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.

These are two teams heading in different directions.  Coach Brian Billick started this season on the hot seat, but his team is looking good.  Art Shell, however, seems like he’s losing his team already.

The Raiders are still looking for their first points of the season and they’ll try to get them off a team that hasn’t given up any.  The problem with the Raiders offense is that it doesn’t match up well against the Ravens defense.  The Raiders like to run the ball and throw deep.  The Ravens held the Bucs to 26 yards rushing last week.  The Raiders offensive line had better improve this week, or Aaron Brooks will take a brutal beating again on Sunday!

The Ravens offensive players had to be foaming at the mouth last night watching the Raiders defense.  Jamal Lewis and Mike Anderson should have big games running the ball.  The running game will set up Steve McNair to pick apart the Raider defense with WR Derrick Mason and TE Todd Heap.

The competitive part of this football game will be over at halftime.  Look for the Ravens to dominate this football game!

As forecasted on this site before the game….the Ravens kicked the Bucs butt all over the field.  Steve McNair managed the game like the winner that he is.  McNair completed 17 of 27 passes (63%) for 181 yards and a TD.  The Ravens unleashed a power running game that the Bucs had trouble stopping.  Jamal Lewis carried the ball 18 times for 78 yards (4.3 avg) and a TD.  Mike Anderson chipped in 7 carries for 25 yards (3.6 ypc).  Most of the passing was of the power kind….to the tight ends.  Daniel Wilcox caught 3 passes for 52 yards (17.3 avg) and a TD.  Todd Heap caught 5 passes for 46 yards (9.2 avg).  McNair’s old buddy from Tennessee Derrick Mason caught 4 passes for 50 yards (12.5 avg).

The defense dominated the Bucs.  Chris McAllister ran back an interception 60 yards for a TD.  Rookie NT Haloti Ngata returned an interception 60 yards also, but ran out of gas short of the goal-line.  The defensive line did a great job tying up the O-Line and letting the linebackers attack the Bucs awful offense.  LB Ray Lewis had 6 tackles, a sack and defensed 3 passes.  LB Bart Scott had 2 sacks.

The Ravens held the Bucs to 26 yards rushing on 13 carries (2.0 ypc).  The Bucs only completed 52.9% of their passes for only 116 net yards thru the air.  The Ravens also picked Chris Simms off three times.

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The Ravens are a very physical type team that gives the speed teams like the Bucs big problems.  On offense the Ravens will be more balanced than ever, but make no mistake, they will attack the Bucs with their power running game.  In the passing game, look for McNair to look for his old pal from his Titans’ days, Derrick Mason frequently.  Also, Todd Heap will attack the safeties in the middle of the field.

The Bucs would love to run the football effectively and then take some shots downfield.  The problem with that is that the front 7 of the Ravens will be too good to run on.  Ray “The Killa” Lewis will be free to roam sideline to sideline to blow up running backs with DTs Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg occupying double -teams.

It will be a long day for Chris Simms, who will have to avoid DE’s Terrell Suggs and Trevor Pryce, and then take on CB’s Chris McAllister, Samari Rolle, and safety Ed Reed.

The Ravens will win this game, and look good doing it.

Brian Billick might be an arrogant guy, but he usually gets results.  Billick has a career record of 62-50 (55.4% wins) and sports a 5-2 post-season record.  Billick has won 1 division title and 1 Super Bowl Championship.

Steve McNair is the player the Ravens have been looking for, a born leader.  McNair has a career record of 76-55 (58% wins) as a starting QB.  McNair also is 5-4 as a starter in the post-season.  McNair’s career QB rating is 83.3.

Surprisingly, Kyle Boller also has a winning record as a starting QB.  Boller’s record is 18-16 (52.9% wins) despite a QB rating of 69.2.