The Ravens will play the Tennessee Titans 8:15 Saturday night in Baltimore.

Before the NFL realigned the divisions in 2003 to is current configuration, the Ravens and Titans played in the same division (AFC central). This led to some historic smash mouth rivalry games. You could say it was almost to the level of the present-day Ravens/Steelers rivalry.  The Titans had QB Steve McNair and RB Eddie George, the Ravens had our dominating defense lead by LB Ray Lewis; a combination that resulted in some great games.  On our way to winning the Super Bowl in 2000, we made a stop in Tennessee.  The Ravens were the Wildcard team and the Titans were the No. 1 seed.  We won that game 24-10.  On Saturday, the rolls are reversed: the Titans come to Baltimore as a Wildcard team and the Ravens are the No. 1 seed.  But, one thing will not be reversed: the Ravens will still win.

Let’s go to some more recent history. The Ravens backups beat the Steelers two weeks ago in a very rainy M&T Bank Stadium. I am primarily focusing on this week’s game but I just can’t help myself from relishing in the fact we spanked the Steelers who were still playing for a playoff stop with something like ten of our starters resting on the bench.  This just gives me a warm feeling inside knowing the Steelers are watching the games  on the couch at home.

So, to the present, our Ravens play the Titans in a divisional playoff game with the Ravens as heavy favorites and plenty of story-lines.  Here are a few.

Rust vs Rest
It has been 20 days since Lamar and the starting offense took a snap together. Will they be rusty? No, I say well rested. Just go back to the first game of the season against the Dolphins.  After Lamar rested most of the preseason, he came out just dropping dimes in our receivers hands throughout the entire game until he came out in the fourth quarter because we were up by 40 points.  Lamar just turned twenty three years old and someone that young doesn’t get rusty!

Will Mark Ingram play?
Did you see what Gus Edwards did to the Steelers week 17?  Would I like Mark back healthy? Sure, I would. But, if he can’t go Saturday, I like what we can do with Gus Edwards. Tennessee is average at best tying to stop the run.

Can we stop RB Derrick Henry?
No. Can we stop him? The honest answer is no. After all, let’s be real, he is the NFL’s leading runner this season, but we can slow him down. And the funny part of this is that our defense isn’t the key to slowing him down- it’s our offense.  Lamar and the offense need to get off to a fast start and score a couple touchdowns in the first quarter, making the Titans play from behind and go more to the passing game and keeping the ball out of Henry’s hands.

Can we stop QB Ryan Tannehill?
Yes.  Tannehill and the Titan offense rely on big passing plays and running the ball.  The Titans rely on the long pass plays to score touchdowns because they are one of the worst red zone offenses in the league. Do you know who the best red zone defense is? You guessed it. The Ravens. I like our secondary to cover the Titan receivers and shut-down their passing game.

How will our old friend Titan defensive coordinator Dean Pees try to stop Lamar?
He won’t. The Ravens have too many ways to beat you. Our offense is the first in the history of the 100 year old NFL to average over 200 yards passing and over 200 yards running per game. We have to many weapons on offense to be stopped.

Side note:  The last time Titans DC Dean Pees and the Ravens OC Greg Roman faced each other was when Dean Pees was our DC and Greg Roman was the 49ers OC in New Orleans for Super Bowl XLVII in 2012.

Who will win this game?
The Ravens.

Since Week 5 it has been the same story-line: “Can the Ravens beat the formidable team  we are facing that week?” and each time the answer is yes.  Week after week we beat five teams who made the playoffs, and the Titan are next on the list.

GO RAVENS!!!

The playoff edition of the View are our picks of the team I think will win.  So go a head and bet that tax refund money you hope that is coming on my picks.  (just kidding)

Saturday 4:35

49ers over Vikings
I am not just picking the 49ers to win because I don’t like the Vikings. Even though Kirk Cousins got his first playoff win last week and I am happy for him (Saints got hosed again on a non call for offensive pass interference), the 49ers at home will be too much for the Vikings.

Saturday 8:15
RAVENS over Titans
The Titans don’t scare me. We match up very well against them.  Our defense should have no problem stopping the Titan offense.  They like to run the ball, we like to stop the run.  They like big passing plays we like to intercept passes.  We like to run and pass the ball, they can’t stop us.  This is so simple that, if I was a betting man, I would be in Vegas right now betting my tax refund. But, the fact that I am sitting in Catonsville should tell you something.

Am I worried, no… well… maybe a little, but that’s just me-I am always worried.  Did I sleep well last night….not much.

Buckle up your chin strap, both teams like to run the ball so this could be a real snot knocker.

GO RAVENS!!!

Sunday 3:05

Chiefs over Texans
This will set up a Ravens Chiefs Championship game in Baltimore.  But I am not looking past the Titans.

Sunday 6:40
Packer over Seahawks
This will be a close one so I am going with the home team. GO PACK GO!

Enjoy the games, because the playoffs only come around once a year.

And that’s just The View From 151.

GO RAVENS!!!