Iggy's Raven's Report - 31 December 2009

Unfortunately, we are still not protecting Joe, the long snap is still something that makes me nervous, and I fear our secondary is subject to exploitation by a good quarterback.

Despite the loss, our destiny is still in our hands. Win and we are in. We go to Oakland to play a tough (tougher than they look) Raider team that is just out to prove a point. Just ask Cincinnati, Philadelphia, and that other Pennsylvania team, all who have fallen to the Raiders this season. The good news is that this season, we have won the games that we are supposed to win, and we are suppose to win Sunday. I will watch with cautious optimism and hope...

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

Relevant Football Links

• NFL: Tie Breaking Procedures

Iggy's Predictions

• Week 16
  • Titans over Chargers (+3½). Titans are coming on strong. Chargers might cover this one, however. Charger have been renewed
  • TTMNBN over RAVENS (+3½), but take the points. Steelers are 3-10 as favorites against the spread, but I just don't see us pulling the upset. We should have won.
  • Falcons over Bills (+8½). Bills have nothing. Bills have given up.
  • Giants over Panthers (+7½), but take the points. Giants needs this win, and the Panthers are putting up an admirable fight for respectability. Giants folded like a cheap suit.
  • Fins over Houston (+3½), but take the points. Home field should get them the win, but not by much. Overtime? Houston got up early, and then almost blew it. Not like them.
  • Pats over Jax (+7½). I almost recommended taking the points, but then I noticed that this was in New England. Will they try next week with nothing on the line?
  • Cincy over KC (+13½), but take the points. Bengals are 1-6 as the favorite against the spread this season. Cincy is really struggling, but finally clinched the division.
  • Cleveland over Oakland (+3½), but take the points. Both teams have come on strong towards the end of the season. Let hope Oakland offensive struggles continue one more week.
  • Packers over Seattle (+13½). Seattle is 1-7 as the dog. Packers should finish them early. Seattle is the worst team in the league right now.
  • Saints over Bucs (+14½), but take the points. Saints have failed to cover 5 times this season, and with 14½ on the board, I say take the points. Looks like the Saints stopped trying.
  • Niners over Lions (+12½). My stats say take the points, but the location says otherwise. Gut wins out again.
  • Zona over Rams (+14½), but take the points. Zona is crashing fast. Almost covered...
  • Eagles over Broncos (+7½), but take the points. Couldn't decide on these points, but went with them anyway because the underdogs seem to be winning more than the favorites thusfar this season. Denver kept it a game until the very end.
  • Indy over Jets (+5½). Jet crash. ...well they would have if the Colts tried.
  • Dallas over Cowboys (+7½), but take the points. Skins should rebound from the Giant game to make a strong show against their arch enemy, but still lose. Actually, maybe the Skins are the worst teanm in the league right now. Tough call.
  • Vikings over Bears (+7½). Bears are 1-8 as the dog against the spread. This is a Monday game not to watch. I guess Chicago had something to prove
  • This Week: 10-6 Straight Up; 10-6 Against the Spread
  • Season: 161-79 Straight Up; 117-123 Against the Spread
• Week 17
  • Falcons over Tampa (+2½). Saints weren't trying last week; will the Falcons try this week with nothing on the line?
  • Bears over Detroit (+3½). Chicago is definitely the better team of these two.
  • Buffalo over Indy (+7½). Colts are not trying anymore, just protecting their players until the playoffs.
  • Jax (+1½) over Cleveland. Although Cleveland has played tough lately, Jax should win this onem, albeit a close game.
  • Houston over NE (+7½). NE has nothing to gain by trying this week.
  • Carolina over NO (+7½). Same story. Saints are saving their players for a game that counts.
  • Minnesota over Giants (+8½). Giants have lost big on the road several times this season, and Minnesota is in the mix for that first round bye.
  • Miami (+3½) 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.
  • SF over Rams (+7½). SF 5-2 ATS as the favorite this season.
  • RAVENS over Raiders (+10½). This season, the Ravens have shown that they usually win the games that they are supposed to win.
  • Philly (+3½) over Dallas. Both teams are in the playoffs, just a matter of where.
  • Green Bay (+3½) over Arizona. If Green Bay wins, they could end up back in Arizona for a rematch next week in the playoffs.
  • Denver over KC (+12½). Broncos won by 31 in KC earlier this season.
  • Tennessee over Seattle (+4½). 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?"
  • San Diego over Washington (+3½). Will San Diego be trying? Even if they aren't, the skins gave up 2 weeks ago.
  • Jets over Cincy (+10½), but take the points. Bengals have really struggled lately, but the Jets have something to gain by winning this game. Bengals don't.