If you’re not fired up for this game, you better check your pulse.  The stage is set for another statement game for the Ravens, coming off a great win in Seattle, well rested after the bye week, we face another marquise quarterback, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.  All on Sunday Night prime time TV.  And let’s not forget Bill Belichick who won his 300th game as a head coach last week.

The NFL schedule set them up and the Ravens will knock them down. Last game Russell Wilson, this week Tom Brady.  The Patriots don’t scare me (Happy Halloween everyone).  Sure, they are 8-0, but who have they beaten? Nobody!  The Patriots have only beaten one team with a winning record, the Bills.  But look at who the Bills have beaten. Again, nobody! They have five wins which are all against teams with losing records.  After showing the football world that we could beat the Seahawks, I think it’s a bigger test for the Patriots trying to beat the Ravens.  This game is going to be won or lost in the coaches meeting rooms.  The real question this week is not “How do the Ravens stop Tom Brady?” It’s “How do the Patriots stop Lamar Jackson?” How will Bill Belichick game plan for Lamar?  If they try and stop Lamar, Mark Ingram runs free up the middle. If they try and stop Mark, Lamar runs around the end. If they try to shut down the run, we have all seen what Lamar can do throwing the ball.  I don’t think Belichick is getting much sleep this week.

The Ravens could be at full strength with Jimmy Smith, Marquise Brown, and Patrick Onwuasor (spell check can’t help with that name)  all on track to play on Sunday.  With Jimmy and Patrick back in the lineup of our much improved defense, I can’t wait to see what we can do against the Patriots offense.  I could go on and on about how the new guys have made a huge difference,  how our run defense will stop the Patriots from running the ball, and how the Ravens may not have a lot of QB sacks but we do have the second most QB hits in the league, and if there is one thing Tom Brady hates is getting hit.  (big smile)

GO RAVENS!!!

This week you could bet your leftover Halloween candy on my picks.

Thursday Night 8:00

Cardinals over 49ers
This is the week the undefeated teams go down, the 49ers will get their first loss.

Sunday

9:30 AM
Jaguars over Texans
It’s all about helping the Ravens.

1:00

Colts over Steelers
Have I told you how often I root for the Colts?

Eagles over Bears
Both NFC teams, we are rooting for the home team.

Vikings over Chiefs
The Vikings are another one of my favorite teams.

Dolphins over Jets
The Jets are 1-6– this may be the only chance Miami has to get a win.

Redskins over Bills
What did I tell you? Another weak team for the Bills to play.

Panthers over Titans
NFC over AFC

4:00

Broncos over Browns
The Browns are in a melt down,  even with Joe Flacco out for 4-5 weeks with a neck injury, the Bronco still win this game.
Great scheduling, today we get to watch the Steelers lose at 1:00, and the Browns lose at 4:00 before the Ravens play at 8:00.  Thanks NFL.

Lions over Raiders
NFC over AFC

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

Packers over Chargers
Green Bay beat the Chiefs for us last week and will do the same against the Chargers this week.  Thanks Green Bay.  For some reason, I am in a thankful mood today.

Sunday Night 8:00

RAVENS over Patriots
The Ravens and Patriots have a history of close, knock down, drag out games.  With some of the most memorable games being in the playoffs, all of them in New England where we have lost on a wide right field goal and won in a dominating fashion that started with a run from scrimmage for a touchdown and Terrell Suggs strip sacking Brady on their first play on offense.  But one of the most memorable was in 2007 and the last time the Patriots played in Baltimore on Sunday Night, we lost in a very close game that came down to a couple of penalties late and Bart Scott picking up a thrown yellow penalty flag and heaving it into the stands.   This week should be no different, it will be a back and forth game that the Ravens will win.  How this happens is anyone guess, and that’s what keeps us coming back for more.

GO RAVENS!!!

Monday Night 8:00

Cowboys over Giants
The Cowboys need a division win.

Bye week: Falcons, Saints, Rams, Bengals (finally the Bengals won’t lose this week)

Enjoy the games, but start hiding the tick or treat candy from the kids so you have enough to last from 9:30 AM to midnight.  It’s going to be a long day.

PS: Congratulations to the Washington Nationals for winning the World Series! (Washington Redskins who?)

And that’s just The View From 151.

GO RAVENS!!!