Ravens:
Well, I envisioned a different ending, but knew we were in trouble when we scored the go ahead TD with too much time left on the clock. In game failures included: Botched FG, No TD on a short field, penalties (and at the wrong times), 3 and out with 9 minutes left (give or take), and the failure to stop them on their final drive. But that’s not where we really lost it. 0-for-October was the real problem. Losing 4 straight in close games that we should have won is the difference. Take even 2 of those, and Sunday didn’t matter. Every game counts, and they need to play each and every one like there is no tomorrow.
This Sunday… who cares? Harbaugh says they will play to win, but what starter is going to go all out with nothing to gain? The only victory is no injuries.
Draft Watch: Ravens currently sit at #17, in a virtual tie with Tennessee, Tampa, and Denver. I don’t expect that to change much based on the results of Sunday. The Browns currently have the #1 and #10 (Phi) picks, while the Bengals sit at #8.
2017 Scheduling: With the season all but over, the Ravens know 15 of their 16 oppontents for 2017, and have 2 suspects for #16. Outside of the usual Divisional Home/away games, the Ravens will host Houston, Indy, Chicago, Detroit and Miami. On the road, we will travel to London (Jaguars), Tennessee, Green Bay, Minnesota and either KC or Oakland, depending on who comes in 2nd place. With David Carr out, the Raiders could lose the division and force us to travel to the black hole.
Free Agent watch. The following folks have contracts expiring on February 6: WR Steve Smith (possibly retiring), WR Kamar Aiken, CB Jarraud Powers, SS Matt Elam, DE Lawrence Guy, FS Anthony Levine, QB Ryan Mallett, G Vladimir Ducasse, DT Brandon Williams, FB Kyle Juszczyk, and RT Ricky Wagner.
Orioles:
Despite pulling the offer for Mark Trumbo, he is still on the radar as a possible re-signing. Other names floating about include DH Pedro Alvarez or 1B Chris Carter for a 1 year deal; and OF Michael Saunders (Healthy concern),
Alouettes
After a dismal season, the Als have replaced their front office.
Blast (MASL):
At 5-2, The Blast have a 2 game lead in the division, and are tied for 3rd best record in the league (17 teams)
Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
David Gross, the first Commissioner in the history of Major League Lacrosse (MLL), announced he will step down as Commissioner following the 2017 season.
Capitals (See website for more details):
Caps (20-9-4) are tied for 4th place, 8 points behind Columbus. In any other division, they would be 2nd or 3rd place.
Wizards (See website for more details):
At 14-16 edged closer to .500 after a recent win over Milwaukee.
D.C.United (See website for more details):
Nothing to report.
What do you want to see in the Ravens report? What should be scrapped? Actually, never mind. No one is reading this anyway so you probably won’t know the difference. Send an email to iggy at tealdragon.net. Thanks!
Relevant Football Links
- NFL: Tie Breaking Procedures
- 2017 Schedules
- PrintYourBrackets.com Good source of printable team schedules
- NFL Rule Book
- Spotrac.com Awesome source of player contracts and impact on salary cap
Iggy’s Predictions
“Past performance does not guarantee future success, but it sure is the way to bet!”
- Week 16:
- Giants over @Eagles (+2.5). Both teams hover around .500 ATS, but Giants have failed to cover 4 times, but I don’t take points less than 3. Eagles win at home.
- Skins over @Bears (+3.5). Bears have covered 3 times, but are still below .500 ATS. Skins romp in the hopes of making the playoffs, and they might just do it.
- @Bills over Fins (+3.5), but take the points. Fins won by 5 in Miami, but Fins will be in Buffalo… in December. Fish out of water (even though they are mammals) Fins in OT.
- Tampa (+3.5) over @Saints. Saints are 2-4 when favored. Saints win at home.
- Atlanta over @Carolina (+2.5). Opening line with 3.5, and I was taking the points. When it dropped to 2.5, staying with the SU pick. Falcons double up Panthers.
- @Packers over Vikings (+6.5), but take the points. GB is 3-8 ATS, failing to cover 4 times. Pack win by 13.
- @Pats over Jets (+16.5), but take the points. Pats only won by 5 a few weeks ago. Jets stopped trying.
- Titans over @Jags (+4.5). Jags are 5-8 ATS. Jags put Titans out of playoff picture.
- Chargers over @Cleveland (+6.5). Browns have covered 4 times, but not since week 8. They punted. Browns get first win. I was really hoping that would be week 17 v. squealors.
- @Raiders over Colts (+3.5), but take the points. Raiders are 3-5 as favorites. Raiders win, lose QB.
- @LA over SF (+3.5), but take the points. Both teams suck. SF wins by 1, but no one noticed.
- @Seattle over AZ (+8.5). Cardinals are 0-4 as the underdog. Cards win by 3. In Seattle.
- @Houston over Cincy (+1.5). Bengals are 2-4 as the underdog. Texans win by 2.
- @squealors over Ravens (+5.5), but take the points. As much as I WANT to win this game, it will take another colossal series of coaching mistakes and physical mistakes by the squealors for the Ravens to win. &*$*&$^*#($@&%(&
- @KC over Denver (+3.5), but take the points. Chefs are 3-5 when favored. KC ends Bronco season.
- @Dallas over Lions (+7.5), but take the points. Cowboys clinch division with a win, Lions trying to hold on to division lead. Boys set up NFC North title game next week.
- This Week: 9-7 SU, 6-10 ATS
- This Season: 137-101-2 SU, 110-130 ATS
- Week 17:
- Ravens over @Bengals (+2.5). Who Cares? Ravens have won or covered 2 straight as the underdog.
- @Titans over Texans (+3.5). Who Cares? Houston in the playoffs, Titans are not. Game has no real bearing on playoffs.
- Bills over @Jets (+3.5). Who Cares? Both are out of the playoffs, and Jets are terrible ATS.
- @Colts over Jags (+4.5). Who Cares? Jags can only hurt their draft order.
- Dallas (+3.5) over @Eagles. Who Cares? Neither team has anything to gain. Dallas is fixed at #1 in NFC, and Eagles traded away their top pick to cloverland.
- @Vikings over da Bears (+5.5), but take the points. Who Cares? Bears have covered 3 of last 5.
- @Bucs over Panthers (+6.5). Bucs need win and help to make the playoffs.
- @squealors over Brownies (+6.5). Who Cares? They are 9-4 as favorite.
- pats over @Fins (+9.5), but take the points. Who Cares? Well, actually, Pats look to lock up top seed, again.
- @skins over Midgets (+7.5), but take the points. skins win and they are in (barring a Bears/Packers tie).
- Falcons over Saints (+6.5), but take the points. Who Cares? Falcons look to lock up bye with a win, but Saints are 7-1 as the underdog, so take the points.
- @Rams (+6.5) over Cards. Who Cares? Rams won at Arizona earlier in the season.
- Chefs over Chargers (+5.5), but take the points. Who Cares? Chefs have division title in mind, but only squeaked by Chargers earlier at home.
- hawks over SF (+9.5). Who Cares? Hawks won by 19 earlier this season. 9.5 might not be enough.
- Raiders (+1.5) over @Broncos. Who Cares? Raiders will find a way to win without starting QB.
- @Lions (+3.5) over Packers. Division title and playoff spot on the line. Lions are 5-3 as the underdog, while Packers are 4-8 as the favorite.
Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net