Ravens @ Bengals: Prediction & Gametime 'Open Thread'

I remember a lot of people did not like the pick when the Ravens drafted him. I love him now.

I know, I misquoted, but it suits my purposes.

You said Lardarius Webb may be an X-factor today, and I agree. However, I think he’ll be a defensive X-factor, not special teams. Our special teams have looked extremely strong over the past two weeks (except for Hauschka’s Minn. FG), so this is more of a known quantity since Webb took over. However, Chris Carr was still the starting nickel, and Frank “no look” Walker was still getting on the field the last time we played Cincy. With the receivers they have, we cannot afford to have subpar nickel coverage, and Lardarius Webb stepped up pretty well in the slot (Remember, Brandon Stokley is a pretty good receiver).

Also, last week, we put on a tackling clinic. It was an absolutely great display of how to stop the ballcarrier. I only witnessed a small amount of missed tackles, but the thing about this Ravens team is that the first guy to the ball does not usually make the tackle. Because we are built on speed, you’ll see that when guys get to the ballcarrier, we grab him, and hold him in place where a swarm of two or three more guys will take him down. Against a guy like Cedric Benson, who slashed our ego so greatly last time, this is going to be vital to keep going. He is going to rush to the outside, and he’s going to get one-on-one matchups. You can’t go for the big hit and risk missing the tackle, you have to get a handle on him, and keep him in one spot where you can get help, much like we did last week.

Last time against Cincy, Joe Flacco looked a little rusty, but he won’t be feeling so bad once the Bungles have gotten a taste of Le’Ron McClain and Ray Rice. Even when Rice is running the ball, no one wants to see that monster coming out of the backfield as his lead blocker, and we know that rice will get at least a couple big plays into their secondary. If they have to step those safeties up, Derrick Mason will make them pay, and I expect Kelley Washington to get involved from the slot also.

Because I have renewed faith in our secondary with the emergence of a real nickelback, and our defense stepped up its tackling, I will go out on a limb and say that their success will continue to a limited extent this weekend. Carson Palmer still passes for two TD’s, but he also makes a few mistakes, setting up Ravens points. The Ravens grind down the Cincy defense with short passes and rushes, until they break down the door in the 2nd half.
Final score: Ravens: 31 Bengals: 23

Put a Beatdown on the Bungles so we can finish them off next week!

Ngata is inactive today. Gregg, Bannan, McKinney and Edwards need to step it up big time today. So do the linebackers, it is going to rest upon the LB’s shoulders if we stop the run today or not.

Ouch. Time to step it up, Bannan, Edwards & McKinney! Perhaps someone like Kruger might be made active in his place?

We should take for granted that SS Roy Williams and Andre Smith are inactive today as well. Williams being out should help our passing game along with the run game.

YAMON FIGURS IS INACTIVE FOR THE BUCS TODAY! NOOOOOO!

I have already heard Dan Fouts say 3 things that make no sense at all. Should be a great day of him screwing up our names.

a blowout.

I’m yelling you better blitz five rushers. They send ONLY 3 and Palmer has all day to find the same guy who scored the game winner in the first game. As much as I like Greg Mattison, I’d fire him for that call alone!

the defense showed up. Bengals 3 for 3 on third down….secondary giving up 10+ yards on first down throws, and Benson is already ripping off big yardage.

first down on a penalty and we basically got a 3 and out.

from Mike Brown because for some reason we have to make this chumps look great every time we face them.

Between the horrible tackling and defensive penalties and piss poor coverage, we look soooo overmatched so far.

How about them Orioles?

I predicted a blow out, but I hoped it would have taken longer. With that, the TV goes off, the radio comes on, and I am doing house work. If they Ravens aren’t going to show up. I ain’t going to give it all my attention.

Bonus points for the Defense extending the drive on Penalties.

overall and pass interference penalties. If the refs know that, they’ll sure to be looking for us to make them and they will call EVERYTHING they see on us, while perhaps they should let everyone play.

I hope someone gives our CBs the updated memo on that.

Man, we really have to watch 3 more quarters of this?

Lose the trenches lose the game. They’re winning in the trenches on both sides of the ball and we’re losing the game. Period. Ngata is not the difference either.

On a side note, anyone seem to notice how our CB’s are slipping all over the place while the Bengals’ CB’s are sticking to us like glue?

is absolutely atrocious. They can’t get off the field, and because of that, they’re getting even more tired and playing even more poorly.

This is not your father’s Bengals defense. Improving every time I watch them.

Time to start drinking and yet another boring Sunday after the Ravens lose. This is embarassing.

Wonderful.

Whiskey or Vodka guys?

We stopped them on two consecutive possessions!

This was a full team pathetic mess. 17-0 when its should be even worse. Do the Ravens even have 40 yards of offense?

Easily the worst we’ve played all season. Scary thought is the next worst we’ve played was also against the Bengals. It’s beginning to look like they are just a better team than we are. Plain and simple.

and we pretty much have to go 7-1 the rest of the way as 10-6 just won’t get us into the post season. At the same time if we lose twice to Cincy, in division, our only hope will be the Wild Card and with a game against Indy, at GB and two with Pittsburgh, it could be draft position that becomes the key reason to play out the schedule. Ouch, this one is hurting bad.

We may be forced to believe now that we are still in the Harbaugh transition phase. It just looks like we do not have all the right players at the moment to be a contender.