This game will be the first test for both of these teams.  The combined record this season of the Chargers and Ravens opponents is 0-13!

The Chargers will try to run the football on the Ravens.  LaDainian Tomlinson (202 yards) will be a major test fot the Ravens Front 7 that hasn’t faced a running back of his caliber.  The Chargers are averaging 217.0 yards rushing per game, but the Ravens only allow 34.3 yards rushing per game and 1.8 yards per carry.  Something has to give here.  The Chargers have done a good job pass blocking as they haven’t allowed a sack this season, but the Ravens already have 16 sacks.  The Ravens will try to stop the Chargers run game and force Philip Rivers (105.2 QB rating) to beat them.

The Ravens will try to run the ball against the rugged Chargers defense.  Jamal Lewis needs to have a good game to slow the Chargers pass rush that has 9 sacks in two games this season.  Steve McNair led a great comeback against the Browns last week, but he took a physical beating.  McNair will probably be successful throwing to his buddy Derrick Mason (16 rec, 228 yards).

This should be a hard-hitting, low-scoring football game.  I think the Ravens will win a close game, because the Ravens defense will make Philip Rivers made at least one huge mistake.

Things were not looking too good for the Ravens at halftime when they were losing 14-3.  Coach Billick and his coaches devised a gameplan for the second half that worked to perfection.  It’s not too hard to out-coach Romeo Crennel and his coaches.  Steve McNair showed why the Ravens wanted him so badly.  McNair completed 23 of 41 passes for 264 yards and a TD.  Jamal Lewis had a decent game, carrying the ball 21 times for 86 yards.  WR Derrick Mason caught 7 passes for 132 yards, Mark Clayton caught 8 passes for 74 yards and TE Todd Heap caught 5 passes for 36 yards and a TD. 

The defense had a rough first half, but dominated the Browns in the second half.  LB Bart Scott had 5 tackles and 2 sacks, Kelly Gregg had 4 tackles and 1.5 sacks and Trevor Pryce had 3 tackles and 1.5 sacks.  The Ravens absolutely stuffed the Browns running game, holding them to 38 yards and 2.0 yards per carry.  The Browns completed 63.6% of their passes for 250 net yards.

With the Steelers looking down, this season could be a great opportunity for the Ravens to make a deep run in the playoffs.

These two teams are going in different directions.  The Browns will have to play a mistake-free game or this one will get ugly quick!

The Ravens will look to win this game on the ground.  The Browns are allowing 158 yards rushing per game!  RB  Jamal Lewis is running hard again (148 yards rushing) and that is bad news for the Browns.  After the Ravens establish their running game, McNair will attack the Browns CBs with WRs Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton.  The Browns safeties have played pretty well and match-up favorably with TE Todd Heap.

The Ravens defense has been devastating so far.  The Ravens are only allowing 32.5 yards rushing per game and 1.7 yards per carry.  The pass defense is holding opponents to a 21.2 QB rating with 6 interceptions and 9 sacks!  The Browns will have to use a short passing game to negate the Ravens pass rush.  That will be easier said than done because the Browns’ wideouts lack the courage to go over the middle.  This makes TEs Kellen Winslow and Steve Heiden the main targets in the passing game.  The Browns need to get a running game going this week or QB Charlie Frye might not make it to the end of the game.

I have no reason to believe the Browns have a chance in this game.

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The Ravens won with their gameplan that helped them win a Super Bowl a few years ago…..awesome defense and a good running game. Steve McNair just managed the game yesterday, completing 16 of 33 passes (48.5%) for 143 yards with 1 TD and 1 pick. Jamal Lewis carried the ball 19 times for 70 yards (3.7 ypc). Mike Anderson ran the ball just once, but it was a 34 yard TD….complete with a Mile-High salute. WR Derrick Mason caught 5 passes for 46 yards (9.2 avg) and TE Todd Heap caught 5 passes for 17 yards (3.4 avg) and a TD.

The defense was awesome yesterday. The Raiders only had 39 yards rushing and 1.5 yards per carry. The Ravens only allowed the Raiders to complete 37% of their passes for 123 net yards passing….and the Ravens picked-off 3 passes. LB Ray “Killa” Lewis had 7 tackles and an interception. Rookie S Dawan Landry had 9 tackles. OLB Adalius Thomas had an awesome game collecting 5 tackles, 2 sacks and an interception. Terrell Suggs had 5 tackles, 2 sacks and recovered a fumble. DT Kelly Gregg recovered 2 fumbles.

The Ravens have the look of a team that can compete with the Bengals and Steelers for the division title this year.