Ravens:
Just when I thought things couldn’t get any wilder, the Ravens and Vikings combined for 5 TD’s in the final 2:05, including a kick return that did NOT include Mike Tomlin tripping/tackling/interfering with Jacoby Jones. The scoring frenzy was an NFL record for the most TDs in a 2 minute span, and the 6 4th quarter lead changes also set a new NFL record. An independent firm who compiles statistics on NFL games rated this the 2nd most exciting non-overtime regular season game in NFL history. I am still trying to figure out what could have been more exciting.
The offense was it’s typical erratic self, but the running game was able to get more traction than usual on the snow covered field. The defense still failed to put consistent pressure on the quarterback, and gave up some big plays without recording a sack for the second consecutive game. Special teams was 1 missed tackle away from giving Minnesota a game winning kick off return for a TD. Blame what you will on the weather, the Ravens played their typical sloppy self.
Now, the Ravens will wrap up their regular season with 3 straight games against division leaders. Every game is a must win as the Ravens maintain their tie-breaker edge over Miami for the 6th and final wild card spot. Playoffs started in week 12 for the Ravens, and they have now won the first 3 games of this stretch. Any loss from here on out can be devastating to our playoff hopes, and don’t count the Ravens out of the division title talks yet. Cincinnati has a 2 game lead, and with a game in Pittsburgh this week, the table could be set for a division title game Week 17 in Cincinnati. But first things first, we must win every game from here on out (and cheer for… um… the steelers to beat the Bengals!?!)
One final note: Ravens game against the pats has been demoted to 4:25 start time in favor of Chicago/Philadelphia for the Sunday night game of the week. Are they “predicting” we will lose to Detroit and our game against the patriots will be less important?
Orioles:
Analyst are still scratching their heads over some of the off season moves made by the Orioles, especially the trade of Jim Johnson, and now the loss of Nate McLouth and Bud Norris… Season ticket price have been restructured. I got my package in the mail today, and I am totally confused. I guess I will actually have to read the stuff… Gibby’s (Greatness in Baseball Yearly award) were handed out today. Manny Machado won play of the year for his Brooks Robinson-esque play against the Yankees, and Chris Davis won Breakout hitter of the year for hitting more Home runs than everyone else, including the AL MVP.
Alouettes
Nothing to report.
Blast:
Blast lost for the 2nd time this season, once again to nemesis Milwaukee by a 12-10 score. Next game is Home, on Friday against Rochester.
Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
Nothing to report.
Charm:
Nothing to Report.
Capitals (See website for more details):
The Caps have won 4 of their last 5, but still trail the evil penguins by 7 points.
Wizards (See website for more details):
The Wizards (9-11), dropped to 3rd place in the division behind Atlanta, and 6th best in the conference.
Mystics (See website for more details):
Nothing to report.
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!
Schedule
| 2013 Preseason | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Opponent | Time | Result | |
| Th, Aug 8 | @Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 7:30 PM | W 44-16 | |
| Th, Aug 15 | Atlanta Falcons | 7:30 PM | W 27-23 | |
| Th, Aug 22 | Carolina Panthers | 8:00 PM | L 34-27 | |
| Th, Aug 29 | @Saint Louis Rams | 8:00 PM | L 24-21 | |
| 2013 Regular Season | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Record | Time | Result |
| Th, Sep 5 | @Denver Broncos | 7-4 Overall 2-3 Away |
8:30 PM | L 49-27 |
| Su, Sep 15 | Cleveland Browns | 21-7 Overall 11-3 Home |
1:00 PM | W 14-6 |
| Su, Sep 22 | Houston Texans | 6-1 Overall 3-0 Home |
1:00 PM | W 30-9 |
| Su, Sep 29 | @Buffalo Bills | 3-2 Overall 0-1 Away |
1:00 PM | L 23-20 |
| Su, Oct 6 | @Miami Dolphins | 5-5 Overall 3-4 Away |
1:00 PM | W 26-23 |
| Su, Oct 13 | Green Bay Packers | 1-3 Overall 1-0 Home |
1:00 PM | L 19-17 |
| Su, Oct 20 | @pittsburgh steelers | 15-22 Overall 7-12 Away |
4:25 PM | L 19-16 |
| Su, Nov 3 | @Cleveland Browns | 22-7 Overall 10-4 Away |
4:25 PM | L 24-18 |
| Su, Nov 10 | Cincinnati Bengals | 19-15 Overall 12-5 Home |
1:00 PM | W 20-17 OT |
| Su, Nov 17 | @Chicago Bears | 2-2 Overall 0-2 Away |
1:00 PM | L 23-20 OT |
| Su, Nov 24 | New York Jets | 7-1 Overall 5-0 Home |
1:00 PM | W 19-3 |
| Th, Nov 28 | pittsburgh steelers | 15-23 Overall 8-10 Home |
8:30 PM | W 22-20 |
| Su, Dec 8 | Minnesota Vikings | 2-2 Overall 2-1 Home |
1:00 PM | W 29-26 |
| M, Dec 16 | @Detroit Lions | 2-1 Overall 0-1 Away |
8:40 PM | |
| Su, Dec 22 | New England Patriots | 3-7 Overall 1-2 Home |
4:25 PM | |
| Su, Dec 29 | @Cincinnati Bengals | 20-15 Overall 7-10 Away |
1:00 PM | |
Relevant Football Links
- NFL: Tie Breaking Procedures
- Johnny Road Trip NFL Schedules 2010-2017
- 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!”
