Baltimore Ravens vs. Tennessee Titans Preview:

                   

The Tennessee Titans are coming off of one more disappointing season opener in recent memory. This was supposed to be the beginning of a new era as a plethora of new faces has littered the Titans team this year. All the way up from new head coach Mike Munchak down to new QBs Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker, there was a new outlook in the air for this team. They even got Pro Bowl running back Chris Johnson back into the fray just in time for the first game of the season. The expectations were even higher against a Jacksonville team that just cut their starting QB David Garrard. You would think that with all the circumstances and excitement surrounding Tennessee that the Titans would come out on top of their game to prove their merit, however the exact opposite happened.

The Titans came out flat and put on a less then desirable performance. Jacksonville just destroyed Tennessee at the line of scrimmage and dictated their run game on the defense. Maurice Drew-Jones had 24 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown and really wore down the defense. The Titans finally woke up in the 3rd quarter to make it a game and eventually had a chance to win but an errant throw by the recently acquired Matt Hasselbeck intended for Kenny Britt was intercepted and the Titans saw their chances of winning the season opener come to an end.

Now the Titans welcome the bullies of Baltimore to town as they are fresh off their annihilation of the Super Bowl runner up Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens just dominated their arch rival Steelers in every conceivable way. The 35-7 victory was maybe the most unexpected outcome of the first week as most who know football know that a Ravens-Steelers game is usually a grind it out low scoring affair. The Ravens forced a team record seven turnovers including 3 interceptions from usually clutch QB Ben Roethlisberger. Baltimore more than controlled the line play in the game as they ran for 170 yards (Ray Rice 19 carries 107 yards 1 TD) and held the reliable Pittsburgh run game to just 66 yards on the ground. The Ravens just wreaked havoc all over the field with their play-makers as Terrell Suggs had three sacks, Ed Reed had two interceptions, Ray Lewis had one pick and a forced fumble and Haloti Ngata’s bruising hit on Rashard Mendenhall forced another fumble.



The Titans will definitely have their hands full with this Ravens team there is not doubt about that. Chris Johnson only ran for 24 yards on 9 carries as he looks to get back into the game flow after his extended contract dispute. There is also that little rivalry thing that Tennessee and Baltimore games carry. The all-time series record is tied 8-8. These two teams last faced each other in the 2009 playoffs as the Ravens defeated the Titans 13-10 in the divisional round. “It really doesn't have any carryover. That was two years ago. I'm just trying to win a game.” Said Titans running back Chris Johnson who knows that the Ravens came at him from every direction that game. Some even say that the Ravens tried to hurt him in the playoff game that year. If they were trying to harm him, then they were successful as Johnson was forced to leave the game after sustaining an ankle injury.

Even with all that has been said, the Titans have a chance to win this game. Let’s take a look at three key factors in the game.

1. Can the Titans match the Ravens physicality? That usually is the question any team faces when they take on the Ravens. Pittsburgh, in many people’s opinion are crowned the most physical team in the league and we saw what the Baltimore did to them. The Ravens defense is just nasty and they will torment you if you allow them to. Ray Lewis is the unquestioned leader of the group but when you have Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, and Haloti Ngata, you have a cast of brutes willing and ready to take out the Titans. Tennessee has to match their intensity in order to compete in this one. Rather it be a bruising run or a beastly block, the Titans have to show they are not intimidated by Baltimore. They always say to beat the bully you have to become the bully and we will find out what the Titans are in this game.

2. Will the real Chris Johnson stand up: He is what they call their home-run hitter,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said. “He is their offense, he’s their heartbeat. And if you look at what they did last weekend … you’ve got to know that he’s definitely going to touch the football a lot this week. And we’re prepared for it. CJ2k didn’t get off to best start last week which is what I expected after the long endearing contract dispute. You can run all the drills you want to in the gym or even out of the field, but there is no way you are simulating game speed and hits without actually being at practice. Johnson also is the highest paid running back in the league now so he is placed on a pedestal to be the ultimate game changer for an otherwise vanilla offensive group. The Titans need Johnson to be everything in the offense, especially against such a talented defense. The Ravens game plan will center on stopping him anyway they can. Johnson has to be up to the task and accept that the Ravens will more than likely take some cheap shots at him when they can. He will be the key player for the Titans but that is no surprise. Is Johnson up to the task? Only time will tell.

3. Are the Titans able to stop the Ravens ground game? Tennessee was gashed repeatedly by Jacksonville on the ground last week. They are in for the same type of game against Baltimore. The Titans simply can’t allow they Ravens run game to get going because if they do it will lead to play-action play calling for Joe Flacco who will carve up the secondary in that case. The defensive front seven has to show up and make key stops when needed. That means guys like Dave Ball, William Hayes, Shaun Smith, Akeem Ayers, Barrett Rudd, and Will Witherspoon are on notice. The Titans received some good news as well that defensive linemen Derrick Morgan and William Hayes should be able to play. If they are lacking motivation all they have to do is look at last week’s game film. This in my opinion is the most important factor in the entire game. Make Joe Flacco beat you with his arm because if you allow the Ravens to bulldoze the defense then Baltimore will chew you up and spit you out. The Titans defense has heard all off-season and even more after the Jacksonville game that they are the weak link to this team. It’s time for them to rise up and show what they are made of because they will surely tested by this Ravens team.

