Iggy’s Ravens Report – September 18, 2012

Iggy’s Ravens Report – September 18, 2012

 

News & Commentary

 

News and Personal Thoughts:
No thoughts.

Ravens:
Well, Week 1 saw Dr. Jekyll destroy the Bengals, while Week 2 produce the Mr. Hyde that we also know exists. Officiating aside, since we can’t do anything about it, the Ravens failed to produce when they needed to. They abandoned the running game, and when the passing game failed, we had nothing. Justin Tucker kept us in the game with 3 unthinkably long field goals, and had we gotten closer, I am sure Harbs would have green lighted a 60+ attempt. Defense failed to apply consistent pressure on Vick, in fear that he would hurt us with his legs, and the secondary showed signs of pre-season stupidity. This was not the team that played the week before. Now, which team will show up for Week 3?

Orioles:
ESPN now lists the Orioles as an 80% lock to make the playoffs, up from 18% less than 2 weeks ago. After escaping the black hole known as Oakland with 1 win, the Orioles are looking at a favorable remaining schedule with the next 12 games against sub-.500 teams, while finishing the season in the fading Tampa Bay. Don’t think this will be an easy trek. The yanks have almost as easy a schedule left, with 3 home games against Oakland being their toughest competition. For the Orioles, the division is critical. A wild card will likely send us to Oakland for a 1 game playoff, where we have won only 3 games over the last 3 seasons. A division win will likely put us against the White Sox in a best of 5 series, where we own the season series 6-2. Still 2 weeks of baseball left, and the injury bug hasn’t let up yet. The O’s must use this time to gain some confidence and momentum going towards the playoffs, and not let Boston, Toronto, or Tampa play the spoiler. As an aside, we beat Boston at the end of last season, knocking them out of the playoff picture. Don’t think they have forgotten that.

Alouettes
The Als (7-4) defeated Saskatchewan (5-6) at home on Sunday, 28-17, to reclaim sole possession of first place. The Als will host the 2nd place Argos (6-5) on Sunday.

Blast:
2012-13 Schedule has been posted.

Chesapeake Bayhawks: (Home games at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium)
Nothing to Report.

Charm:
Nothing to report.

Capitals (See website for more details):
Caps to host Columbus at Baltimore on Wednesday, September 26 for their 2nd of 7 preseason games… As the season approaches the NHL faces another lockout, which is already sending several popular players overseas to seek alternative employment in Europe.

Wizards (See website for more details):
The Washington Wizards announced their preseason schedule.

Mystics (See website for more details):
The Mystics (5-27) extended their season high losing streak to 11 games, still worst record in WNBA. Only 2 more games of suffering, misery, and agony left. Next loss will clinch worst record in the league.

D.C.United (See website for more details):
United (13-10-5) defeated New England (7-15-7) on Saturday, and travel to play Philadelphia (7-13-6, 9th place) on Thursday, and then host Chivas USA on Sunday. DC has regained 5th place (last playoff spot), 2 points ahead of Columbus, and 2 points behind Houston. There are 6 games left in the regular season.

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 Thursday, September 27, 2012 Cleveland Browns 19-7 Overall, 10-3 Home 8:20 PM Sunday, October 7, 2012 @Kansas City Chiefs 3-3 Overall, 2-0 Away 1:00 PM Sunday, October 14, 2012 Dallas Cowboys 3-0 Overall, 2-0 Home 1:00 PM Sunday, October 21, 2012 @Houston Texans 6-0 Overall, 3-0 Away 1:00 PM Sunday, November 4, 2012 @Cleveland Browns 19-7 Overall, 9-4 Away 1:00 PM Sunday, November 11, 2012 Oakland Raiders 6-1 Overall, 4-0 Home 1:00 PM Sunday, November 18, 2012 @pittsburgh steelers 14-21 Overall, 6-12 Away 8:20 PM Sunday, November 25, 2012 @San Diego Chargers 4-4 Overall, 2-4 Away 4:05 PM Sunday, December 2, 2012 pittsburgh steelers 14-21 Overall, 8-9 Home 4:25 PM Sunday, December 9, 2012 @Washington Redskins 3-1 Overall, 2-1 Away 1:00 PM Sunday, December 16, 2012 Denver Broncos 6-3 Overall, 5-0 Home 1:00 PM Sunday, December 23, 2012 New York Giants 3-1 Overall, 1-0 Home 1:00 PM Sunday, January 30, 2012 @Cincinnati Bengals 18-14 Overall, 7-9 Away 1:00 PM

