Alright. Time for your picks gentlemen

[Tornado700]

I expect to see a great game at M&T this Sunday. Possibly a high scoring contest, but the home team takes it.

Ravens- 31

Bengals 27.

[cravnravn]

31-17 Ravens

[ravinmaniac52]

14-10

 

Justin Forsett has a big game

[vmax]

Last time they played it was 17-17 at the end of the 3rd quarter and then the defense fell apart in the 4th quarter and Joe had a terrible game including a pick 6. Playoffs were on the line and the 2013 Ravens could not get it done.

 

To win Sunday the Ravens have to win time of possession. They have to keep the Bengals offense off the field....(6th in scoring 2013). To do that they have to be able to run the ball and the defense get off the field on 3rd down. I hope the #1 preseason rushing offense means they will be able to run on Sunday. I have less faith in the D making stops on 3rd down. They have to prove it to me.

 

The Bengals were the #3 defense in the NFL last year.....5 in points surrendered. Will they pick up where they left off? If they do, then the Ravens lose.

 

The Ravens have the Bengals at home and although it's week 1, it's a must win game in my book....and I don't like the Ravens chances given the performance of the defense. This D has a lot of ground to make up from the unit that was on the field last year.

 

So what do I like?

Gary Kubiak has the Bengals number. He owns them.

This is not the same offense or offensive line. They were hamstrung with Shipley, a hobbled Yanda, and KO. out for the season. Oher is gone. Everybody is healthy and they are not going with and injured Ray Rice cat RB. I like starting Pierce with Tallefaro and Forsett behind him. The Ravens need to get back to physical, smashmouth football on O. They need to convert 3rd downs and make the tough short yardage runs. They can and will.

The 2014 offense is ready for the grind. They will put up points on any defense.

 

Special Teams. Ravens have the edge there with Jacoby Jones and Tucker. Will Koch rebound?

 

I have Ravens O and ST winning.

2/3rds of the formula.

 

So it comes down to defense.

The Bengals have some good runners and the Ravens D has to stop them. That will wreck their red zone game. Do that and it's a Ravens win.

Do one more thing and it's a guaranteed Ravens win: Pressure Dalton.

 

He sucks under pressure.

 

It will come down to who scores more TD's than FG's. Every FG the Bengals kick is a Ravens win.

And vice versa.

 

Ravens win 30-27.

Nail biter...we're used to them.

[papasmurfbell]

I honestly don't knwo. To many variables on both teams.

[ForceEight]

Bengals 30, Ravens 17. I don't think that's a testament to how our season will go, but I think it's an understandable response to the fact that we're a very different team since we played our last game.

[vmax]

Bengals 30, Ravens 17. I don't think that's a testament to how our season will go, but I think it's an understandable response to the fact that we're a very different team since we played our last game.

 

[tsylvester]

I'll take the Bengals, give the points for 50 large, Marv. This may be close for 10 minutes, but not for long.... Dalton is an excellant regular seson quarterback and they are very healthy on offense.

[oldno82]

Bengals 31 Ravens 20 and sorry to say it.

[Tornado700]

Me, Crave, and Max will be back on Monday to rub it in a little to the "doubters".

.

[cravnravn]

I'll take the Bengals, give the points for 50 large, Marv. This may be close for 10 minutes, but not for long.... Dalton is an excellant regular seson quarterback and they are very healthy on offense.

 

Bungles are a .500 ball club under Marv, Marv couldnt teach a cat to shit in a litter box..

[ForceEight]

Me, Crave, and Max will be back on Monday to rub it in a little to the "doubters".

.

I hope you do! I don't doubt this team at all; I just doubt that they'll be ready to go on Sunday.

[varaven45]

With all due respect to Max, Crav,etc, I am inclined to agree with Force on this one.

 

Our secondary, esp the CBs, give me the damn shakes. I think Dalton, Green and Co go off big time,, Joe throws a pick or two early and climbs in a hole the rest of the game. Don't feel good about team right now and expect a 10-14 point loss. I hope I am dead wrong but not feeling it this Sunday.