NOTES

RAVENS: Since ’10, club has 9-2 record when scoring 20+ points…Ravens have won 6 of past 7 vs. AFC…QB JOE FLACCO passed for 3 TDs for 6th time of career last week & Ravens are 5-1 in such games. Ravens are 18-2 (.900) when Flacco has 100+ passer rating…RB RAY RICE posted 8th career 100-yard rush game last week (107). For career, Rice averages 102.0 scrimmage yards per game (4,693 in 46 games)…RB RICKY WILLIAMS averaged 5.3 yards per carry in Bal. debut last week (12 att., 63 yards)…WR ANQUAN BOLDIN (911) needs 89 receiving yards to reach 1,000 career with Bal. WR LEE EVANS (5,934) needs 66 rec. yards for 6,000 career…TE ED DICKSON had career-best in catches (5) & rec. yards (59) last week…Ravens registered 7 turnovers vs. Steelers (4 FF, 3 INTs)…Ravens are 8-0 under JOHN HARBAUGH when posting 3+ INTs in game…S ED REED (1,463) needs 20 INT return yards to surpass HOFer ROD WOODSON (1,483) for most all-time. Now has 12 games with at least 2 INTs, most by any player who began career in Super Bowl era…LB TERRELL SUGGS (71.5) tied career-high with 3 sacks last week & surpassed PETER BOULWARE (70) for most sacks in Ravens history…TITANS: QB MATT HASSELBECK (29,842) needs 158 passing yards to reach 30,000 career. In 2 career games vs. Ravens, Hasselbeck has completed 41 of 68 passes (60.3 pct.) for 532 yards w/ 7 TDs vs. 2 INTs & 107.0 passer rating…RB CHRIS JOHNSON averages 92.1 rush yards per game in Sept., which is 5th-highest rushing-yards-per-game average in month in NFL history (min. 10 games). Johnson averages 103 rush yards per game at LP Field (2,472 total in 24 games)…WR KENNY BRITT posted 5th 100-yard receiving game last week with 136 yards. Tied career long with 80-yard TD rec. last week. WR NATE WASHINGTON (199) needs 1 catch to reach 200 career…LB BARRETT RUUD led team with 12 tackles in Titans debut…CB JASON MC COURTY posted 1st career sack last week...S MICHAEL GRIFFIN had INT in last meeting vs. Ravens

Sportaholic NFL Power Rankings Week 16

What a week of football we just witnessed. From the Al Michaels “He did what ?!?”department, Desean Jackson stunned the Giants after a furious come back by the Eagles, the most dominant team I’ve seen this year, the Pats struggled with the Aaron Rodgers-less Packers, and the demise of the New York Jets have been greatly exaggerated as they outlasted Big Ben and Pittsburgh. Peyton is Manning and he looks to be out of the mini slump as lead his team past the Jags to take the AFC lead, and the Saints weren’t marching on the Ravens



This was one of the best slates of year as far as match-ups and playoff implications. Most teams still have something to play for as all but three teams have clinched a playoff berth (Atlanta, New England, and Pittsburgh). The season has only two weeks left (That’s such a horrible thought to think about) and this should be as fun of an end of the season that has been seen in awhile.




Now to the rankings:

1. New England (12-2) – The Pats won but looked surprisingly vulnerable against Matt Flynn of Green Bay. Flynn was able to find open receivers when he wasn’t pressured and put it to the Pats defense. Green Bay was also able to find rushing room with Brandon Jackson as he finished with 22 carries and 99 yards. Who knew the best play of the game would come from lineman Dan Connolly as he took a kick-off return for a 71-yard “scamper”. The big man showed some agility and had a good looking stiff-arm but gets an F for ball security with his loaf of bread carry. The Pats young defense has to keep its edge if they want to continue their winning. Bill Belicheck can’t be pleased with their performance but I know he will take win. Tom Brady wasn’t on fire this game but had decent numbers as he passed for 2 touchdowns and no interceptions, extending his streak 292 straight passes without an interception, good for the third-longest ever run in NFL history.

2. Atlanta Falcons (12-2) – The most un-sexy of elite teams has to be Falcons. As I always state in this column, these guys just know how to win. Matt “Matty Ice” Ryan was his usual consistent self going 20/35 for 174 yards and 3 touchdowns. The thing I like most about this team is there offensive balance. Michael “Burner” Turner had 82 yards on 25 carries. “Rowdy” Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez provide Ryan with security blankets in the passing game. On the side of caution though for Atlanta has finished the season with a relatively soft schedule. These type of top heavy teams tend to flame out early in the playoffs (see 2008 Miami Dolphins) They have a showdown New Orleans next week and could prove a lot to me if they can take it to the Saints in the Georgia Dome.