Relevant Football Links

Iggy’s Predictions

  • Week 2
    • Packers over Bears (+5.5). This could be a good game. Bears looked good last week, but the pack needs this to get back on track. Bears barely showed.
    • Baltimore (+2.5) over Philly. Philly barely gets by Cleveland and they are favored? …oh, what could have been…
    • KC (+3.5) over Buffalo. KC is better than last weeks performance. Who let Buffalo score points?
    • Indy (+1.5) over Minnesota. Luck will finally get lucky (also, it’s the home team plan on toss up game). Luck finally got lucky.
    • Saints over Carolina (+2.5). Saints need to smash someone after losing to the skins. Sorry Carolina, your number is up. Saints are turning back in to the Ain’ts!
    • Houston over Jax (+7.5). Texans are on a mission. Stand back, Houston is on a roll.
    • Raiders over Miami (+2.5). Miami ain’t shown me much yet, but the Raiders will this weekend. Next week, it’s heads or tails!
    • Pats over Cards (+13.5). You will need a lot more points to entice me. Cards are in disarray for a lot of reasons. Hey NE fans, how does it feel? I wish several more of those missed FGs on you!
    • Giants over Tampa (+7.5). Giants need to keep pace with the… um… skins. First half, Eli was a Fantasy nightmare… second half, he was a genius!
    • Bengals over Browns (+7.5), but take the points. Cincy has something to prove at Monday night. Direct hit!
    • Rams (+2.5) over Washington. Now, someone has some tape to study on RG3. I keep telling wershing fans that RG3 is not infallible. They insist that he is, but his receivers aren’t.
    • Cowboys over Seattle (+2.5). I watched the end of the Seattle game last week. That’s enough to pick whomever they are playing. Seahawks are playing Jekyl and Hyde too!
    • steelers over Jets (+6.5). Jets don’t match up against anyone decent. %*(&^#%()*&^ steelers
    • Chargers over Tennessee (+5.5). Chargers will build on last weeks win, but don’t worry, they will collapse later in the season like usual. Titans are in for a long season.
    • Niners over Detroit (+6.5). San Fran is the team to beat in the NFC. It was a civil handshake.
    • Falcons over Broncos (+3.5), but take the points. This could be an offensive bonanza. Maybe the Falcons are the team to beat in the NFC!?!
    • This Week:: 10-6 Straight Up, and 9-7 Against the Spread
    • Season:: 21-11 Straight Up, and 19-13 Against the Spread
  • Week 3
    • Giants over Carolina (+1.5). Giants should play better for the whole game, although there is turmoil at RB.
    • Dallas over Tampa (+7.5), but take the points. After last weeks collapse, the boys will either folder like a cheap suite, or actually play football this week.
    • Indy over Jax (+2.5). I believe the odds makers. Luck will be 2-1!
    • Cleveland (+3.5) over Buffalo.I’m still not sold on Buffalo playing football; Browns are 2-0 as the dogs so far this season.
    • Jets over Fins (+3.5). The Hot Dog will find a way.
    • Saints over KC (+8.5), but take the points. Not sure that the Saints can put anyone away, and KC has the #5 Offense right now (despite their ugly losses)
    • Bengals (+3.5) over washington. RG3, meet an AFC North defense. AFC North defense, EAT RG3!
    • Bears over StL (+7.5), but take the points. Rams are showing more than people have been giving them credit for.
    • Niners over Minnesota (+7.5). You need to give Minnesota more points than that!
    • Detroit over Tennessee (+2.5). Detroit has something to prove while Tennessee has been proving all the wrong things lately.
    • Falcons (+2.5) over Chargers.This will be a good game! Flip a coin, but don’t miss a play!
    • Eagles over Zona (+4.5), but take the points. Philly can score, but have failed to cover the spread twice in two weeks, while Arizona has been surprising thus far, and are at home.
    • steelers over Oakland (+4.5). Why couldn’t this have been in Oakland?
    • Houston over Denver (+1.5). Another great game to watch. I waffled 3 times already on this one, with no good reason.
    • Baltimore over NE (+2.5), but take the points.I usually won’t take any odds under a FG, but this will come down to the very end — make it or miss it, this will be close!
    • Packers over Seattle (+3.5). Green Bay has the edge on so many fronts, but this is in Seattle…

Please send comments to Iggy at tealdragon.net