Iggy's Raven's Report - 7 January 2010

Commentary | Schedule | Relevant Football Links | Predictions


Commentary

Personal Thoughts:
Ravens: We made it! 9-7 and we still made the playoffs! Best part is that by winning and making the playoffs, we eliminated the Team that must not be named! Next up is a return trip to the Temple of Brady. We may do enough to earn a win in this game, but the Refs won't allow us to actually win the game. You can look forward to bogus penalties called in an inconsistent fashion, just like every other game this season. Don't get me wrong. Our secondary is weak and holds a lot, but please don't tell me that the other teams defenders are completely innocent, and that Menthol wasn't chop blocking 2 games ago, and the other teams line isn't using the strangle hold, and arm hooks to hold. I have absolutely no confidence that the refs will give us a fair game. I just ask for consistency. Call the touch fouls if you want, but call them both ways.

We still aren't doing the basics necessary to win. We aren't protecting Joe, the long snapping is costing us points and field position, are our secondary is subject to exploitation by a good quarterback (especially one that has the assistance of the officials).

Should the Ravens pull off the miracle, we would travel to Indy for the divisional round. First things first, we need to take out the Patriots.

Orioles: No new news.

Crystal Palace Baltimore F.C. (Home games at UMBC): The North American Soccer League or "NASL" has been advised that its application to the United States Soccer Federation for membership as a Division II professional league was not granted. NASL respects the Federation’s decision and its suggested course of action for obtaining sanctioning in 2010. NASL will continue during the next seven days to work in good faith towards an interim solution with United Soccer Leagues.

Alouettes: No new news.

Blast: The Baltimore Blast (4-2) dropped a 12-10 OT decision to the Milwaukee Wave (4-2) on New Years Eve, creating a tie in the standings, with Rockford only ˝ game back. This weekend will feature back to back home games against Monterey La Raza (3-4) and a rematch with the Milwaukee Wave.

I am gauging interest in a field trip to see the Blast play this season. So far, I have 4 people (Mitch, Bob & guest, myself) interested another on the fence and 2 non-roost members down for going. Likely dates of game are 2/12, 2/19 or 3/6. Please email me immediately if you have interest. Thanks.

Mariners (See website for more details): Konstantinos “Gus” Kosmakos, who twice earned offensive player of the year honors for the Towson Tigers, and helped propel the Baltimore Mariners to the league’s leading rushing offense in 2009, has re-signed with the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) team for the 2010 season.

Capitals (See website for more details): At the time of this newsletter, the Caps (24-11-6) have lost 3 in a row (since I dugout my Capitals scarf -- maybe I should toss it), but still hold a 12 point lead on Atlanta. They host Montreal (21-20-3), and Ottawa (22-16-4) mid-week this week, before traveling to Atlanta (18-17-6) on Saturday. The Caps are 3rd in points behind New Jersey and Buffalo, respectively.

Wizards (See website for more details): The Wizards now have lost 4 in a row as they tumble down to another pathetic season. The travel to Philadelphia and Cleveland for midweek games, before hosting Orlando and New Orleans on the Weekend. I refuse to include team records because it will only depress me. Indiana, Philadelphia and New Jersey all have worse records in the conference. Add Golden State and Minnesota for the only 5 teams doing worse. We have not given the Nets any of their 3 wins, but the season is still young.

What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, nevermind. No one is reading this anyway so you probably won't know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!


