Iggy’s Ravens Report – December 18, 2012

Iggy’s Ravens Report – December 18, 2012


News & Commentary


Ravens:
After 3 straight games of “Win and you are in” Division clinching matches (that we lost), the Ravens backed into the playoffs, thanks to the virtual pick-6 that Ben threw against Dallas in overtime. That’s right. pittsburgh put us in the playoffs. Now, back to our game, pass protection stank and running game never got running. The defense, despite their injuries, looked good for a while, but losing the time of possession battle did them in. If Flacco wants to back up his claims of being elite, then he can’t fumble the opening possession, and then throw a 98 yard pick 6, which forever changed the complexion of the game, turning what could have been a 10-7 half-time deficit into a 17-0 flop.

This week, Joe goes against the guy he is most apt to compare himself to: Eli. Both QBs numbers of the last several seasons are extremely comparable with only one glaring exception: Eli has a pair of Stupid Bowl rings, and Joe only has tidy bowl rings. This game can go either way with both teams sucking on Defense thus far this season, and both offenses have been as consistent as a random number generator. This game means more to the Giants, because a loss could toss them out of the playoff picture, where as Baltimore is already clinched a playoff spot, but are pushing for that ever elusive home playoff game.

Orioles:
Rumor abound regarding signing Adam LaRoche, 33, as the everyday big bat first baseman. The move would solidify the infield as potentially one of the best defensive infields in the majors, and, if he stays healthy, add punch to the lineup. Unfortunately, he comes with a hefty price tag, and I don’t mean the 3 year deal he is asking for. The ef’ing nationals for whom he played last season, made him an offer already, and for any team to sign him away, would cost them a 2013 first round draft pick, with the Orioles have indicated would be too steep a price to pay. With Michael Morse in the wings to play first base, LaRoche is expendable for the nads, but will the deal or juggle players and positions? Meanwhile, Toronto has been signing players like they are the new york yankees. The Orioles better hope they can reproduce their 2012 success next season, because the AL East is getting tougher by the minute, and the O’s are still sitting on their thumbs.

Alouettes
Five time All-Star QB Anthony Calvillo, 40, plans to return for his 20th season in 2013.

Blast:
The Blast (9-0) are 1 win away from the franchise record for consecutive wins to start a season, after an easy 15-9 victory over visiting Missouri. The Blast jumped out to a 15-0 leads after 3 quarters before Missouri got on the scoreboard. The Blast hit the road for a pair of games this weekend, first in Chicago (2-8, last place) on Friday nights, and then in Milwaukee (4-2, 2nd place) on Saturday.

Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
MLL draft set for January 11 in Philadelphia at the US Lacrosse National Convention. Admission is free, and the keynote speaker before the draft is Dick Vermeil… MLL will return to CBS Sports Network for 20 games in 2013.

Charm:
The Charm will open the 2013 season at Jacksonville on May 25.

Capitals (See website for more details):
If you are a hockey fan, check out the College circuit. Yes. It’s that bad.

Wizards (See website for more details):
After defeating New Orleans for their 3rd win of the season, the Wizards have dropped 3 in a row. Cleveland and the Wizards are both 15 games below .500, and New Orleans is the next team above us at 13 games sub-sea level.

Mystics (See website for more details):
Mike Thibault named Head Coach and General Manager.

D.C.United (See website for more details):
DC to open at Houston on March 2 with their first home game a week later against Real Salt Lake. Game 3 will be in New York on March 16. Game times are TBD, and the rest of the schedule has yet to be released.


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!

Schedule

2012 Preseason
Date Opponent Time Result
Thursday, August 9, 2012 @Atlanta Falcons 7:30 PM W 31-17
Friday, August 17, 2012 Detroit Lions 8:00 PM L 27-12
Thursday, August 23, 2012 Jacksonville Jaguars 7:30 PM W 48-17
Thursday, August 30, 2012 @Saint Louis Rams 8:00 PM L 31-17
2012 Regular Season
Date Opponent Record Time Result
Monday, September 10, 2012 Cincinnati Bengals 18-14 Overall, 11-6 Home 7:00 PM W 44-13
Sunday, September 16, 2012 @Philadelphia Eagles 1-1-1 Overall, 1-0-1 Away 1:00 PM L 24-23
Sunday, September 23, 2012 New England Patriots 1-7 Overall, 0-2 Home 8:20 PM W 31-30
Thursday, September 27, 2012 Cleveland Browns 19-7 Overall, 10-3 Home 8:20 PM W 23-16
Sunday, October 7, 2012 @Kansas City Chiefs 3-3 Overall, 2-0 Away 1:00 PM W 9-6
Sunday, October 14, 2012 Dallas Cowboys 3-0 Overall, 2-0 Home 1:00 PM W 31-29
Sunday, October 21, 2012 @Houston Texans 6-0 Overall, 3-0 Away 1:00 PM L 43-13
Sunday, November 4, 2012 @Cleveland Browns 19-7 Overall, 9-4 Away 1:00 PM W 25-15
Sunday, November 11, 2012 Oakland Raiders 6-1 Overall, 4-0 Home 1:00 PM W 55-20
Sunday, November 18, 2012 @pittsburgh steelers 14-21 Overall, 6-12 Away 8:20 PM W 13-10
Sunday, November 25, 2012 @San Diego Chargers 4-4 Overall, 2-4 Away 4:05 PM W 16-13 OT
Sunday, December 2, 2012 pittsburgh steelers 15-21 Overall, 8-9 Home 4:25 PM L 23-20
Sunday, December 9, 2012 @Washington Redskins 3-1 Overall, 2-1 Away 1:00 PM L 31-28 OT
Sunday, December 16, 2012 Denver Broncos 6-3 Overall, 5-0 Home 1:00 PM L 34-17
Sunday, December 23, 2012 New York Giants 3-1 Overall, 1-0 Home 4:25 PM
Sunday, January 30, 2012 @Cincinnati Bengals 18-14 Overall, 7-9 Away 1:00 PM

