Ravens @ Vikings: Prediction & "Open Thread"
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 10:24 AM EDT
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PrintKeep it here all day to post your thoughts and comments before and during today's game between the Baltimore Ravens at the Minnesota Vikings. It's going to be a real tough one, considering the Ravens are in the midst of a two game losing streak at 3-2, while the Vikings sit among the top few teams in the NFL at 5-0.
But that doesn't matter at all once the teams take the field. The Ravens will be by far the toughest test for this undefeated Minnesota team. While the Vikings have won every game this season, they haven't faced the hard hitting Ravens, who up until last week, were as balanced a team as there was in the league. The home loss to the Cincinnati Bengals last week soured a lot of people on this team, but they have proven they can play with the tough teams based on their win at San Diego and last second losses to the New England Patriots as well as the Bengals.
(More on Ravens @ Vikings: Prediction & "Open Thread" after the 'Jump')
The Vikings also present what should be the Ravens toughest test of the season. Adrian Peterson is the best RB in the league, Brett Favre is playing more like a 20 year old than a 40 year old, the offensive line is big and nasty, and that's just their offense! Defensively, Minnesota may have the best front seven in the league, stopping the run as well as the pass. Their cornerbacks are solid, shut down their opponents' top receivers and make the big plays, leading the league in interceptions.
Since I'm such a home town fan, I see that the Ravens seem to play to their opponents' expected level of competition. This means that we play as good or as poorly as the opponent appears to be playing. Part of the reason the Ravens lost last week to he Bengals is that we fully expected the game to be an easy win but sadly found out that Cincinnati was for real. In both games at the Patriots and Chargers, we either hung tough or took the game to them, not feeling the pressure and folding when we got behind early in the game. I see the same thing happening today, as the team knows they're in for a brutal battle and have their backs against the wall.
Facing an angry Ravens team is not something most teams want to do, but knowing the Vikings, they'll be up to the task. Peterson should get his yards, but as long as the Ravens stop the long run, they should still be in the game. Forcing Favre to throw more than the game plan wants to is in the Ravens favor. While Favre has enjoyed a great season thus far, the Ravens have faced him with success in the past. If Favre has to air it out for the Vikings to win, the Ravens can pin their ears back, pressure him to return to his gunslinger mode and make the interceptions to change the game.
Offensively, I fully expect the Ravens to pound the rock more this game than they did last week, which should open up the passing game. Willis McGahee needs to be involved on a regular basis to spell Ray Rice, plus pounding LeRon McClain into the front wall of the Vikings defense should soften them up for the big play. The Vikings have been susceptible to the passing game, usually to the slot receiver and the tight ends. Expect to see a lot of throws to both Kelley Washington and Todd Heap and perhaps even a L.J. Smith and David Tyree sighting.
With that gameplan, I can see the Ravens upsetting the Vikings and getting back on the winning track. Baltimore likes to be the underdog and gets little respect from the experts. Surprisingly, four of seven writers from The Baltimore Sunpapers actually are picking the Ravens to win this game. Even more surprisingly, I agree with those that do, as I see us getting the pressure on the QB that wasn't there last week and while we've lost our last two games and left points on the field, we could have easily won those games with one more good play on offense or defense. Today we make those "one more plays," both on offense and defense, and drop Minnesota from the ranks of the unbeatens in front of their home fans to go into a well deserved Bye week at 4-2.
Ravens: 21-20
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1st post, booh-yeah
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
I don't think that hit in the picture was entirely Ray-Ray's fault
I bet Ocho-Cinco wasn’t buckled up on his helmet so it fell off when he got hit, but boy, that penalty killed us!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
I predict an Ed Reed hot streak today.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Where are you MaLoR ?!!!!!!!!
I haven’t seen you in like 2 weeks!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
There is no rule about QBs
If everyone thinks Brett is playing like a 20 yr old, then Ray needs to sack him! Brett has a tendency to take too long throwing the ball, plenty of time for a sack.
I am lucky today, CBS is airing the game since Minn is not too far from WI.
Go Ravensssssssssssssssssss
Lonely Ravens fan in Cheese Head country (Watertown, WI)
The one thing I love about DirecTV
Is the Sunday Ticket, I can see any game I want today, I don’t love the price for it though! :(
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions
Enjoy watching a win, Doris!
GO RAVENS!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah I'm in Portland OR
and this is the first time that I haven’t had to go to a sports bar to watch the game.
I woke up with Paparazzi by Lady Gaga stuck in my head. If the Ravens are as half as angry as I am they will roll today.
Aww, lay off Lady Gaga
She is talented and HOT!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions
This win is important to me
Even tho Favre is with a different team, he still has alot of fans here in WI and I think a Ravens win would shut up his fans for a week, I’m kinda getting tired of hearing about him & his “greatness”
Lonely Ravens fan in Cheese Head country (Watertown, WI)
Ravens at Vikings
Looking for a big game from Ravens QB Joe Flacco and expect the Ravens Defense to pull together and finish.Ravens 24 Vikings 21.
