We are all waiting for the NFL season to begin like school kids anticipating the end of the school day bell to ring only to find out you have detention and can’t leave for another two hours. The Ravens complete running back corps of three starters JK Dobbins, Justice Hill, and Gus Edwards, will most likely miss the entire season with injuries. Tom Brady is still playing and won the season kickoff game against the Cowboys. CB Marcus Peters is out for the season. Our number one pick WR Rashod Bateman is on injured reserve (don’t get me started talking about the Ravens curse on first round wide receiver picks). So many questions. I can cut and paste from the last five seasons “What will the offensive line be like”. Lamar has had a different starting center every year of his career. Bradley Bozeman will start at center for the Ravens this season. He has not started at the center position since college. I guess it cant be any worse than last year.

I can’t believe I am starting the season with this pissed off attitude, maybe it’s from dealing with COVID the last eighteen months.

I just need to shake off and ignore the negative vibes and move on.

The Ravens defense is going to be great this year! Even with Marcus Peters injured we have a very deep, talented secondary. The D-line will be the run stopper it has been, and the pass rush has gotten better with the addition of veteran Justin Houston and rookie Odafe Oweh. But Derek Wolfe has not practice all week NO NO NO stop with the negative thoughts. Our defense is filled with young talent like Justin Madubuike, Patrick Queen, and Jaylon Ferguson.

Lamar has some heavy lifting to do this year to earn that huge contract next year, and I am excited to see how he does it. (How’s that for positive!)

Ravens vs Raiders in Las Vegas on Monday Night Football to open the new Allegiant Stadium for the first time with fans. I regret to inform the Raider fans that it won’t go well for them. (it’s okay to be negative if we talk about the other team) The Ravens have won the last five week one games and out scored the opponents something like 135 to 23. John Harbaugh and the coaches do a great job preparing for the first game. Lamar and the offense may not be ready for primetime, but our special teams and defense will be. The Ravens will win this game on turnovers and field goals.

GO RAVENS!!!

WHO TO ROOT FOR

Remember, don’t bet on my picks…. wait-what am I saying-we are in Vegas go ahead and lay that money on my picks because we have a positive attitude.

Thursday Night 8:15 (5:15 Vegas time)

Cowboys over Buccaneers
I’m ignoring the results of last night’s game.

Sunday

1:00 (10:00 AM Vegas time)

Bills over Steelers
I can’t believe I am rooting for the team that beat us in the playoffs last season, but we are rooting against the Steelers.

Vikings over Bengals
We don’t normally root for the Vikings, but we want the Bengals to lose.

Texans over Jaguars
Both AFC teams, rooting against the Jaguars because I still remember the loss in London.

Washington over Chargers
NFC over AFC, Rooting for our Washington fan friends.

Seahawks over Colts
If I still remember London don’t you know I still remember the Colts moving from Baltimore.

Panthers over Jets
NFC over AFC

Cardinals over Titans
NFC over AFC

Lions over 49ers
Both NFC teams rooting for the home team.

Eagles over Falcons
Joe Flacco is playing or should I say collecting a paycheck for the Eagles. The Eagles will start their second years QB Jalen Hurts.

4:00 (1:00 Vegas time)

Browns over Chiefs
I truly struggled over this pick, to pick the Browns goes against every fiber of my being. We play the Chiefs next week in Baltimore and we want them doubting themselves with a loss against the Browns. We can beat the Browns twice to make up for rooting for them this week.

Packers over Saints
The Packers are looking good to make a run against the Buccaneers. Rooting for our Packer fan friends.

Giants over Broncos
NFC over AFC

Dolphins vs Patriots
You pick’em, Both teams could be very good or very bad this season. That’s why they play the game.

Sunday Night 8:20 (5:20 Vegas time)

Rams over Bears
Both NFC teams, rooting for the home team.

Monday Night 8:15 (5:15 Vegas time)

RAVENS over Raiders
Las Vegas is going to be painted purple this weekend! The OOOOs during the National Anthem will be off-the-chart LOUD. Look for the Ravens flag in the end zone seats it could be me holding it up. This game has a Super bowl feel to it. The perfect storm, new stadium, week 1, and Monday Night Football, it doesn’t get any better then that to start the season.

The Ravens defense will play like a Vegas Headliner and steal the show with a Carr crushing performance. Derrick Carr, the Raiders QB, will be running for his life, he may have survived COVID but he won’t survive the Ravens pass rush. Justin Tucker will be in mid-season form and be as dependable as ever with a game winning field goal. Let’s sit back and let Lamar and the offense dazzle us like a Vegas Showgirls. (That may be a little corny but I needed to stick with a theme). The Ravens will keep the steak going by opening the season with a win!

GO RAVENS!!!

Enjoy the games with the optimism that a new season brings.

And that’s just The View from 151.

GO RAVENS!!!