Schedule

2009 Preseason
Date Opponent Time Result
Thursday, August 13 Washington Redskins 1-0-0 W 23-0
Monday, August 24 New York Jets 2-0-0 W 24-23
Saturday, August 29 @Carolina Panthers 3-0-0 W 17-13
Thursday, September 3 @Atlanta Falcons 4-0-0 W 20-3
2009 Regular Season
Date Opponent Record Time Result
Sunday, September 13 Kansas City Chiefs 1-0-0 1:00 PM W 38-24
Sunday, September 20 @San Diego Chargers 2-0-0 4:15 PM W 31-26
Sunday, September 27 Cleveland Browns 3-0-0 1:00 PM W 34-3
Sunday, October 4 @New England Patriots 3-1-0 1:00 PM L 27-21
Sunday, October 11 Cincinnati Bengals 3-2-0 1:00 PM L 17-14
Sunday, October 18 @Minnesota Vikings 3-3-0 1:00 PM L 33-31
Sunday, November 1 Denver Broncos 4-3-0 1:00 PM W 30-7
Sunday, November 8 @Cincinnati Bengals 4-4-0 1:00 PM L 17-7
Monday, November 16 @Cleveland Browns 5-4-0 8:30 PM W 16-0
Sunday, November 22 Indianapolis Colts 5-5-0 1:00 PM L 17-15
Sunday, November 29 Pittsburgh Steelers 6-5-0 8:20 PM W 20-17 (OT)
Monday, December 7 @Green Bay Packers 6-6-0 8:30 PM L 27-14
Sunday, December 13 Detroit Lions 7-6-0 1:00 PM W 48-3
Sunday, December 20 Chicago Bears 8-6-0 1:00 PM W 31-7
Sunday, December 27 @Pittsburgh Steelers 8-7-0 1:00 PM L 23-20
Sunday, January 3 @Oakland Raiders 9-7-0 4:15 PM W 21-13
Post Season
Date Opponent Record Time Result
Sunday, January 10 @New England Patriots 0-5 Overall
0-3 Away
1:00 PM

Relevant Football Links


Iggy's Predictions

  • Week 17
    • Falcons over Tampa (+2˝). Saints weren't trying last week; will the Falcons try this week with nothing on the line? Falcons take care of business
    • Bears over Detroit (+3˝). Chicago is definitely the better team of these two. Bears end on an up note.
    • Buffalo over Indy (+7˝). Colts are not trying anymore, just protecting their players until the playoffs. In that Snow bowl? Would you be trying in that game and risk injuries after you have already made the playoffs?
    • Jax (+1˝) over Cleveland. Although Cleveland has played tough lately, Jax should win this onem, albeit a close game. Cleveland ends season with 4 in a row!?!
    • Houston over NE (+7˝). NE has nothing to gain by trying this week. Houston had more to gain, but still couldn't sneak in to the playoffs
    • Carolina over NO (+7˝). Same story. Saints are saving their players for a game that counts. Saints coast to a first round bye, even in losing.
    • Minnesota over Giants (+8˝). Giants have lost big on the road several times this season, and Minnesota is in the mix for that first round bye. Chalk up another big road loss
    • Miami (+3˝) over TTMNBN. Stealers are 3-11 ATS as the favorite so far this season, and Fins have the edge at home, and praying for a playoff spot. That was a stupid pass to throw that pick inside the 5 with a game tying field goal in their grasps.
    • SF over Rams (+7˝). SF 5-2 ATS as the favorite this season. SF struggled at first, and then post 21 4th quarter points.
    • RAVENS over Raiders (+10˝). This season, the Ravens have shown that they usually win the games that they are supposed to win. Couldn't bury them.
    • Philly (+3˝) over Dallas. Both teams are in the playoffs, just a matter of where. Philly who?
    • Green Bay (+3˝) over Arizona. If Green Bay wins, they could end up back in Arizona for a rematch next week in the playoffs. Packers back in Arizona. Expect a similar result.
    • Denver over KC (+12˝). Broncos won by 31 in KC earlier this season. KC ends Denver post season dreams in a big way.
    • Tennessee over Seattle (+4˝). Seattle is 1-8 ATS as the underdog so far this season. Better question would be, "Can the Hawks get in to double digit scoring?" Seattle covers by half point.
    • San Diego over Washington (+3˝). Will San Diego be trying? Even if they aren't, the skins gave up 2 weeks ago. I guess they were up for a trip to San Diego.
    • Jets over Cincy (+10˝), but take the points. Bengals have really struggled lately, but the Jets have something to gain by winning this game. Bengals don't. Cinciny has really sunken.
    • This Week: 10-6 Straight Up; 7-9 Against the Spread
    • Season: 171-85 Straight Up; 124-132 Against the Spread
  • Wild Card Weekend
    • Jets (+3˝) over Bengals. It's not that the Bengals weren't trying last week, it's that they are out of gas.
    • Dallas over Eagles (+4˝). Do you really think a week will make that much of a difference after that performance in Dallas last week?
    • Patriots over Ravens (+4˝), but take the points. Refs will not let us win. Pats steal it on a field goal.
    • Packers (+2˝) over Arizona. Cardinals surfaced in a weak division. Packers earned their playoff spot.

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net