After getting sacked seven times last week, the number one overall pick of this year’s draft, Bengals QB Joe Burrows seemed like he just finished an eighteen round prize fight against Mike Tyson. During Burrows Zoom interview after the game he seemed dazed and confused failing to answering questions like “Do you know where you are right now?”. Joe may have not known what hit him but we sure did, it was the Ravens number one ranked defense (in points allowed). By the fourth quarter I was rooting for a shutout but the Bengals were able to muster a field goal during trash time with several Ravens defensive second stringers playing.

While our Defense looked in mid season form, Lamar and our Offense looked like they were still in preseason. I have heard several conspiracy theories that the Ravens are just toying with the other teams while we shuffle our offensive line to see what the best combination is. We are preparing for the real season to start against teams like Steelers, Patriots, Colts, and Titans. No matter which theory you gravitate toward, Lamar and the receivers need to sync up and complete some passes! We have not looked sharp, with dropped passes and balls thrown into the dirt. The running game has not looked as dominant as last year. The running-back- by-committee may keep our backs fresh but it does not allow any one of them to get into a rhythm. I don’t think we’ve had a one hundred yard rusher this year and for a team that set the NFL record for rushing yards in a season last year, that’s not a good thing.

This week the preseason continues. The Ravens travel up 95 to Philly to face the 1-3-1 Eagles. It is conceivable that three teams from our AFC North division could make the playoffs with no team from the NFC East deserving to be in the playoffs. This season the Ravens and our AFC North division play the NFC East division including the Eagles, Giants, Cowboys, and Washington who have a combined record of 4-15-1. So while the rest of the league didn’t get any preseason games we get to play the NFC East which is basically the same as having a preseason schedule.

The Eagles QB Carson Wentz is a fifth year veteran who is playing like a rookie and you know what our defense likes to do to rookies. Wentz averages getting sacked 5 times and throws 2 interceptions per game. It is not all Wentz’s fault, he has an O-line made of Swiss cheese in front of him. On the other hand the Eagles have a very good defensive front line who can cause problems for our O-line. So look for Lamar to get back to last year’s form scrambling and running the ball. And that’s a good thing.

GO RAVENS!!!

NOTE: Technically the blog is not late this week since, for COVID reasons above my pay grade we did not have a Thursday night game.

Remember don’t bet on my picks since they are who we want to win to help the Ravens not who we think will win. Save your money to pay somebody to rake your leaves, so you don’t miss any of the games.

Thursday night
Postponed due to some sort of COVID reason.

Sunday 1:00

4-1 RAVENS over 1-3-1 Eagles.
Lamar and the offense need to be in mid season form against the Eagles defense who is very good at getting to the quarterback. The Eagles give up a ton of points averaging 29 per game. So look for Lamar, while on the run to throw over the Eagles D-line to Andrews and Boyle across the middle. Time of possession will be big in this game to keep our defense fresh to go after Carson Wentz and force turnovers. Can you say pick-6? On defense the Ravens may even score twice. Plus we just want to beat the Eagles since they didn’t beat the Steelers last week like we wanted then to do.

This will be the last preseason game. Next week is our COVID rescheduled bye week them we have the Steelers in Baltimore week 8 our original bye week.

GO RAVENS!!!

4-1 Browns over 4-0 Steelers
This pick is based on a advanced math equation that has the Steelers undefeated with a better record than us, and the Browns with the same record as us but we hold the tie breaker since we beat them week 1. So hold your nose and root for the Browns.
Side note: Both the two undefeated teams in the AFC Steelers and Titans have only played 4 games due to COVID rescheduling. Weird…. I sense a conspiracy brewing.

3-2 Colts over 1-3-1 Bengals
There’s no way we could root for both the Browns and Bengals in the same week. We will beat the Colts week 9 in Indianapolis to hold the tie breaker.

1-3 Broncos over 2-2 Patriots
No conspiracy here, just a little cheating.

1-4 Texans over 4-0 Titans
The Titans had several players with COVID, they must be on the same steroids that Trump received, because they looked unbeatable last Tuesday night.

1-4 Washington over 0-5 Giants
The Washington DC area needs a positive distraction from all the mess that is going on down there.

0-5 Falcons vs 1-4 Vikings
Both NFC teams so you pick’em.
This is a league of the haves and the have nots. This is a game of the have nots.

1-3 Lions over 1-4 Jaguars
NFC over AFC
Another have not game.

3-2 Panthers over 4-1 Bears
Both NFC teams
Rooting for the home team.

Sunday 4:00

2-3 Dolphins over 0-5 Jets
OK I’m breaking my own rule rooting not to have the number one pick of the draft in the AFC. But I can’t think of a better town than New York City to have two winless teams Jets and Giants.

4-0 Packers over 3-2 Buccaneers
Tom Brady has three wins and that’s three too many. GO PACK GO!

Sunday night 8:00

2-3 49ers over 4-1 Rams
Both NFC teams you pick’em

Monday (Evening?) 5:00
Caulk another one up to the year 2020-a Monday game at 5:00 PM.

4-1 Bills over 4-1 Chiefs
This was a tough pick, but since the Chiefs hold the tie breaker over the Ravens buy beating us week 4.
Don’t work late on Monday (on second thought don’t go to work at all) this is a special occasion that may never happen again in our life time. A 5:00 PM game that just doesn’t happen! A Monday game that we won’t fall asleep on. A prime time game worth watching. A prime time game that doesn’t have the Steelers playing in it. This is a gift from the football gods, don’t waste it.

Monday Night 8:00

2-3 Cowboys over 3-2 Cardinals
Both NFC teams
The Cowboys starting QB Dak Prescott broke his ankle last week and will be out for the remainder of the season. So up from the ashes raises QB Andy Dalton to start for the Cowboys. We play the Cowboys week 13 in Baltimore. I hate to think about how many times Andy Dalton, while playing for the Bengals, has come to Baltimore in a meaningful game and beaten us.

Bye week: Seahawks, Chargers, Saints, Raiders (The Raiders deserve a week off after beating the Chiefs for us last week)

Enjoy the games with someone who isn’t reminding you that the leaves still needed to be raked.

And that’s just The (Virtual) View From 151.

GO RAVENS!!!