The Ravens took the Lamar Show on the road to Atlanta last week. While it wasn’t pretty offensively, the defense looked like a super model.  We couldn’t have asked for a better performance from our defense, shutting-down Julio Jones and Matt Ryan holding the entire Falcons offense to a measly one hundred and thirty one total yards. On the other hand, Lamar played almost rookie-like.  I say that because he played like a rookie by fumbling, which allowed Atlanta to scoop and score a touchdown, and running right back on the field and fumbling again during an exchanger between he and RB Gus Edwards to end a drive…. Wait a minute. That’s not how it’s supposed to happen! Lamar should have marched right down the field and scored a Ravens touchdown.  Not only did Lamar not score a touchdown after he fumbled the exchange, but he fumbled again later in the game luckily only losing the one scoop and score fumble.  So let me go back to my “almost”, I say almost because Lamar did not get shaken up by his mistakes. He played solidly and lead the offense on four more drives which lead to Tucker field goals. Meanwhile, he was watching our Ravens defensive scoop and score just like a good Ravens quarterback should do.  Bottom line Lamar didn’t get rattled by his mistakes, he didn’t throw an interception, and the Ravens come away with a great road win.

It’s week 14, three quarters of the season is over, and the real teams are rising to the top and that top includes the Ravens.  After a three game losing streak we now have a three game winning streak.  Three weeks ago we were talking about how can we make the playoffs as a wildcard team. If the season were to end today, we would be in as the sixth seed wildcard team.  Three weeks later, being a  wildcard team is not enough, we want to be the AFC North division champions! We are only one game behind the Steelers for our division lead, with the Bengals and Browns eating our dust.  The Ravens can win our division and get that coveted home playoff game.

This week, another tough road test and it’s all about the math:

#1 Ravens Defense + #1 Chiefs Offense = A Ravens Win

Vegas had the Ravens as more than a seven point underdog against QB Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.  The old football rule of thumb is that great defense and a running game travel well and that’s just what we have going on the road to the infamous Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.   Patrick Mahomes has been hogging the highlight reels with a passing game that puts up a lot of points, and I mean a lot of points.  But what the highlight reels don’t show is the running game the Chiefs had that added to the time of  possession keeping their opponent’s offense off the field. OK, I have to confess that I really have geeked out about this game by diving into the stats deeper, where no man has gone before, because I needed to prove to myself that the Ravens can win this game. The Chiefs offense is going to be without their best running back Kereem Hunt (cut by the Chiefs and suspended by the NFL) and their best wide receiver Sammy Watkins (foot injury).  The math is:

No Chiefs Running Back + Ravens Run Defense = A Ravens Win

No Chiefs Star Receiver + Ravens Pass Defense = A Ravens Win

So the headlines are all about the #1 defense vs the #1 offense, and how the Ravens defense will control the Chiefs offense, I say that’s not were this game is going to be won.  We need to look at the Ravens offense against the Chiefs defense, this is were the Ravens are going to win the game.  More math (stay with me):

Ravens running game + the Chiefs run defense (one of the worst in the league) = time of possession, keeping Patrick Mahomes off the field

Patrick Mahomes Off the Field = A Ravens win

I could go on about how the stats favor the Ravens but I will spare you my geeking out. Total the numbers, the Ravens are going to win this game!

GO RAVENS!!!

Remember, my picks are who we want to win not who we think will win (accept the Ravens) so don’t bet on my pick save your money for a nice glass of eggnog may I suggest spiking it.

Thursday Night 8:00

Jaguars 9 Titans 30
We wanted the Jags to win.  How can the Jags be so bad this year after their good record and how bad they beat us last year?

Sunday
1:00

RAVENS over Chiefs
Tighten up your chin strap, this could be a wild ride.  I don’t think you will need your calculator to add up the score on this one, since the Ravens defense will control the Chiefs high scoring offense and Lamar, who has been announced as the starter (see there is a good thin\g about getting the blog out late, up to the minute news), and Ravens offense will control the clock with the running game.

GO RAVENS!!!

Jets over Bills
Both teams are fighting or losing for the better draft pick.

Redskins over Giants
Two Redskins quarterbacks have broken their legs and are out for the rest of the seasons.  So they dusted of Mark Sanchez and will start him on Sunday.  Good luck with that.

Saints over Buccaneers
The Ravens play the Bucs next week and we want them completely out of the payoff picture playing for nothing but a paycheck.

Dolphins over Patriots
So I am getting greedy now.  Not only do I want the Ravens to be division champs but I want them to be a higher seed than the Patriots.

Colts over Texans
Remember, my picks are based on the Ravens winning every week.  So mathematically (all about the math this week) we still have a chance to be the number one seed of the AFC with a first round bye and home field advantage.  I don’t think that’s to much to ask for, since it is Christmas time.

Packers over Falcons
Who would have though that both of these teams would only have four wins come week fourteen.  Packers fired their head coach this week.

Panthers over Browns
One more Browns loss and you can put a fork in them.

4:00

Broncos over 49ers
It’s all about keeping the first draft pick in the NFC and with only two wins the 49ers are on the clock.

Bengals over Chargers
The greed is getting stronger.  As much as I want the Bengals lose, we can pass the Chargers in the playoff rankings.

Cardinals over Lions
Both NFC teams playing for a better draft pick rooting for the home team.

Raiders over Steelers
We want the Steelers to lose, combine this with a Ravens win and we take over first place of the AFC North.  Plus we don’t want the Raiders to have the first pick in the draft.

Eagles over Cowboys
Both teams playing for first place in the NFC East.  If both the Eagles and Redskins win this would make a three way tie between the Eagles, Cowboys, and Redskins all having a 7-5 record.

Sunday Night 8:00

Bears over Rams
The Bears have the #1 defense in the NFC and the Ramshave the #1 offense in the NFC.  Rooting for the #1 defense.

Monday Night 8:00

Seahawks over Vikings
Both NFC teams rooting for the home team.

I would like to thank Mrs. Friend, my fifth grade math teacher, for making the above calculations possible.

Keep fighting Mary Ellen, we are all rooting for you!

And that’s just The View from 151.

Class dismissed.

GO RAVENS!!!