- NFL Week 14:
- Houston over Jax (+3.5), but take the points. Houston is 0-6 as the favorite this season, but nobody will watch this game with no playoff implications. Most people still haven’t cared to notice who won this game.
- BALTIMORE over Vikings (+6.5), but take the points. Our games are rarely more than a score difference. Ravens stick to their “1 score or less” endings.
- Bengals over Colts (+5.5), but take the points. Colts are 3-1 as the dog this season, and the result could mean a lot for playoff positioning if current standings hold. Cincy runs up the score while Colts play catch-up.
- Pats over Browns (+12.5). Browns hire 4th QB off the street to backup, and possibly start after 2nd QB is concussed in 2 weeks. Browns once again steal defeat from the jaws of victory. Brady scores twice in final minute for the win.
- Oakland (+2.5) over Jets. Jets can barely move the ball, let alone score. Jets somehow win another game.
- Packers over Falcons (+6.5), but take the points. I have no idea on this game really. Still waiting on weather Rodgers will play, so I went with the home team, but took the points assuming Rodgers is out. Rodgers still out, but they still defeat lowly Falcons by 1.
- Detroit (+2.5) over Eagles. Eagles have 2 wins at home, and are 2-5 as the favorite. Eagles win snow bowl.
- steelers over Fins (+3.5), but take the points. Both teams are hoping to steal a wild card spot, and the steelers are severely hurting on the front line after the Ravens Game. Miami stays even with the Ravens, and virtually eliminates steelers.
- Buffalo (+2.5) over Tampa. Bills look to re-enter the playoff race. Tampa wins big at home, while Buffalo fails to show.
- Chiefs over skins (+3.5). Chiefs to snap 3 game losing streak in a big way. Chiefs show skins who’s boss.
- Denver over Tennessee (+12.5). That’s a lot of points, but Denver should cover easily by halftime. Tennessee took an early lead, but Denver takes it to them in the end.
- Arizona over Rams (+6.5). Arizona is 4-0 as the Favorite, and the Rams are 3-6 as the underdog. Arizona wins again as the favorite.
- San Diego over Giants (+3.5). Neither team is inspiring. I went with the home team with the Giants traveling to the West Coast Twi-light zone (of course that strategy didn’t work for me last week when Cincinnati visited). Giant… ROADKILL
- Seattle (+2.5) over Niners. Niners are 8-2 as the favorite, but the Hawks crushed them like a tin can in the first meeting. SF kicks game winner to win by 2; fail to cover.
- Carolina (+3.5) over Saints. Carolina has the D in this battle for the division lead. Apparently, you don’t mess with New Orleans at home.
- Dallas over Chicago (+0.5). Dallas is pushing for a division title, while Chicago is fading. Bears got medieval on the Cowboys.
- Last Week:: 8-8 Straight Up, and 9-7 Against the Spread
- Season:: 128-80 Straight Up, and 100-108 Against the Spread
- NFL Week 15:
- Denver over San Diego (+10.5), but take the points. Chargers are 6-1 as the underdog ATS, although Denver is 9-4 as the Favorite ATS.
- Falcons over Washington (+5.5). Skins are now 1-7 as the underdog.
- Bears (+2.5) over Cleveland. Browns to find a way to … lose.
- Colts over Houston (+6.5). If they haven’t already, Houston needs to just give up.
- Jags (+1.5) over Buffalo. Buffalo to suffer for 2nd straight week in Florida.
- Fins (+2.5) over Patriots. Pats have failed to cover 4 times this season, and Fins are 7-2 as the underdog.
- Eagles over Vikings (+4.5), but take the points. Vikings have covered the spread 4 times as the underdog so far this season.
- Seattle over Giants (+7.5). Giants now eliminated.
- Niners over Tampa (+5.5). Niners to get healthy against Tampa.
- Carolina over Jets (+10.5). Carolina has 2nd best defense in the league and teh Jets have one of the worst offenses.
- KC over Oakland (+4.5), but take the points. KC’s outburst against the skins was an anomaly, and Oakland is at home.
- Saints over Rams (+5.5). Rams are so bad, they can’t even cover the spread most weeks.
- Zona over Titans (+2.5). Cards are still undefeated (5-0) as the favorite.
- Dallas over Green Bay (+6.5). Even if Rodgers is back, how rusty will he be on the road in Dallas?
- Cincinnati over Pittsburgh (+3.5), but take the points. This game should come down to the end… and we should be cheering for… er… “them.”
- Detroit over Baltimore (+5.5), but take the points. You know we suffer on the road, but let’s home I am wrong, and win this outright!
Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net