Week 4: Ravens vs Patriots Preview

Opening Thoughts

This is a big game. Not a big game like the Chargers game was. It’s much bigger.  For one, the last time these teams met, the Ravens were robbed of a win over the undefeated Patriots on national TV by a couple miraculous plays by the Pats and by some terrible officiating.  Also, look at the schedule in the next few weeks. Next is the Bengals, who we can’t just brush off as an easy win anymore with the way they’re playing this year. Then, the team travels to Minnesota, which will be a very tough game defensively.  This game could be the stepping stone for a great run that could give the Ravens an incredible lead in the division before even playing the Steelers once.

Key Matchups

Ravens Secondary vs. Patriots Receivers: This has been the team’s Achilles Heel so far this season, their pass defense.  Not last week, but that’s the Browns, so it doesn’t count.  Randy Moss and Wes Welker (who is listed as questionable, by the way) are a far better tandem than any the team has faced this year, and Tom Brady is the best quarterback the defense has seen so far.  Against San Diego, the pass offense is very good, and carved up the secondary.  Let’s pray against a repeat performance.

Ravens Rush Offense vs. Patriots Front 7: The Ravens need to get the ground game going on all cylinders to come out with a win today.  So far, it has been solid, and at some times, incredible.  If the passing game and the coveted play action will succeed, Ray Rice and Willis McGahee will need to gain at least 150 total yards, and score.  I don’t know where I came up with that stat from, but it seems like a nice number.  The Pats will most likely be missing their top tackler, Jerod Mayo so the running game needs to capitalize on their immediate advantage before they touch the ball with Mayo out.

Injury Report

Ravens:

• OUT: None
• DOUBTFUL: None
• QUESTIONABLE: LB Tavares Gooden, WR Derrick Mason, QB Troy Smith
• PROBABLE: DT Justin Bannan, LB Antwan Barnes, TE Todd Heap, LB Ray Lewis, DE Trevor Pryce, WR Kelley Washington

Patriots

• OUT: None
• DOUBTFUL: LB Jerod Mayo
• QUESTIONABLE: WR Wes Welker, DT Vince Wilfork, T Nick Kaczur
• PROBABLE: CB Leigh Bodden, RB Laurence Maroney, DT Mike Wright, QB Tom Brady

Prediction

This will be a tough game to win, but also a tougher game to lose.  Just because of that, I think the Ravens get motivation by their last game against the Pats, and want to give their coach and their quarterback the satisfaction of winning in Foxboro.  The Ravens will win 26-20 with Steve Hauschka pulling in player of the game honors.

Be here at 1:00 PM for a live chat.