Iggy's Raven's Report - 17 September 2009

Commentary | Schedule | Relevant Football Links | Predictions

Commentary

Personal Thoughts:
Ravens: The game started out well, but the Ravens showed one of their problems of the past: Finishing drives. And Stover is not on the roster... for now. However, please don't take the 4th and Goal at the 1 at the end of the game as a sign that Stover on his way back. There are several reasons to go for it. Make it and the game is really over. Fail to make it and KC has to drive 99 yards. Put the field goal unit on the field, and if something goes wrong, KC wouldn't be in the hole that they would be at the 1. Speaking of which, most of the special teams snaps were highly erratic. Hauschka's 41 yard miss could have Stover back to Baltimore, but keep in mind that the 40 yard distance is where Matt starts having problems too. The drama is just beginning.

Harbaugh and Cameron choose a Pass first offense, and that racked up career numbers for Flacco. I hope they are more imaginative next week because to beat the better teams we need to do a better job establishing the running game. Not to say they we didn't do well in that department, it's just not what we are used to in Baltimore.

Defense was stellar except for a 50 yard pass play here or there. What was missing was the critical game turning turnovers. Instead, we let the Flacco INT and the block punt alter the mentality of the game, enabled KC to get back in it. The defense needs to get back in there and re-set the tone.

Orioles: A weekend series win against the Yankees, breaking a 10 consecutive game losing streak to the team formerly known as the Baltimore Orioles boosted our team's stock. Problem is that we are still a penny stock team. My 98 loss forecast is still standing unaltered this week.

Crystal Palace Baltimore F.C. (Home games at UMBC): No new news.

Alouettes: Despite the officials attempt to sabotage the league leading Montreal Alouettes (8-2), The Als still found a way to defeat nemesis BC (4-6), avenging from last weeks 19-12 road loss. To make a long story short, the CFL has responded to the Als formal protest, which disallowed a 2nd half game tying score, by admitting fault and drafting 3 amendments to the clock management rules.

The Als maintained their 3 game lead on Hamilton, the next best record in the division. Winnipeg (5-5) will visit Montreal on for a Sunday afternoon game next week. Winnipeg is coming off a 55-10 home pounding at the hand of Saskatchewan (6-4) .

Blast: No new news.

Mariners (See website for more details): Quarterback E.J. Nemeth who led the Baltimore Mariners to a 9-5 record and the franchise’s first playoff berth in 2009, while passing 36 touchdowns and rushing for 13 more, has been re-signed by the American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) club.

The Baltimore Mariners’ all-time touchdown reception leader, Scorpio Brown, has signed a contract to return to the indoor football team, which calls 1st Mariner Arena in Baltimore home..

What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, nevermind. No one is reading this anyway, so I will just butcher things up however I please, and you 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	3-3 Overall 1-3 Road	4:15 PM
Sunday, September 27	Cleveland Browns	13-7 Overall 7-3 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, October 4	@New England Patriots	0-4 Overall 0-2 Road	1:00 PM
Sunday, October 11	Cincinnati Bengals	15-11 Overall 9-4 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, October 18	@Minnesota Vikings	2-1 Overall 0-0 Road	1:00 PM
Sunday, November 1	Denver Broncos	4-3 Overall 3-0 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, November 8	@Cincinnati Bengals	15-11 Overall 6-7 Road	1:00 PM
Monday, November 16	@Cleveland Browns	13-7 Overall 6-4 Road	8:30 PM
Sunday, November 22	Indianapolis Colts	2-7 Overall 2-3 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, November 29	Pittsburgh Steelers	10-18 Overall 6-8 Home	8:20 PM
Monday, December 7	@Green Bay Packers	1-2 Overall 0-2 Road	8:30 PM
Sunday, December 13	Detroit Lions	1-1 Overall 1-0 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, December 20	Chicago Bears	1-2 Overall 1-0 Home	1:00 PM
Sunday, December 27	@Pittsburgh Steelers	10-18 Overall 4-10 Road	1:00 PM
Sunday, January 3	@Oakland Raiders	5-1 Overall 1-1 Road	4:15 PM

