IT’S STEELER WEEK!

At the beginning of the season you may have penciled in a loss against the Panthers in Charlotte.  But that doesn’t make it any easier to accept the loss last week.  It’s not just that we lost but how we lost, it was a total team loss.  Passes thrown in the dirt when the receivers are wide open, fumbles and interceptions just killed us on offense.  Our number one defense was not so number one, Cam Newton found open receivers way too many times and we couldn’t stop the run. The one bright stop was the banged up O-line played better than expected.

Enough about last week the Steelers are coming to town and I can’t help but tell you I’m just a little nervous about this game.  The Steelers have won their last three games and we have lost three out of our last four games, not a real confidence building stat.   I am not sure how this year’s Ravens team reacts to the words ” It’s Steeler week”.  We only have few players who grew up in the NFL with the Ravens learning to despise the Steelers like the Baltimore fans do.  Joe Flacco, Terrell Suggs, Marshal Yanda, Jimmy Smith, maybe Brandon Williams and C.J. Mosley-not that many.  When more than a third of the starting lineup have been with the Ravens for only two years or less how can they truly have the knot in their stomach knowing that the psyche of all of Baltimore is depending on them.  The cloud that hangs over downtown on the Monday after the Ravens lose to the Steelers is like a heavy LA smog.  It’s just not pretty. I can imagine Terrell Suggs setting the rookies on his lap and telling them stories of RAVENS / Steelers battles past and how Haloti Ngata broke Roethlisberger’s nose on Monday Night Football, of how a wounded Todd Heap stayed on the field with his team mates for one last play only to be victimized by Joey Porter,  and how Roethlisberger was Sacked some say eight times in one game.  Suggs will tell of the true meaning of RAVENS / Steelers and all will have a good night and a happy Monday.   So here’s to happy thoughts and a Ravens win!

Now for the good news.  Of all the Stadiums Ben Roethlisberger has played in his quarterback rating is the lowest in M&T bank stadium.  More interceptions than touchdowns, fewest yards passing per game, and a 35% completion percentage.  So why am I so nervous?!  We just don’t know what Ravens team is going to show up, the team that went toe to toe with Drew Breeze and the Saints just to miss it by that much or the team that Cam Newton showed the rest of the league how to beat the Ravens.   While the list on injured Ravens gets longer every day it will definitely be time for the young guys to PLAY LIKE A RAVEN.

GO RAVENS!!!

Thursday Night

49ers 34 Raiders 3 (This is what we wanted)
Man the Raiders are horrible, they spent all their money on the coach and not the players.

Sunday 1:00

RAVENS over Steelers
This will be our bounce back game, it has to be- if we lose this week against the Steelers we will be three games back with only seven games to play.  No more bad news. Think only happy thoughts. Keep telling yourself that the Ravens are going to win, the Ravens are going to win, the Ravens are going to win!  Justin Tucker is the best kicker of all times.  The Ravens defense is still ranked number one.  Joe has receivers who can catch the ball.  Roethlisberger is terrible in M&T.  And repeat.

GO RAVENS!!!

Bears over Bills
Can you say the Bills are on the clock?

Buccaneers over Panthers
This would be embarrassing after the way the Panthers just beat us.

Browns over the Chiefs
This is going to be like watching  a train wreck-you know whats going to happen but you just can’t turn away.  Flip to this one during commercials on the Ravens game.

Jets over Dolphins
The Dolphins are 4-4 same as the Ravens

Lions over Vikings
Just don’t like the Vikings

Redskins over Falcons
Redskin fans are cautiously optimistic about their 5-2 team.  Enjoy it.

4:00

Broncos over Texans
The Texans are a supersizing 5-3

Seahawks over Chargers
NFC over AFC and the Chargers are 5-2

Rams vs Saints you pick’em
This will be the four o’clock game to watch.

8:20pm

Packers over Patriots
In New England, this will be the Game of the Week after RAVENS / Steelers.
GO PACK GO-beat the Patriots!

Monday Night 8:00

Cowboys over Titans
NFC over AFC
Both teams are 3-4 but this could be a good game to watch.

BYE WEEK: Cardinals, Bengals, Colts, Jaguars, Giants, Eagles

My advice to you this week is no talking politics, just enjoy the games with family and friends.

And that’s just The View From 151.

GO RAVENS!!!