Iggy’s Baltimore Sports Report – September 20, 2016

Ravens:
That is the ugliest 2-0 I have seen in a long time, but this is Baltimore Football. Can’t win without drama, and boy did we produce some drama. Inconsistent offense, which a shaky streaky Joe Flacco, and non-existent run game; and a defense that was easily devoured if the pass rush didn’t get to the QB in 3.2 seconds nearly done us in. It is clear that beyond our defense front, there is wide open spaces, and I estimate that any quarterback worth his salt will wipe the floors with us. Special teams generated the sparks we needed with the Block-2 PAT which started are excavation out of our 20 point hole.

Next up is a toss up game against the Jags on the road. They are not the push over team of recent years, and could make us pay for incompetence. If the Ravens have aspirations of building on this 2-0 start, they need to find more receivers than Pitta, Wallace and Smith (and figure out how to run the ball goes without saying). Defensively, our secondary needs to get faster, or read the QB better to make up for the fact that they aren’t. Otherwise, they will become Swiss cheese. Hester, just keep on running (and hold on to that ball). Good things will happen yet.

After studying they statistics further, I reverse my pronouncement on Monday night: Ravens for the win!

Orioles:
Have I said I hate Ortiz? Well, I do. He can’t retire soon enough. With an imminent loss tonight, the Orioles will need a minor miracle to win the division, and will have to find their offense if they even want to hang on to the post-season spot they have right now. The pieces aren’t adding up to any sort of serious post season run, unless they can start playing like a team. All the homers don’t really add up when no one is one base.

Alouettes
The Als continue their decent, now 3-9.

Blast (MISL):
Nothing new to report.

Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
2017 season tickets now on sale.

Capitals (See website for more details):
Nothing new to report.

Wizards (See website for more details):
Released training camp scheduled; 85 game regional TV schedule with CSN Mid-Atlantic announced.

D.C.United (See website for more details):
DC United are still tied for 7th place at 7-9-13.


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

Iggy’s Predictions


“Past performance does not guarantee future success, but it sure is the way to bet!”

  • Week 2:
    • Jets over Bills (+1.5). Question is whether or not the Bills defense was good, or our offense was bad. Well, Jets put up a lot of points, but also gave up a lot of points… still analyzing.
    • Lions over Titans (+5.5) Lions with the surprise win last week could make some noise this year. Titans win by 1.
    • Houston over KC (+2.5) I predict a game decided by a kicker. I was wrong, but it was within 1 score.
    • NE over Miami (+6.5), but take the points. Still hoping that NE will lose without Brady. Pats down to QB #3; fins comeback not enough
    • Ravens over Cleveland (+6.5), but take the points. We always lower ourselves to their level. Yeah, don’t bet on the Ravens to cover much this season.
    • Bengals (+3.5) over pittsburgh. Cat can’t start like they did against the Jets. Okay, I *wanted* the steelers to lose.
    • Dallas (+2.5) over skins. NFC East curse. Stick with the roadie. Curse intact.
    • Saints (+4.5) over Giants. Saints to rebound. … or not.
    • Panthers over niners (+13.5). No, those points weren’t tempting me in this match-up. I was chanting “Defense,” and all I got back was a hollow echo.
    • Cards over Tampa (+6.5). Pirate ships don’t sail in the desert. Couldn’t even find the Pirate ship hull in that desert.
    • Seattle over LA (+6.5). Hawks will make up for last week’s near debacle. What is wrong with Seattle?
    • Denver over Indy (+5.5), but take the points. I predict a close game, albeit another shoot out. When I pick Indy they lose, when I pick against them they still lose.
    • Raiders over Atlanta (+4.5). Falcons swallowed by black hole. Or was it vice versa?
    • Chargers over Jags (+2.5). How did the Jags stay with the packers last week? 38-14. Maybe Jags still stink?
    • Vikings (+2.5) over Packers. Vikings are on the rise. Or are the Packers on the decline?
    • Eagles (+3.5) over Bears. Bears lost to Houston last week? Eagles swoop in, devour bears.
    • This Week: 11-5 SU, 10-6 ATS
    • This Season: 23-9 SU, 18-14 ATS
  • Week 3:
    • Texans over Pats (+1.5). NE starting Rookie QB.
    • Ravens over Jags (+0.5). Virtually a toss up. This game will be decided by 8 points or less.
    • Denver (+3.5) over Cincinnati. After that performance against pittsburgh, I’ll go with Denver.
    • Titans over Raiders (+1.5). Going with Titans at Home.
    • Cards over Bills (+4.5), but take the points. Bills to keep game close, but will fall to 0-3
    • Fins over Cleveland (+9.5), but take the points. Browns aren’t THAT bad, are they?
    • Potatoes (+4.5) over Giants. NFC East Road Team.
    • Packers over Lions (+7.5), but take the points. Packers have yet to win and cover.
    • Panthers over Vikings (+6.5). Carolina to run up the score again.
    • Seattle over Niners (+9.5), but take the points. Will Seahawks figure it out this week?
    • Tampa over LA (+4.5). Rams are really worse than their 1-1 record.
    • stealers over Iggles (+3.5). I can wish for Philly, but that will end up just silly.
    • Jets (+3.5) over KC. Jets are better than their record.
    • Indy over SD (+2.5). Home field pick.
    • Dallas over Bears (+7.5), but take the points. Bears to rebound from Monday night loss, but not enough to win.
    • Saints over Falcons (+3.5). Saints to find their groove on MNF.

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net