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-4) – There may be better teams in the league than Philly, but the Eagles are the most dynamic and exciting team in all the NFL. After looking dead in the water all game long, the Eagles ran off the last 28 points of the game. Michael Vick reverted back to his Atlanta days as he reeled off 130 yards as the Giants pressured in the backfield most of the game. The Giants did what ever they wanted in the first half. Eli Manning just went all big brother on us in the first half as he threw 4 touchdowns. Even with Manning’s heroics in the first half though, you could feel the momentum shift in the second half as Vick begin to break lose on some big runs and also made some big plays with his arm. Vick brought the Eagles back and put Jackson in position for the “Miracle in the Meadowlands” as they are calling it. How many guys do you know who can fumble the ball and then recover it, then just absolutely burn everyone on the field and take it to the house? Not many. This was one of those games where you could just see this happening before your eyes and still didn’t believe what you had seen. I know the punter Matt Dodge of the Giants panicked after the high snap but why did he kick it straight to Jackson? You have to avoid an explosive threat like Jackson at all cost. What a great finish and a great game.

4. Baltimore Ravens (10-4) - I been saying for the last 3 or 4 weeks that if the Ravens just get Ray Rice the ball more then their offense would be more potent and he proved my point against the Saints. The Ravens were at their best last year when Rice was running and catching passes out the backfield. He returned to those duties this game as he was able to carve up the Saints to the tune of 153 yards on the ground and caught five passes for 80 yards going for 2 touchdowns. Joe Flacco was just 10/20 for 172 yards but those 20 attempts should be right around the amount of passes you want him to throw a game. I’m still not in love with their defense as well. They have blown eight-fourth quarter leads coming into this game but were able to put the clamps on against a very potent New Orleans offense. The Ravens should be able to hold on to the wild card spot as they go on the Buckeye state championship facing Cleveland and Cincinnati for their last two games.

5. New York Jets (10-4) - The five spot was a toss up this week between a few 10-4 teams (Pittsburgh, New Orleans, and Baltimore) but because of the Jets hard fought victory (and because they didn’t trip anyone) I’ll go with gang green. Their game against Pittsburgh was the man game of the week as both teams hitting in full force. New York needed this game after losing it previous two and their offense looking anemic. Good teams go through slumps just like the bad ones. When you are in a funk the only thing you can do is find ways to win and that’s what the Jets did. Their offense is still a piece of work as they scored for the first time in 12 quarters of football on a Mark Sanchez bootleg play. Brad Smith’s explosive kick return helped out the cause on the opening kick-off and the Jets D was just enough to keep Big Ben on ice. This win obviously meant a lot to Rex Ryan as he was visibly emotional after the game. The Jets just like the Ravens are in good position for a wild card berth.

Other News and Notes:

Tim Tebow gets his first start: Let Tebow nation stand for a round of applause. The rookie finally got a chance with McDaniels finally not around to hold the youngster back. Or maybe the Broncos just realized they are 3-11 and not going anywhere so may as well as throw Tebow in there and see what all the fuss is about. Interim coach Eric Studesville turned him lose and Tebow responded with a decent game. His 40-yard burst for a touchdown was reminiscent of his Florida days. As for his passing, that’s another whole story. He finished 8/16 for 138 yards a touchdown and no interceptions. He showed why maybe McD was hesitant to throw in the fire as well with a few bad decisions on throws and some very reckless abandon for his body. Hopefully the kid keeps getting an opportunity because he an exciting player to watch who can only get better.

Rex impressive in his debut: Speaking of QBs, how about Rex Grossman throwing 4 touchdown passes in place of Donovan McNabb? Grossman must have really practiced on improving because he looked like a legitimate number 1 quarterback. I can’t believe how far McNabb has fallen in just one year. First the Eagles give up on him and now the Redskins are burying him behind the likes of Grossman and John Beck (who?). Let the McNabb speculation begin now as potential teams like Arizona and Minnesota should be in line next to see what they can coax out of the former pro bowl QB.

Detroit finally ends their epic road loss streak: They had to win on the road again one day didn’t they? After a 26-game losing, Detroit was able to hand Tampa Bay a 23-20 defeat and end the longest road losing streak in NFL history. Its good to see former Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz get his first road win as well. And they did it with their 3rd string QB in after Matthew Stafford and Shaun Hill were both out for this game. The football gods finally shined their light on this futile franchise.

MNF Match-up: Minnesota vs. Chicago – So they found a place to play after all of the drama and modifications to the Metrodome. The game will be held at the University of Minnesota in an outside stadium. This will be the first time the Vikings have played a home outdoors game since 1981. And with Joe Webb filling in for Brett Favre and Tavaris Jackson, I don’t think they will be getting their first win since then. The Bears come into the game off an spanking from Tom Brady and the Pats and probably are none too pleased with their last effort. Webb will struggle as Chicago will undoubtedly bring pressure from all directions on him. Look for Peppers Urlacher and the Bears defense to be the difference in this one. The Pick: Bears 28 Vikings 21