I don't think Baltimore wins this game
Unless we made major improvments from last week to now, I just don’t believe we come into Minne and pull out a win. The running game will most likely not be there, so we will be seeing joe Flacco throwing it 35-40. And all that means is, Jared Allen will have about 35-40 attempts to sack him. I’m sorry guys, but this is a really tuff game and I don’t know if we can pull it off. 24-10 Vikings
FEAR THE NEVERMORE DEFENSE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Come on Benji!
Even the Vikings fans think it’s going to be a closer game than that.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 12:48 PM EDT up reply actions
good luck
i think this is goiing to be a close good game . hopefully the refs dont screw things up. once again good luck.
new york viking
by new york viking on Oct 18, 2009 12:43 PM EDT reply actions
Cowher is on CBS
and he’s saying (no surprise) that he thinks the Steelers are the team to beat in the AFC North. While that may be true, his homer-ness sickens me!
aka 'Rexx'
Gee, think Dierdorf and Gumbel
favor the Vikes!? I could get sick of their commentary pretty quick today.
LET’S GO RAVENS!!!!
aka 'Rexx'
Is Tyree our new Punt/Kick returner?
(BTW: I am calling him superman from now on.)
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 12:59 PM EDT up reply actions
He is an inspiration to kickers everywhere!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions
Thats a new sickness.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Our defense sucks so much dick!
Why would we let AP run through 5 tackles?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
God, even I could have called that audible
seeing how far back our DB’s were playing!
Nice tackle Suggs!
aka 'Rexx'
Goddamn it!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Fuck this, I'm watching Scrubs!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Not so quick,
let’s see how we answer. We always seem to look bad on the opponents’ first drive.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
It's going to be a long day.
Joe Flacco's eyebrows have been charged with several penalties this season, most for acting as an "ineligible receiver downfield".
Hate to say it but
that’s all Ed Reed’s fault. How does a TE get behind a free safety!? He’s roaming too much to find the grat play but gets caught out of position like that!
aka 'Rexx'
I rember when our defence was good.
Those where the days.
Joe Flacco's eyebrows have been charged with several penalties this season, most for acting as an "ineligible receiver downfield".
getting scary
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
I'm getting really pissed
at no pass rush every time Favre drops back! Unless, Mattison just starts blitzing, we are dead in the water. Our LB’s can’t cover worth squat, so a safety or a nickel back should be on their TE.
aka 'Rexx'
WE NEED TO FUCKING FIRE GREGG MATTISON!!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions
MEDIOCRE
This defense belongs to Cleveland…:( Now I’m going to turn my back and turn the lights off, would somebody please give me back my Ravens defense:(
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 1:22 PM EDT reply actions
Mattison may want to start creating chaos with this defense.
He has played it too safe this season, though the Vikings have max protect on a couple of plays.
I have the Ravens defense on my fantasy team
but sat them and played the Saints instead! Smart me, eh?
aka 'Rexx'
OMG
Mattison is the downfall of this season. He should go back to college. Maybe somebody forgot to tell him this is PRO football.
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 1:25 PM EDT reply actions
Not his fault
players are just not as good as in the past.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
And who coaches them and tells them where to be on certain plays. Yeah thats right Mattison. So you think what you want, i’ll stay in reality
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Not even, a piece of shit could catch the ball and run it back for a TD against our secondary.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Beginning to look like the Vinny Testeverde led teams
of the early Ravens where we scored points on offense but couldn’t stop anyone. Mason should have had that!
Last week with the long one to Clayton and now to Mase we miss scoring opportunities.
aka 'Rexx'
wow
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions
We need Bowe NOW!!!
Joe Flacco's eyebrows have been charged with several penalties this season, most for acting as an "ineligible receiver downfield".
Why is there only one game televised now? I need a change of pace.
I don't know shit about baseball.
Get NFL RedZone. Every game is on it!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 1:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Why is there no roughing the kicker?
Did anybody else see that?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
finally some pass rush
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
GET SOME MOTHERFUCKER
FAVRE IS SACKED!!!!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
The Vikings are putting 8 to 9 players in the box.
Cameron is going to have to open the formations a bit, and throw against that front.
Well I've seen enough...
if the Ravens aren’t going to show up, I ain’t going to waste my time watching this shit.
"The ball always seems to find Ed Reed...The man is a menace"
by UMBC Oriole fan on Oct 18, 2009 1:32 PM EDT reply actions
Yes you are
just like you can’t turn away from a horrible train wreck!
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
He is the only one on the team with enough sense to go after Favre and not cover.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions
OFENSIVE PASS INTERFERENCE
WHERE THE FUCK IS THE FLAG?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
I didn't know our defence could make teams punt.
Joe Flacco's eyebrows have been charged with several penalties this season, most for acting as an "ineligible receiver downfield".
