Yesterday the NFL unveiled its 2010 schedule and let's just say the Ravens don't exactly have a cake walk into their third straight postseason. The question on everyone's mind in Baltimore was, "Will the Ravens play the Steelers close enough to the start of the season to catch them during Big Ben's inevitable suspension?". The answer to that question seems to be yes. They get the Steelers in Pittsburgh in week 4 and if the most recent reports are to be believed, Ben will be out for at least 4 games.
So that's the good news. The bad news: 4 out of the the first 6 games on the Ravens' schedule are on the road against three play-off teams (Jets, Bengals, Pats) and two others that barely missed the playoffs (Steelers, Broncos). The guys in purple and black are going to have to come out of the gate focused to survive this stretch.
The competition in the middle part of the season softens a bit and includes a bye in week 8. The Ravens should be able to roll the Bills and the 'Fins at M&T Bank, but things won't be as easy when they have to travel to Atlanta on a short week to take on Matt Ryan and the Falcons on a Thursday in prime-time.
The home stretch is almost as tough as the beginning of the season, with prime time games against Pittsburgh and Houston and a match-up with the Super Bowl champion Saints. The NFL has mandated that all Week 17 games must be played within the divisions and the Ravens finish up the 2010 regular season against the Bengals at home, with the possibility of a playoff berth on the line.
Here are my game-by-game predictions:
Week 1: @ Jets - Win. 17-10. Rex Ryan's defense holds his old team to under 21 points, but Sanchez struggles to move the ball inside the Ravens' 35 yard line.
Week 2: @ Bengals - Loss. 27-21. The Ravens' problems in Cincy continue as the defense fails to keep Carson Palmer out of the endzone on the game's final drive.
Week 3: Vs. Browns - Win. 35-16. Come on, its the Browns.
Week 4: @ Steelers - Win. 24-21. Ravens squeak past a Roethlisberger-less Pittsburgh, but Dennis Dixon has another strong performance.
Week 5: Vs. Broncos- Win. 28-10. Denver fails to move the ball against the Ravens' D for a second straight year.
Week 6: @ Pats - Loss. 31-20. Belichick and Brady avenge an embarrassing loss the Ravens in last year's playoffs.
Week 7: Vs. Bills - Win. 27-9. Buffalo sucks.
Week 8: Bye - Would have been nice to have the bye in Week 9, before the Thursday night game in ATL.
Week 9: Vs. Dolphins - Win. 24-14. The Ravens are the better team and they get it done at home.
Week 10: @ Falcons - Loss. 27-24. Ravens, coming off a very short week of practice, lay an egg in prime time, as they are prone to do. The national media uses this game as proof that Matt Ryan was a better pick than Joe Flacco despite Joe's superior overall and playoff record. I really hope I'm wrong about this one. This would be a perfect coming-out party for the Birds and set the tone for a strong second half of the season.
Week 11: @ Panthers - Win. 31-21. Just a gut reaction, I don't expect Carolina to be particularly good.
Week 12: Vs. Buccs - Win. 35-10. While TB should be better than they were last yer (how could they be worse?) but they will still suck.
Week 13: Vs. Steelers - Loss. 24-20. The Ravens can definitely win this game, but I just don't think they will win both against the Steelers. I picked them to beat Pittsburgh in game one, so I had to pick the Steelers in this one.
Week 14: @ Texans - Win. 21-20. I'm picking this one with my heart. The Ravens have to win this with the Saints coming into Baltimore the next week. I wouldn't be at all shocked if the Texans pull this one out at home, though.
Week 15: Vs. Saints - Loss. 35-24. Too much firepower from Drew Brees and champion Saints.
Week 16: @ Browns - Win. 21-7. Again, its the Browns.
Week 17: Vs. Bengals - Win. 20-17. Final game of the season, at home, crowd going ape-shit the entire game, they cannot lose this one.
Regular season record: 11-5
Division record: 4-2
Verdict: Ravens win the AFC North, barely.
What do you think? Discuss.
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