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.