Enough of all the talk, let's get it on! The Battle of the Beltway will be just like a backyard brawl with the trash being strewn about by both teams' fans. This is the first time in Baltimore Ravens history that the Washington Redskins have played a regular season game in Baltimore. The previous games between the teams have all been played in the Redskins backyard, but now we get to kick their butts in front of our fans, or at least mostly our fans. There's sure to be more than a few crimson and gold colors in M&T Bank Stadium tonight, but they will be drowned out by the purple and black who plan on turning the 'skins into black and blue by night's end.

The weather will be middle of the winter classic playoff football, with temperatures in the 20's and a stiff breeze. The fans will feel it more than the players, although it may make it tricky to throw the long passes and kick field goals. However, the hitting is expected to be fierce, as both teams have top ten defenses.

This is a must win game for both teams, although one will go home as a loser, with its playoff hopes either dashed or diminished. The Ravens sit at 8-4, good for the second Wild Card slot right now and just a game behind the AFC North division leading Pittsburgh Steelers, who visit the Bank next Sunday for what will most likely be the determining factor in the race for the division title. A win will only solidify their playoff position and hopes, while a loss will throw them back to the pack for the Wild Card fight. Meanwhile, the Redskins are desperate for a win, as they are 7-5 and currently out of the playoffs but could easily get back into the hunt with a win, while a loss would all but eliminate them from postseason consideration.

Unfortunately for the Redskins fans, today's game will not be a fun one to sit in the cold as an enemy fan nor even in the warmth of your own homes or the local brewpub, as there is just no way I can envision Washington winning this game. As it has been similar for the Ravens when they've had to go on the road and beat a tough team, there are just too many things that will need to go right for the Redskins to win this game. They will have to hope that they are able to run the ball effectively, complete the key passes and play a strong defense to stop us and get some turnovers. All in all, a task that they have not looked anywhere good enough to be up to tonight. The 'skins have lost three of their last four, with their only win by three points over the 2-10 Seattle Seahawks. This is nowhere near the same team that went to Dallas and Philly earlier in the season and won, starting the season off with a 6-2 record. Their offense has not been effective and while they have a very good defense, they have not been able to muster much of a pass rush, which will let just about any QB in the league find their open receivers sooner or later.

On the Ravens side, our offense has been clicking on all cylinders. Winners of six of seven, Baltimore has averaged over 30 points per game and now stand in the league's top ten in scoring average. The passing and running attack has been surprisingly well balanced and their choice of star running back for the week changes on a regular basis. Rookie QB Joe Flacco has been finding his receivers on short and long passes, with his recent success with the long ball to Mark Clayton. The Ravens have minimized their mistakes while creating turnovers that have gien them excellent field position leading to quick points.

The Ravens defense needs no introductions. They are #2 in the league and although they were shredded by the Giants, the Redskins bear no resemblance to New York. Therefore, expect a relatively low scoring game by Ravens standards, with both defenses keeping the opponents in check for the first half. The Ravens own the second half, especially the fourth quarter and I expect no difference as the game turns in our favor in the final 30 minutes. The Ravens will wear down the Redskins by throwing fresh running backs at them, mixing in a variety of passes, both short and long, as we all have seen what a great arm Flacco has shown on the deep routes. While Redskin QB Jason Campbell has not thrown too many interceptions, he will throw some tonight, as the Ravens will shut down Clinton Portis and the running game, forcing Campbell to the air much more than he is comfortable with. He is also susceptible to the sack and our pressure will cause him to turn the ball over deep in their own territory.

Call me a homer, but after seeing how the Redskins rolled over in the face of a tough defense in their home loss on Monday Night Football to the Pittsburgh Steelers and last week at home to the NY Giants, I see no reason that the same won't happen in Baltimore when they feel the wrath of this hard hitting opportunistic defense, that incidently leads the NFL in interceptions.

The Ravens have not played well on a national stage, but that has been as an underdog on prime time. However, the last time we were the favorite on either Sunday or Monday Night Football, we destroyed the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings on national TV and tonight should show the nation that no one will want to face us in the post season.

As stated earlier, the game will stay close for the first half, but the Ravens will take control in the third quarter and put it out of reach early in the final fifteen minutes. The Ravens move to 9-4 and while I'll hope that we end the night tied with the Steelers after they lose to the Cowboys, I doubt it and thereofre will have to take matters into our own hands next Sunday when we meet in Baltimore.

Ravens:  23-10

(NOTE: Feel free to use this space for a gametime Open Thread, although I won't be able to join you as I will be in my seats at the game.

...the Cincinnati Bengals had a slim chance of beating the Steelers last night and even less once it was announced that Chad Ocho Cinco wasn't playing.

...Roethlisberger seems to always get out of what looks to about be a sack, only to make a completion at a key point in the game.

...I guess that's part of the reason they've been able to pull out games even when he doesn't play so well.

