Are we ready to face Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs? What a way to find out. We’re starting the NFL season on national TV (and you don’t need to pay for it on some subscription service) Week One in a replay of last year’s AFC Championship. The teams are different but the main characters are the same: Patrick Mahomes against Lamar Jackson. It doesn’t get any better than this.

The Ravens have had a relatively injury free training camp. One reason for this is that no real starting player on the Ravens played a single snap in a preseason game. Meanwhile, Mahomes and Kelsey played in the second preseason game. Will this make any difference? Time will tell.

The Ravens offense has a new guy you might know: Derrick Henry. Derrick is 30 now but you wouldn’t know by looking at his stats from last year. Almost 1,200 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns. I am excited to see how opposing defenses play the combination of Lamar and Derrick in the Ravens backfield. This could be something special if, and it’s a big if, the offensive line can be as good as last year.

This is where I cut and paste from the last I don’t know how many seasons, “I don’t know how good the O-line will be.” Especially with only one reliable starting linemen returning from last year, center Tyler Linderbaugh #64. It’s is a good thing for Lamar to have the same center for three seasons snapping him the ball. Ronnie Stanley, left tackle, is another linemen from last year but he was not an every down player. And neither of them played one snap in the preseason. We may have to wait until they take the field Thursday night in Kansas City to know who our starting linemen are.

Roquan Smith is still the anchor of a defense that may be better than last season. At least it seems that way on paper. To be better, a few young guys and new starters to step up. Our first round draft pick Nate Wiggins needs to play as well as he did in the first preseason game. You know me, I love me some great defense and I think this can be another one of those “Ravens Defenses.” I like our guys!

This is the best time of year! The anticipation for what the new season will bring just keeps me up at night. I know I sound like a little kid at Christmas. I just can’t believe the start of the season is here. We can push aside all the training camp prognostication and see for ourselves if all the hard work is going to payoff. How will we stand up against the rest of the AFC North? Can we win the division? Will we have the number one seed like last year? Can we make it to the promised land? Again time will tell.

GO RAVENS!!!

The view from 151 is blog written from the prospective of a guy who sits in section 151 every week and bleeds purple and black. I try to keep it real but given my choice I will stand behind the Ravens every time. We look at most of the games each week on how the outcome can help the Ravens. So remember: don’t bet the rent money on my picks, they are who we want to win not who we think will win.

MY PICKS FOR WEEK 1

THURSDAY NIGHT 8:00
RAVENS over Chiefs
The Ravens go to Kansas City to open the season against the Chiefs. I promised myself that I wouldn’t dwell on the past and mention losing the AFC Championship game in Baltimore, Zay Flowers fumbling at the goal line, Lamar throwing an interception in the end zone, or the defense holding the Chiefs to 17 points and still losing. I’m sorry I just couldn’t help myself, it still hurts.

The Ravens and Chiefs had the same off season strategy, almost like if it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Neither team made big personnel changes with the only exception of Derrick Henry coming to Baltimore. We both lost some good players and had a good draft class. So, how will this change the outcome of the game? We want it more, I am not the only person who remembers how our season ended last year. Lamar, Roquan, Zay, Mark, and I could go on, they all remember how close they came to playing in the Super Bowl. The Chiefs are trying to three-peat but they’re still hungover from the parties. No matter how this game shakes out, no matter the Xs and Os, we want it more and it will show Thursday night in Kansas City. The Ravens win this game and start our season off showing we are the baddest team in the league. Fear the Raven!

GO RAVENS!!!

Hold on don’t go anywhere, keep the popcorn handy we get a game on Friday night.

FRIDAY NIGHT 8:00

Packers vs Eagles (somewhere in Brazil)
Well it didn’t take long into the season to need some kind of paid subscription to see a game. You will need Peacock to watch this game. If you don’t have Peacock or refuse to pay for what should be free to all of use who spend our hard earned money on tickets, jerseys, and all the other purple stuff that fill my closet, (sorry that went on a little to long) find a pub to enjoy a few beers and watch the game letting someone else pay for it. This should be a good NFC match up, possibly a preview of the NFC Championship game.

Sorry no NFL on Saturday, but you can watch Maryland play Michigan Sate at 3:30.

SUNDAY 1:00

Falcons over Steelers
Need I say more?

Patriots over Bengals
Ditto

Cardinals over Bills
NFC team over AFC team

Bears over Titans
Ditto

Texans over Colts
Talking about dwelling in the past, I still have not gotten over the Colts leaving Baltimore.

Jaguars over Dolphins
We are rooting against the Dolphins who may be competing against the Ravens for a playoff spot. Yes, week one we are talking about the playoffs

SUNDAY 4:00

Cowboys over Browns
Tom Brady will be calling this game for FOX so just turn the sound down and you will be fine.

Chargers over Raiders
Ravens play the Raiders in Baltimore next week and we want them to know they don’t have a chance of beating us.

Seahawks over Broncos
NFC over AFC

Commanders over Buccaneers
For our Washington fan friends.

SUNDAY NIGHT 8:00

Lions over Rams
Rooting for the home team because we all know what it’s like for the Ravens to lose at home.

MONDAY NIGHT 8:00
(I don’t think you need to pay for this game)
49ers over Jets
NFC over AFC

Enjoy the games with a cold beverage and friends.

I just realized, not once did I mention Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. As long as you don’t count this line.

And this is just The View from 151

GO RAVENS!!!