[Tornado700]

With all due respect to Max, Crav,etc, I am inclined to agree with Force on this one.

 

Our secondary, esp the CBs, give me the damn shakes. I think Dalton, Green and Co go off big time,, Joe throws a pick or two early and climbs in a hole the rest of the game. Don't feel good about team right now and expect a 10-14 point loss. I hope I am dead wrong but not feeling it this Sunday.

 

Hmmm. Weird. Very weird indeed. I feel exactly the opposite. Home crowd will get into Dalton's head. Then it gets ugly.

[cravnravn]

When did dalton become this great qb??? We bury his red headed ass on sunday

[papasmurfbell]

On paper they are dangerous but I have no idea what that offense or the Ravens offense will look like. Same with the D's.

[varaven45]

Good point . On paper (and in my gut) my unbiased view tells me Cincy has a more talented squad on both sides of the ball so conventional wisdom says they win. Will they ? Who the hell knows; anything's possible. My unbiased two cents .

[oldno82]

FWIW, the Ravens are favored by 1 1/2 points.

[vmax]

I'll take the Bengals, give the points for 50 large, Marv. This may be close for 10 minutes, but not for long.... Dalton is an excellant regular seson quarterback and they are very healthy on offense.

 

Dalton is at his worst at M&T.

He's thrown 7 picks in his last 3 games. 3 picks 52.2 QB rating last year at the Bank.

2012 0 TD's. 1 INT. 65.3 rating.

2011 1 TD. 3 INT's

 

 

 

 

He's not a Ravens killer...

 

 

 

In three career games at M&T Bank Stadium, Dalton has thrown seven interceptions and three touchdowns. He's also been sacked 11 times, including five times in last November's 20-17 overtime loss.

Against those same Ravens teams in three games at Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium, he has completed three touchdown passes and thrown four interceptions. He's also been sacked three times in those contests and has a QBR of 42.2. His career QBR at Baltimore is 26.5.http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/10761/bengals-ravens-vontaze-burfict-adam-jones-vist-baltimore-road

 

 

All-time, the Bengals are 5-13 at Baltimore with losses in the last four games. They haven't won at the venue since 2009 and have only one opening-weekend win in the last six seasons. To begin the year 1-0 Sunday won't be easy.http://espn.go.com/blog/cincinnati-bengals/post/_/id/10761/bengals-ravens-vontaze-burfict-adam-jones-vist-baltimore-road

Edited September 3, 2014 by vmax

[cravnravn]

 

Dalton is at his worst at M&T.

He's thrown 7 picks in his last 3 games. 3 picks 52.2 QB rating last year at the Bank.

2012 0 TD's. 1 INT. 65.3 rating.

2011 1 TD. 3 INT's

 

 

 

 

He's not a Ravens killer...

 

 

KABOOOOOM!!!

[cravnravn]

See what the o's are doing to Cinny?? Expect the same from the Purple Birds on their football team

[Tornado700]

See what the o's are doing to Cinny?? Expect the same from the Purple Birds on their football team

 

Yep, time for the orange and black to lose one!

[vmax]

 

 

Here's Cincinnati's full injury report entering Sunday:

OUT

WR Marvin Jones (foot)

RB Rex Burkhead (knee)

DOUBTFUL

LB Sean Porter (knee)

WR James Wright (concussion)

QUESTIONABLE

CB Darqueze Dennard (hip)

PROBABLE

LB Vontaze Burfict (hamstring)

TE Tyler Eifert (shoulder)

RB Cedric Peerman (hip)

OL Mike Pollak (knee)

OT Andre Smith (concussion)

[Money]

Disappointing end to 2010 season = Opening game clown stomping of Steelers at home

 

Disappointing end to 2011 season = Opening game clown stomping of Bengals at home

 

Disappointing 2013 season = Opening game clown stomping of Bengals at home

 

30-13 good guys in this one.