Relevant Football Links

NFL: Tie Breaking Procedures

Iggy's Predictions

Week 1
- Team that must not be named over Tennessee (+5½). I am sure glad that we didn't draw this straw, but it should be a rough match, given their two histories. Rough it was
- Baltimore over KC (+10½), but take the points. KC always gives us problems, for some unknown cosmic reason. Had we gone for 3 with a minute left, KC would have covered
- Tampa (+5½) over Dallas. Dallas enters the twi-light zone when they go into Tampa. Ooops... was a day game. Not twilight zone this time
- Cincy over Denver (+4½). Bengals have done well against broncos at home. Cincy had this wrapped up... until the 87 yard TD pass to BRANDON STOKELY with 11 seconds left.
- Saints over Detroit (+13½), but take the points. Too many points to give up for a season opener. Lions fought hard, but didn't have a prayer in this one.
- Indy over Jax (+7½), but take the points. Jags have covered 4 of last 5 in Indy. Should be a close game. Bullseye!
- Atlanta over Miami (+4½). Miami struggles against Atlanta, and is not familiar with their stadium (2nd visit since 1980) Another hit.
- Minnesota over Cleveland (+3½), but take the points. Vikings struggle in September, and the home team should keep it close. I thought this would be closer, but I guess Cleveland just doesn't have it again.
- Houston over Jets (+4½), but take the points. Rex Ryan gets a rocky start, and will just miss his first win. Good for Rex! Now on to New England!?!
- Philly over Carolina (+½). Carolina just can't "put away" the Eagles. Carolina must have showed up in Philly, because they weren't at home for this one.
- Niners (+6½) over Cards. Will be a close game, and SF will cover, if nothing else. They seem to have luck in the desert. Niners strike gold in Arizona!
- Seattle over the Rams (+7½). Rams just don't have what it takes to play with the hawks these days. As a matter of fact, I don't think they played at all
- Washington (+6½) over Giants. Strange division. Road teams do better than home in divisional matchups. Skins squeezed out a "cover," but not the win, which I like! (No win for you)
- Bears (+3½) over Packers. Da Bears like playing in Green Bay. Not this time.
- Pats over Buffalo (+10½). Bills struggle against Patriots. Adding points doesn't seem to help. Maybe T.O. could? Pats had to pull this one out of their... patsies
- Chargers over Oakland (+9½). This one has blow out written all over it. Does Oakland actually have something this season?
- This Week: 11-5 Straight Up; 7-9 Against the Spread
Week 2
- Baltimore (+3½) over Chargers. Trip out west can always be rough, but the Chargers had a short week and I like the matchup
- Jax over Arizona (+3½). Was the Cardinal trip to the SB a fluke? This is a hard road trip after last weeks loss
- Atlanta over Carolina (+6½) but take the points. Carolina isn't as bad as they looked last week... nor is Atlanta as good.
- Green Bay over Cincy (+9½) but take the points. I saw signs of a defense in Cincy...
- Tennessee over Houston (+6½). This matchup always seems to favor Tennessee
- Minnesota over Detroit (+9½), but take the points. I keep telling myself that the Lions have improved.
- Pats over Jets (+3½). Pats were awakened last week in Buffalo, but Jets should put up a good battle, just not enough to cover.
- Saints (+1½) over Philly. Saints are the real deal, Eagles aren't.
- Raiders (+3½) over KC. I think the Raiders might actually be decent this season.
- Skins over Rams (+9½), but take the points. I just can't lay off that nearly double digit odds.
- Seahawks (+1½) over Niners. I hate to go against my Niners, but this matchup favors the more experienced Hawks.
- Bills over Bucs (+4½). I don't care what time of the year: Bucs in the North? My money goes to the other team.
- Broncos over Cleveland (+3½). Clevelands struggles will continue.
- Team that must not be named over Da Bears (+2½). These points are way low in this mismatch.
- Cowboys over Giants (+2½). Home opener in that palace? I'm glad we didn't draw that straw!
- Dolts over Fins (+3½). Recent history favors Indy.

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net