IT’S HERE. IT’S FINALLY HERE!!!!!!

Week one of the regular NFL season is here and is starts out with a bang for the Ravens. The schedule from hell starts this week with the Ravens traveling to Denver to take on Peyton Manning and the Broncos. In the past I would rather take a sharp stick in the eye than play Peyton Manning week one, somehow, some way he pulls a rabbit out of his hat and beats us during the regular season, but not this year. Peyton is not what he use to be and don’t forget the Mile High Miracle.

A lot has happened in the last week since we played preseason week 4 in Atlanta. Well, I won’t say any more than that. The roster was cut to the final 53 with questions of who’s playing and who’s not. Moving in to the regular season it appears we are getting healthy and the team really doesn’t look much different than last year.

The only offensive changes are, remove Torrey Smith and Owen Daniels and insert Kamar Aiken and Crockett Gillmore, who both had quality playing time last year. The Oline is exactly the same line that protected Joe last year and that’s a good thing. With Kyle Juszczyk ( I think I have enough Zs in there) and Justin Forsett in the back field. Joe’s back up will be Matt Schaub, who is not too bad but hopefully won’t be needed.

The defense had a couple more changes than the offense but mainly still the same core as last year. Brandon Williams will be a good replacement for Pernell McPhee and Timmy Jernigan will try to replace Haloti Ngata. The big question on defense is did the secondary get better? I say yes, just by getting healthy. Jimmy Smith and Lardarious Webb will be back on the field at the same time. Safety Kendrick Lewis will replace the revolving door of safeties we had last year and will be the only new player this year.

Special teams have not changed. Sam Koch and Justin Tucker will punt and kick with Michael Campanaro returning kicks and punts. Campanaro is the only wildcard in this group, can he stay healthy? I have started a Go Fund Me Page to buy truck loads of bubble wrap to keep him from getting hurt.

All in all, I like our guys. Let’s cross our fingers that everyone stays healthy.

WEEK ONE RUNDOWN: Remember- this is what we want to happen to help the Ravens not necessarily what we think will happen. So don’t go out and bet the farm on my picks.
Thursday Night

Patriots over Steelers
I can’t believe I am rooting for the Patriots week one but we never want the Steelers to win. Tom Brady will be completely inflated this week and go after the rebuilding Steelers defense.

SUNDAY
1:00 games

Packers over Bears
This will be a good Black and Blue division game testing the Packers offense that lost two starting WRs to season ending injuries during preseason.

Texans over Chiefs
I want the Texans to win only because the Chiefs will probably be in the playoff hunt at the end of the year.

Jets over Browns
This could be the ugliest game of the week, but we root against the Browns who are in our division.

Bills over Colts
Yes, it’s true I am not over the Colts leaving Baltimore so whenever I can, we root against the Colts. The Bills won’t be a threat come playoff time.

Washington over Dolphins
NFC over AFC. I feel sorry for the Washington fans. This is their home opener. During the season we root for our Washington fan friends. Good luck this year. You are going to need it.

Panthers over Jaguars
NFC over AFC. We always root for the NFC team if they are playing an AFC team since the Ravens are in the AFC. Even from week one, we are thinking about the playoffs.
Seahawks over Rams
Both NFC teams and the Rams at home but we are rooting for the Seahawks and a special intention out in the Seattle area.

4:05 games

Cardinals over Saints
Both NFC teams: rooting for the home team. We like to root for the home team if we can since I know what it’s like to be at M&T and have the Ravens lose.

Tigers over Chargers
NFC over AFC. We root against the AFC team. Shedding a little tear for Haloti Ngata. Go get ‘em, big guy!

4:25 games

RAVENS OVER BRONCOS!!!!!
Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense will control the game by running the ball, keeping Peyton off the field. This will be a true week one test for our defense especially the secondary. We cannot let the Broncos score late in the game. Our pass rush will rattle Peyton and knock him off his game.

Buccaneers over Titans
NFC over AFC. DVR this game to see the #1 pick Jameis Winston against the #2 pick Marcus Mariota. Two rookie QBs, we are rooting for Winston and the NFC team.

Raiders over Bengals
We are rooting against the Bengals since they are in our division. The Raiders got better and the Bengals not so much. After leaving Denver, the Ravens will stay on the west coast to practice for next week since we play in Oakland week 2. I plan to DVR this game so I can scout the Raiders for week 2.

Sunday Night
8:30

Cowboys over Giants
Cowboys in their home opener at Jerry World will have no problem beating a much weaker Giants team. Tony Romo may have the best team he has ever had with a great O-line to protect him and help the running game. Cowboy fan should be excited!

Monday Night (Double Header)

6:55 game

Eagles over Falcons
Why is Matt Ryan rated higher than Joe Flacco? I just don’t understand how Ryan, with only one playoff win is rated higher than Joe who has more Playoff wins than any other QB in the last 7 seasons. So, we love to root against Matt Ryan. We also root for our Eagle fan friends. The Eagles have a new QB Sam Bradford who was handpicked by coach Chip Kelly. This game will be a good test for the Eagles on the road. With a 6:55 start time I may be able to stay awake to see the game end.

10:15 game

49ERs over Vikings
Both NFC teams but we always root against the Vikings because I just don’t like them. The 49ERs are at home should have no problem beating the Vikings. This game may end just about the time I wake up Tuesday morning.

And that’s just the view from 151

GO RAVENS!!!!!!