[News] Late For Work 12/9: Can Ravens Upset Patriots? 46 Game Predictions

[BigUgly]

This might be the worst Pats offense, talent-wise, that the Ravens have ever faced and they do so with perhaps the 3rd-best defense in the Ravens' vaunted history.  Conversely, the Ravens offense is as talented as it has ever been, but has underperformed for the bulk of the season for various reasons (injuries, play calling, etc.).  They face one of the better Pats defenses since Dean Pees last coached that unit.  So over all, a fairly even matchup save for coaching (advantage Pats) and special teams (advantage Ravens).  

I see the Ravens making far more untimely penalties than the Pats, and losing the turnover battle, but still eking out a close victory.

[sizzlingdoom]

This might be the worst Pats offense, talent-wise, that the Ravens have ever faced and they do so with perhaps the 3rd-best defense in the Ravens' vaunted history.  Conversely, the Ravens offense is as talented as it has ever been, but has underperformed for the bulk of the season for various reasons (injuries, play calling, etc.).  They face one of the better Pats defenses since Dean Pees last coached that unit.  So over all, a fairly even matchup save for coaching (advantage Pats) and special teams (advantage Ravens).  

I see the Ravens making far more untimely penalties than the Pats, and losing the turnover battle, but still eking out a close victory.

good post. agree with most of it except, I think this is Joe's time of year. I see 0 turnovers for us and the pats turning it over twice. I think we win by 10

[Rav'n Maniac]

There are five keys to winning this game as I see it:
(1) Maintain the same offensive drive displayed last week.
(2) Close the door on the NE run game
(3) Minimize their passing attack & with good tackling, reduce the YAC.
(4) Eliminate stupid penalties, don't beat ourselves & keep the refs out of it.
(5) Overcome the elements.

[Minionhunter]

This might be the worst Pats offense, talent-wise, that the Ravens have ever faced and they do so with perhaps the 3rd-best defense in the Ravens' vaunted history.  Conversely, the Ravens offense is as talented as it has ever been, but has underperformed for the bulk of the season for various reasons (injuries, play calling, etc.).  They face one of the better Pats defenses since Dean Pees last coached that unit.  So over all, a fairly even matchup save for coaching (advantage Pats) and special teams (advantage Ravens).  

I see the Ravens making far more untimely penalties than the Pats, and losing the turnover battle, but still eking out a close victory.

Actually their defense isn't doing too well since they got rid of a couple key players seemingly for spurious reasons. They have played crappy teams the past three weeks (jets gave up 17 points, 49ers gave up 17 points, rams gave up 10 points in Goff's first game as a rookie).

On offense TB, Bennet, Amendola all injured, and Gronk is gone.

[Minionhunter]

Both teams are going to need their passing game to work in order to win because that's were the flaws lie in both defenses. If Joe is throwing like he did against Miami, then the Ravens should win. Ask anyone who has studied this from both ends.

[fusuymada]

I think at this point in the season, the Ravens are going to have a rough time coming away with a victory this weekend. However, this loss is not the end of anything. We certainly can beat the Eagles, Steelers and Bengals and that still will give us the division and even a shot at the wild card should Denver tank which is highly possible. Looking at their standings above there are two NFL North teams in the playoff picture when just a few weeks ago we were the red head step child of the league.

I'm not sure Flacco has another game like the last one in him. Weather and our defense is going to keep it low score. Look for the Patriots to put out a lot of short throws, get our backers and corners focused on that, get our line into pass rush mode, and have Blount produce a number of substantial runs. We are still one corner short of a killer secondary and where Smith is killer and Young is developing into a very good slot corner, we really lack that other outside corner. Safeties are solid and getting better.

We have a lot of young players and players in new positions just getting their craft down. NE will be their first big league season prime time on the line game so they will have some jitters. This is an important indoctrination of playing a huge game against a big time foe with the eyes of the nation on them because they have to go to Pittsburgh and repeat their performance on Christmas Day.

