Monday Night Mockery?
By Joe Barnes
This preview will be a little off from the regular format for the sake of time, because I’m making this post only 2 hours or so before the game starts. From the title, you can gather that this game will not be taken seriously by anybody not associated with these two teams. The NFL will watch this game and think that if the Ravens win, it’ll just be another beatdown of the hapless Browns. If the Ravens lose, they’ll be mocked for a while to come.
The Ravens have always struggled on MNF, it’s a proven fact. With that said, it’s very hard to lose to the Browns this season, especially when your team is as hungry as the Ravens will be for a win against a rival. Certain players should be pumped up tonight. Ray Lewis, because he always is. Every single offensive player because of the uninspired performance they gave last week, and especially Steve Hauschka.
On the Hauschka situation, I think that the Ravens always intended to stick with him. Harbaugh’s statements that people gathered from that Hauschka would be cut and the two kickers trying out were both motivation, in my opinion. With that said (I’m saying that too much), if Housh doesn’t show up tonight and misses more kicks, he can expect the boot very soon. At least losing his starting job.
Look for Ray Rice to be running circles around the Browns’ defense and for Le’Ron McClain to get more touches as Cam Cameron may be looking to re-solidify the power running game that got the team so far last year. It’s a factor they’ve been missing so far.
Join me on Twitter and on WNST’s Live Chat during the game. Should be fun.