Relevant Football Links

Iggy’s Predictions

  • Week 15:
    • Cincinnati over Philly (+3.5). Bengals have looked the best in our division lately. Philly made them look even better.
    • Denver over Baltimore (+2.5). As much as I want the Ravens to win this, the stats just aren’t in our favor: Manning versus a porous secondary. Flacco didn’t help.
    • Houston over Indy (+7.5), but take the points. With a little Luck, Indy could win this. Indy almost covered, but Houston clinches division with the win.
    • Miami over Jax (+7.5), but take the points. Fins have yet to cover as the favorite this season. Jax has given up, I think.
    • Washington (+0.5) over Cleveland. Line with 7.5 in Cleveland’s favor until it started to look likely that Griffin would play. Griffin out, but backup rookie Cousins looked almost as good.
    • Rams over Vikings (+3.5). Neither team really inspires me, but the Rams are at home with an outside chance of playoffs. Peterson done them in.
    • Saints over Tampa (+3.5). Tampa has been so inconsistent lately. Tampa got skunked. How’s that for inconsistency?
    • Giants (+1.5) over Atlanta. Despite Atlanta being 1 of 2 teams undefeated at home (Seattle), I think the Giants have more momentum than Atlanta. Atlanta maintains perfect home record.
    • Packers over Chicago (+2.5). Chicago has no direction right now, unless you count going down as a direction. Packers continue Bears death spiral.
    • Arizona (+6.5) over Detroit. Detroit is 2-5 as the favorite, and the Cards are at home, and should cover in the very least. Cards covered them several times over.
    • Seattle over Buffalo (+5.5), but take the points. Seattle is horrible on the road, but Buffalo can be tough at home. Seattle needs this to stay a driver in the playoff wild card hunt. I think Seattle is trying to make a point… they made 50 actually.
    • San Diego over Carolina (+3.5). East goes west… and crawls back East. It’s that darn twilight zone again. San Diego still celebrating first ever victory in pittsburgh. Can’t blame them for that!
    • Oakland over Kansas City (+2.5). Despite being 0-4 as the favorite, I am favoring Oakland at home in this matchup of draft positioning. KC Defense holds Oakland to 5 field goals, but KC Offense got skunked.
    • Dallas (+1.5) over pittsburgh. Part of me just wants this to happen, the other part sees the stealers are 3-6 as the favorite this season. The stealers lose. I like the sound of that!
    • Pats over San Fran (+5.5). As good as San Fran’s Defense is, Brady is on a terror lately. SF made Brady play catch-up, and he almost did!
    • Jets (+1.5) over Tennessee. Will anyone care what happens in this game? Flip a coin. I did. Jets give away the ball, the game, and their post season chance
    • This Week:: 11-5 Straight Up, and 8-8 Against the Spread
    • Season:: 145-79 Straight Up, and 117-107 Against the Spread
  • Week 16
    • Falcons over Detroit (+3.5). Both teams have done well against the spread, but Atlanta looks to lock-up home field.
    • Houston over Minnesota (+7.5). Houston’s average margin of victory is over 10 points for home games.
    • Packers over Tennessee (+13.5). That is a lot of points to give up, but Tennessee has nothing to play for, other than salvaging pride.
    • Tampa over St. Louis (+3.5), but take the points. Rams are 2-7 outside of conference games.
    • Carolina over Oakland (+8.5), but take the points. Twilight zone only applies to East going West.
    • Miami over Buffalo (+4.5). Fins D has come on strong as of late, and this game is in Miami.
    • Cincinnati (+4.5) over stealers. Although in pittsburgh, Bengals have been hot lately, and have playoffs and playoffs & division title in mind. Of course, pittsburgh’s playoff hopes are on the line here.
    • Pats over Jax (+14.5). New England is primed to run up the score against one of the worst D’s in the league, and coming off a loss.
    • Indy over KC (+6.5). A win locks up the 5 seed for Indy, although KC’s D could make this interesting.
    • Dallas over New Orleans (+2.5). This was hardest pick of the week, but it comes down to Dallas needing this game much more than the Saints who are virtually out of it already.
    • Skins over Philly (+4.5). Strike up the Barbie. Eagles are roasted.
    • Denver over Cleveland (+13.5), but take the points. Browns are 7-4 as the dog, having covered 4 times this season.
    • Baltimore (+2.5) over Giants. Which teams will show up? Odds are better at Roulette.
    • Bears over Arizona (+5.5), but take the points. Bears are struggling, but the Cards are at home, which will level the playing field.
    • Chargers (+2.5) over Jets. Sanchez is benched, if that means anything.
    • Seattle (+0.5) over San Francisco. Seattle is the 1 of 2 teams undefeated at home. This will be one of the best games of the weekend.

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net