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Game 6: Ravens @ Colts

Other than last year's blowout in Baltimore, this game is usually an interesting and competitive game between these two teams. Last year, the Ravens were blown out, again on national TV no less, by the Colts a week after taking the New England Patriots to the brink on their way to their undefeated regular season. Perhaps they shot their wad against the Pats and were so let down after that emotionally deflating last few minutes that they had nothing left in the tank. They played as poorly as they did the majority of the season, with the loss to the Pats as their brightest point of a horribly disappointing year.

While the Ravens are on their way back to repectability and should be much more competitive this year, the Colts may actually be on a downward trend. This is not saying that Indy is prime for the picking, especially on the road for the Ravens. However, Peyton Manning and company seem to have lost the luster that made them a perrennial Super Bowl selection for many years. The team has been more prone to injuries to their veterans, such as Marvin Harrison and no longer are even a lock to even win their own division due to the rise of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Don't worry, Colts fans. The horseshoe will bring you good luck at least in week 6 against the traveling Ravens. While I always love to see how the Ravens stack up against the best offenses in the league, beating the Colts in their home crib should be way too much of a challenge for even Ray Lewis to overcome. The Colts will still put points on the board, as Reggie Wayne may now be a better receiver than the aging and injury prone Harrison, and even one of the best in the entire league. Dallas Clark is almost more of a wide receiver than tight end and is a nightmare for any nickel back or safety to cover in the open field. RB Joseph Addai is multi-talented and I still haven't even mentioned Peyton Manning. Manning is still one of the top two or three QB's in the league and will not bend or break under the pressure, at least against the Ravens. He can and will put points on the board and is a threat to do so from anywhere on the field. This is unfortunately something the Ravens just have not been able to do, even in the Red Zone! Due to the huge differences in the two offenses, I see no way to reasonably predict a Ravens victory.

The Colts defense is vastly underrated due to their high profile offense. However, they are filled with playmakers, including perhaps the most dominating player in tiny safety Bob Sanders. His presence on the field makes all the difference to the success of the Indy defense. Based on that, the gap between the teams' defenses is much less than the gap between the offenses. Therein lies the main reason that the Colts will defeat the Ravens in week 6. The Ravens will just not be able to slow down the Colts' offense while the Baltimore offense will not put enough points on the board to give us a chance at an upset.

Colts: 27  Ravens: 13

Season Record:  3-3

0 recs | Comment 12 comments

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Tough Game

This is going to be a tough game. We always seem to have a hard time with the Colts, but I think that we will give them a serious run for their money this time. I think that your prediction is accurate, but I would like to hope that our offense might be clicking by this point in the season.

The Colt’s defense is not weak, but I think that we may be able run on them. McGahee would need to have a record day in order for us to win this one. I don’t see that happening while Sanders is playing. I see the Colts winning this one, but I don’t think the score will reflect how close the game will actually be played.

by BAL_Hawk on Jul 4, 2008 12:43 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

True

This game will be payton manning’s worst game of the season if our defense stays health. We will use C-Mac to cover Wayne and Washington or rolle to check a aging Marvin harrison. I also think we will use Branes to check clark. I think wayne will have about 6-7 catchs for 90-110 yrds. and 1 td. Clark will have 5-6 graps for 80 yrds and a TD. Manning will throw 4 about 200 yrds with 2 tds and 3 picks while getting sacked about once or twice. Our Defense will shut down Addai. He wont find any running lanes and will be held 2 about 50-65 yrds wit a td. Adam Vinaterri will miss all his feild goal attempts and give the ravens a chance. Thre ravens offense wont be able to put up much. Willis will have one of his best games. 25-30 carries with 150-180 yrds rushing with about 1 TD,2 if we grap a pick a return it for sum gud field postion. Troy smith will try to mange the game but will amke mistake when trying to rally the ravens for a 4th querter comeback. I think he will have 130-150 yrds passing with 0 TDs abd 1-2 interceptions. Stover will also make about 2 FG’s giving us a fighting chance.

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 5, 2008 1:35 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Also...

wouldnt we be 3-3 not 2-3?

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 5, 2008 1:39 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Uhhh, correct you are...

...at least about the season record (I have changed it). However, to think that Vinitieri will miss any, much less all of his FG attempts indoors is a bit of a stretch, as well as Manning throwing 3 INT’s at home. I also think if Fabian covers Harrison, then Samari Rolle slides into the nickel against second year speedster Anthony Gonzaelz, and one of the safeties should cover Clark, as Barnes is too raw to cover a fast, clever tight end like that. Yeah, we’ll have a fighting chance, but trying to come back on the road with a young QB (hopefully Smith) against a very opportunistic defense will ultimately doom us. Thanks!

Rexx

by Rexx on Jul 5, 2008 11:06 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

You Right

Manning probly wont throw 3 ints and vinitieri wil go 2-3 or 1-2. i do believe that rolle could cover gonzaelz if he gets Safty help and i also think that barnes could do a decent, not great, job on clark.

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 5, 2008 6:48 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Nothing 2 do with this

The Ravens rookie FS Haruki Nakamura, looks like the next Bob Sanders. He is going to come in and learn from the best safety in football and a year or 2 from now, he could become a house hold name. Check put this video a found on you tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHApgrJarw8

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 5, 2008 11:06 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I like Nakamura...

....a lot. His YouTube video is cool. Check out my interview w/ him in my archives or Featured Posts. “Ruki” has the answer behind the choice of music for that YouTube video. His family is also filled with black belts, including him. Between his judo and rookie ND safety, Tom Zbikowski (boxing), our defense will continue to be a tough bunch, eh!?

Rexx

by Rexx on Jul 6, 2008 11:54 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Except.......

Bob Sanders ran a 4.33 coming out and Nakamura ran a 4.66….....Sanders=undersized and fast. Nakamara=undersized and slow.

by buzzkill on Jul 6, 2008 12:27 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Yes, but...

...4.6 is fast enough for a safety, but certainly not for a corner. He could easily be a nickel or dime back, and will initially do great on Special Teams. Sanders was a higher draft pick, and I saw him play in college and thought he was a fireplug and a great hitter. He was chosen just before the Ravens selected in that round. Whether or not the Ravens would have taken him, well, can you imagine him and Reed in our defensive backfield? Wowser!

Rexx

by Rexx on Jul 6, 2008 11:57 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

My brain

just exploded thinking of Bob and Ed on the same team.

SB Nation's Indianapolis Colts blogger at Stampede Blue. Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by BigBlueShoe on Jul 9, 2008 10:29 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Not really

If you look at the highlights, you can see that he has good field speed. He closed on the ball very quick and was a force that teams had to gameplan for. Just becauce he didnt ran well at the combine doesnt mean your going to be a bad palyer.

FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Benji5203 on Jul 6, 2008 4:09 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Besides...

...I’ll take closing speed or instinct over the over-rated 40 speed. Terrell Suggs dropped to us for reasons that included his poor 40 time at the combine. Regrets? I think not.

Rexx

by Rexx on Jul 6, 2008 11:58 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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