. The Ravens have been dominating the second half of their games this season, which is a trend that needs to continue in order to win games.

However, in order to not be blown out in the upcoming games against Dallas, Pittsburgh, and Washington, the Ravens need to put together another game with four solid quarters of football.

Looking at the way the teams are playing right now, I expect that the Ravens will lose the Dallas game. I expect the Washington game to be a close win, although a loss in that game would not be a complete surprise. I expect the Cincinnati and Jacksonville games to be easy wins. The Pittsburgh game, I believe, will be the deciding factor in whether or not the Ravens make the playoffs.

With what I believe will be a record of 9-4 heading into this game and the Steelers coming in after what should be two very physical games against New England and Dallas, this could be pivotal.

I believe the Steelers will lose the New England game on the road, then take care of business against Dallas at home. This would have the Steelers coming in at 9-4 with a lead in the division on a tiebreaker. The winner of this game would control their own destiny in the final two weeks, needing to win out to secure the division and a home playoff game.

In a year when many of us expected a 5-11 or 4-12 season, the thought of playing the Steelers at home in December to take a lead in the division is about as close to perfect as it gets. Making the playoffs would be sweet this year. Beating the Steelers to get there would be even sweeter.