From what looked like another losing season, where fears and comments of 5-11 seasons seemed the norm, players started gelling, slowly you could see improvement in both Flacco and the offense, and it almost made its way out in Dallas which would have been amazing, but defeating the hot Miami Dolphins proved the point. The Ravens, when focused, is the best team in the NFL.

[Derrel]

The Ravens have their work cut out for them. IMO, another close loss for the Ravens. Defense will wear down by the 4th qtr and Brady will take advantage. Hope I'm wrong.

[100CrystalClear]

20 hours ago, Bigjon5477 said:

How about Tucker hits a 62 yd FG to win the game as time runs out!

How about 65, for the record!

[stampedehero]

I'm  visualizing Wallace and SSS as the prime guys to take the scoring battle to the Pats.  i would like to see Dennis score another TD.

[stampedehero]

13 hours ago, BigUgly said:

This might be the worst Pats offense, talent-wise, that the Ravens have ever faced and they do so with perhaps the 3rd-best defense in the Ravens' vaunted history.  Conversely, the Ravens offense is as talented as it has ever been, but has underperformed for the bulk of the season for various reasons (injuries, play calling, etc.).  They face one of the better Pats defenses since Dean Pees last coached that unit.  So over all, a fairly even matchup save for coaching (advantage Pats) and special teams (advantage Ravens).  

I see the Ravens making far more untimely penalties than the Pats, and losing the turnover battle, but still eking out a close victory.

I hope the refs are NO factor

[poescrows]

  On 12/9/2016 at 10:14 AM, Ravens Raver said:

Article on the Patriots' own site gives advantage to Ravens in 5 of 6 aspects of the game.
http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/12/08/scouting-matchup-inconsistent-ravens-present-problems

Another fake news story.

I checked it out, whats "fake" about it?

[Tank 92]

54 minutes ago, stampedehero said:

I hope the refs are NO factor

I remember a game we played in GB that Hochuli did and he really hosed us. The day after that game I googled him for giggles and discovered he was born in Wisconsin!  lol   So maybe he won't do the same this time.  

[cobrajet]

I agree with most on here. If we don't shoot ourselves in the foot with stupid penalties and turnovers, I really like our chances!

[terpmaniac]

When have the Ravens, EVER, EVER been favored to beat New England. WHEN? Never.

[ALPHA]

We can beat the Patriots as long as January Joe makes another appearance.

[EdTheMythicalOne]

Of course the Ravens have a chance to do it, it is just that the deck is stacked against us.

1) I will have to double check this to make sure, but under John Harbaugh/Joe Flacco the Ravens have never beaten the Patriots at their home in the regular season.

2) The Ravens perform notoriously poorly in prime time Nationally televised games.

Now, the Ravens have beaten the Patriots in some huge games in the playoffs in their stadium and we need to hope that level of team shows up on Monday night. The weather might be bad which I think favors Flacco. The Patriots might not have Gronk, but if you think Bennett is a downgrade you're silly. He's actually a very good and talented TE. We just have to hope he gets a case of the dropsies like he has been known to have in his career. Brady still has Edelman, and Blount has been running strong this year. I am wondering if the Pats will give us a dose of old school Ravens smashmouth football just to kinda stick a dagger in us.

If the Ravens show up in all four quarters of this game and the defense can get to Brady and actually get hands on him and sack him, then the Ravens can win. They have to rattle Brady and make him think he can't get it done. Not an easy task, but I believe in Darth Sizzle and the Legion of Dum(ervil). We're gonna do it and the look on Brady's and Belicheck's faces will be priceless!

[Ravens_Flock]

We certainly could lose, as we could any game, of course. But I love how so many, even in here, are already assuming we'll lose. Thank god y'all don't play for the Ravens.

[James Allen]

  On ‎12‎/‎9‎/‎2016 at 10:58 AM, Bruce_Almty said:

  On ‎12‎/‎9‎/‎2016 at 9:14 AM, Ravens Raver said:

Article on the Patriots' own site gives advantage to Ravens in 5 of 6 aspects of the game.
http://www.patriots.com/news/2016/12/08/scouting-matchup-inconsistent-ravens-present-problems

Another fake news story.

I checked it out, whats "fake" about it?

Not a thing.