...that's the mark of a good team, as I've always said you don't have to be good to win, just good enough (see Trent Dilfer, circa 2000-01).

...I can see the future, as we will be either tied or right on the Steelers' heels when our December 14th 1pm game is moved to prime time by the NFL.

...I hate the late games, as it makes for a long night and we don't exactly tear it up on national TV.

...I think this time it will be different, as we just lost in OT in a game we could have won earlier in the season and we are a better team now.

...our improvement is mainly due to the additional experience that Joe Flacco has gotten each game, and he is much better at home (other than the Titans game).

...the Eagles are a dangerous team and can score as well as most teams.

...they can also implode even better than most teams, as evidenced by their embarassing OT tie at Cincinnati.

...I couldn't care less whether or not Donovan McNabb knows the OT rule, as long as the coach knows it.

...trust me, the fact McNabb didn't know the rule had nothing to do with the OT tie.

...perhaps McNabb's three interceptions and one fumble contributed to the tie?

...if he has three more interceptions this Sunday against the Ravens, the Eagles will limp home at 5-5-1 and virtually out of the NFC playoff race.

...if the Ravens beat the Eagles, then go on the road and do the same to the Bengals, then I say they return home the following week to host the Redskins and continue their winning ways.

...I'm still not impressed with the Redskins, despite their staying in the playoff race.

...while Clinton Portis is having a great season, he won't be running against us, as he's no Brandon Jacobs.

...without a running game, the 'skins can't rely on Jason Campbell to pass them to victory.

...defensively, the Redskins' pass rush is virtually nonexistent and Joe Flacco will calmly stand tall in the pocket until he finds an open receiver.

...the fans will go crazy to see us beat our neighbors to the south, who we need to remember, did all they could to prevent us from getting an NFL franchise the years before we landed the Ravens.

...we will be focusing on the Eagles this Sunday and we will rebound behind the great fans at M&T Bank Stadium to defend our home turf.

Due to their proximity, this game has become known as the "Battle of the Beltway" as both teams play just over 30 miles from each other from Baltimore to Washington. Ravens fans probably have more distaste for their neighbors to the south than the DC fans do for Baltimore, as they have the Eagles, Giants and Cowboys to focus their hatred upon.

However, we all know that there is little love lost between the two cities and while they've played once in DC in the regular season, this is the first time in Ravens history that they've hosted the Redskins. This should be an extremely popular game, as fans of both teams will cram into M&T Bank Stadium in both purple and crimson jerseys for this game. This game is strictly for area bragging rights, as they are in separate conferences with other significant rivalries. At the same time, winning this game provides one city with the "one-up" on the other one and allows the winner to spew trash until the next time.

As Ravens fans, we hate the "Deadskins!" We revel in their losses and cringe when they succeed. Perhaps after the AFC North division rivals and perhaps the Indianapolis Colts (for some fans), the Washington team invokes the most negative emotions for Ravens fans. While I totally agree and want to see my Ravens crush the 'skins, these emotions will have no effect on my prediction that Baltimore will destroy their opponents this week (yeah, righhhhhttt!).

No question that the recent acquisition of former Dolpphin and Dancing with the Stars' Jason Taylor will have helped the Redskins defense, but will it be enough? The Ravens will be facing a still learning QB in Jason Campbell, who spent much of the off season recuperating from his severe knee injury. By week 13, he will either have fully recovered or may be on the sidelines. I say he will be recovered, but his effectiveness will be questionable. The Redskins play in a real tough division, which top to bottom, may be the toughest in football. Playing the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys twice per season will take a chunk out of their armor, making them ripe for a game that will be more emotional for the Ravens players and fans than the Redskins, and this added advantage will charge the team with the additional energy to put the "beatdown" on the DC team.

The Ravens will pound the ball down the middle between the tackles, with Ravens center Jason Brown and guards Ben Grubbs and Marshall Yanda blasting huge holes in the Redskins middle for both Willis McGahee and Ray Rice to rush through over and over. By the fourth quarter, their defense will be worn down and this is where the game will be sealed. While the Ravens will continue to pass when they need to, offensvie coorinator Cam Cameron willl keep the Redskins secondary off kilter with a variety and decent mix of runs and passes. Once the game appears in hand, he will just pound the ball on the ground, eating up huge chunks of yardage as well as gameclock.

The defense will confound Jason Campbell and new coach Jim Zorn will get an education of facing the game's most innovative defensive coordinator in Rex Ryan. The Ravens will beat the crap out of Campbell and we all know running back Clinton Portis will not be effective running the ball, as the 'skins will have to rely on the pass and this is where the defense will return to its previous years' opportunistic self. Look for exciting interception returns and the type of smash mouth football that has epitomized the Ravens during their successful years.

With another win, the Ravens are flush in the mix for a playoff spot and will set up a showdown next week with the Steelers coming to town with the lead in the AFC North at stake. That should be a great one!

Ravens: 23  Redskins: 9

Season Record:  8-5