Me neither!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Good job mark, You CAN catch the ball every now and then.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
I had no idea.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:36 PM EDT up reply actions
dammit allen
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 1:36 PM EDT reply actions
Four yards and a cloud of dust........
That was our modo in ’07 and it looks like that will be our modo this year…….
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
For the love of god we are down 2 TDs why not go for it?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
How do you know, we are playing D right now?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions
Hiding in his mom's closet with a bag on his head
Saying," Please don’t hurt me."
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:44 PM EDT up reply actions
Reeeally
Well it took you long enough to find out!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Our purple Jesus better start showing up so we don't get shutout!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
He'll probobally trip on his own feet like he did on the one last week.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:46 PM EDT up reply actions
Where is....
those nice interceptions Favre used to throw when he played for the Packers????
Lonely Ravens fan in Cheese Head country (Watertown, WI)
Just saw Rothlisberger standing
in the pocket for 15 seconds before throwing a TD pass to Heath Miller. Cleveland rocks!
aka 'Rexx'
Me too, the CB didn't even take him down, Miller just jumped over him. LOL
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 1:49 PM EDT up reply actions
there's kelly
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 1:48 PM EDT reply actions
He's Good
I like him I wish they would incorporate him more in the offense!
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 1:48 PM EDT up reply actions
You got to love Kelly Washington!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Tuck Rule........
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Ridiculous, that was a pass!
Ref Mike Carey was the guy who killed us in Detroit a few years ago when he threw more flags than anyone ever.
aka 'Rexx'
only a matter of time before allen caused havoc. hopefully we get this call..
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 1:51 PM EDT reply actions
I hate the Purple Penis Eaters!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
YES!!!!!!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
The Ravens shouldn't have to lose a challenge flag on that BS.
How the umpire ruled a fumble in the first place is beyond me.
We get the ball back, but we can't complete the pass
WTF!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Correct
I’m right there with ya Bruce
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions
We should put Harbaugh out there.
Great catch Harbs!!
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 2:00 PM EDT reply actions
Cut his ass
I hate Chris Carr. He never should have made this team!!!!
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 2:02 PM EDT reply actions
PUT SUPERMAN IN AS PUNT RETURNER ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Where's Ray Rice
Too much McGayhe is bad for everyone
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 2:06 PM EDT reply actions
This one is on the offense....and the play calling
They keep trying to run the F-ing ball and it’s not working.Try something else and q uit chasing your own tail. damn it i need vikes to lose
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!
So all the Vikings fans who came to The Beatdown,
say watch the tape and see how other teams enjoyed success using their TE’s and where is the pass to Heap?
aka 'Rexx'
F the refs!
Joe Flacco's eyebrows have been charged with several penalties this season, most for acting as an "ineligible receiver downfield".
I watched a UFL game last night, they let everything fly
there was literally 2 flags, Why can’t they be like that in the NFL?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Think about it Bruce
Would you rather him let it keep rolling down to say the 10 or have him stop it at the 18 like he did? Everybody is just mad and not thinking clearly. Ed Reed is a professional do you really think he would have just grabbed the ball if he didnt think he could hold onto the darn thing?
by Beauty And the Bear on Oct 18, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions
Ed reed sucks a PR too, who's next Kelly Gregg?!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Good play
use up all the clock so when we punt they don’t have tie to score again. That’s our plan!
aka 'Rexx'
Since when can Clayton actually catch?!!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions
Mark does it again, I can't believe it!
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
Hey raven, what number is Ray Rice?
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
flags are littering the field today
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 2:21 PM EDT reply actions
amen
Ray Rice is so agile. He's a whole new breed for agile you need a new word to describe his agility... UBER-AGILITY!
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 18, 2009 2:23 PM EDT up reply actions
You call two false start penalties "good?"
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 18, 2009 2:24 PM EDT up reply actions
Sarcasim.
R.I.P. Tony Fein
May God watch over you wherever you are now and may you be in a better place. We will never forget you!
by Zachary Beard on Oct 18, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Throw to the end zone or
throw it out of bounds on that play. Nothing else!!!!
Now we got to kick the FG.
aka 'Rexx'
good call here right?
"We don’t have any rearview mirrors in our car,"- John Harbaugh
by purpleonblack86 on Oct 18, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions
i'm in the mood for some trickiration!
sp
Ray Rice is so agile. He's a whole new breed for agile you need a new word to describe his agility... UBER-AGILITY!
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 18, 2009 2:24 PM EDT reply actions
dare i say, fake fg pass
Ray Rice is so agile. He's a whole new breed for agile you need a new word to describe his agility... UBER-AGILITY!
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 18, 2009 2:25 PM EDT up reply actions
i don't know what the play call was, but the throw to Rice was a checkdown by Flacco.
He should’ve thrown the ball away.
why?
my computer’s working fine
Ray Rice is so agile. He's a whole new breed for agile you need a new word to describe his agility... UBER-AGILITY!
by BaltimoreSportsFan on Oct 18, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions
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