November 24, 2016

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

I am writing this Thanksgiving morning with the dog by my feet and  the turkey cooking on the grill, driving the neighbors wild with the sweet smell. I have plenty to be thankful for. Our Ravens are in first place, the team is relatively healthy, and our Defense is back to being one of the best in the NFL.  Oh yeah, also family and friends.

After getting my hopes up in the first quarter and being optimistic at the half, hard reality came in midway through the fourth. The Cowboys were just too much for us last week. The duo of Prescott and Elliott are going to be a special pair for a long time and the best part is we won’t play them for another four years, unless we see them in the Super Bowl.

We are now 5-5 but still in first place in the AFC North.  With only 6 games remaining – What? Where has the season gone, it is going by way too fast. We definitely need to make the playoffs, since I am not ready for this to end- 3 are division games, two against the Bengals, and one against the Steelers.  All three games are must win games.  Starting with the Bengals this week. The Bengals at 3-6-1 are not playing well and we need to take advantage of this by stomping on their necks and kicking them while they are down.   We need to make a statement with our #2 defense at home by stopping the Bengals without their #1 receiver, A J Green. We should get Jimmy Smith back who did not play last week and possibly the difference in last week’s game. Without Jimmy we didn’t have a match for Dez Bryant.  But I digress. Back to this week- Our Defensive line was awesome last week  against the #1 running attack in the NFL, holding Elliott under 100 yards.   Sorry, this week we can show the league that we belong in first place (we should have done this last week) by beating the Bengals without Green and starting running back Giovani Bernard. Joe and the offense should put up big numbers on the Bengals defense, who gives up a ton of yards every week.  Did you see Marshal Yanda last week?! He moved from the right side to the left side of the Oline and did a great job!  Back to this week- we must stop the drive-killing penalties on offense.  We will be able to run and pass against the Bengals’ 24th ranked defense.  I predict another division win by at least 10 points.

GO RAVENS!!!

Remember, the picks are who we want to win not who we think will win.  So don’t bet the farm on my picks.

12:30pm

Lions over Vikings
Both NFC teams, rooting for the home team Lions and against the Vikings

4:30pm

Redskins at Cowboys

You pick em’. Push away from the table to watch this one. It will be the game of the day.  This is the equivalent of Ravens / Steelers.  The Redskins need to win to stay in the race and the Cowboys want to win to keep the #1 seed in the NFC.

8:30pm

Colts over Steelers
We  really want the Colts without starting QB Andrew Luck (out with concussion) to beat up on the Steelers.  Who is the Colts backup QB? Scott Tolzien, well, we still don’t know who the backup is.  As we count our blessings today, send a little blessing Scott’s way.  Go Colts.

Sunday
1:00pm

RAVENS over Bengals
Who will start on our Oline and where will they line up?  Marshal Yanda was a real stud last week and played great in a position he hasn’t played since he has been with the Ravens.  The team needs to feed off Yanda’s energy.  With only 6 games remaining every game is a must win.  Joe will have time to through the ball.  The running backs will have holes to run through to sustain long drives and control the game clock, giving the defense a rest.  Look for the offense to have a big day and win by 10 points or more.
GO RAVENS!!!

Bears over Titans
NFC over AFCRooting for the home team Bears to beat the Titans, who are one game behind the Ravens.

Jaguars over Bills
Rooting against the Bills who have the same record as we do.

Cardinals over Falcons
The Cardinals defense took the #1 spot from us last week and need a win to stay relevant in the NFC West

Browns over Giants
Thanksgiving is always the time of year for Browns fans to start looking toward the draft.  We are rooting for the Browns so they do not get the first overall pick in the draft. We want that honor to go to an NFC team.

Rams at Saints
Both NFC teams with 4-6 records, rooting for the home team Saints.

49ers over Dolphins
I know it’s hard to believe that the worst team in the NFL is not the Browns, it’s the 49ers.  Rooting for the 49ers to beat the Dolphins, who we play next week.

Chargers over Texans
Rooting for the Chargers to beat the Texans who have a better record then us.

4:05pm

Buccaneers over Seahawks
Both NFC teams, rooting for the home team.

4:25pm

Jets over Patriots
We can still catch the Patriots who are 8-2.

Panthers over Raiders
NFC over AFC
This could be a good game but, we are rooting for Cam Newton and the Panthers to beat the AFC Raiders.

8:30pm

Chiefs at Broncos

You pick em’. This could be real slug fest.  Stay up and watch this game.

Monday Night
8:30pm

Packers at Eagles

You pick em’. Both NFC teams in desperate need of a win.

No bye teams this week.

Enjoy the games with a big leftover turkey sandwich.

And that is the View from 151

GO RAVENS!!!

Thanksgiving 2011
Ravens vs 49ers