Are you a basketball fan? If so you need to check out our NBA Basketball blogs. They have the same hometown feel of our NFL blogs, but are all about your favorite basketball teams.

Check out the list of blogs in the right side navigation menu to find your favorite team(s) and have a great time blogging about your favorite pro basketball team.

The Ravens totally dominated this football game, but the Saints got a couple of garbage TDs to make it look closer than it was.  Steve McNair completed 17 of 23 passes for 159 yards and 2 TDs, he also carried the ball 5 times for 23 yards and a TD.  Jamal Lewis was very busy, carrying the ball 31 times for 109 yards (3.5 ypc).  Derrick Mason caught 6 passes for 67 yards.  TE Todd Heap caught 3 passes for 47 yards and a TD.  WR Clarence Moore caught 2 passes for 1 yard and a TD.

The Ravens gave up alot of cheap yards in the 4th quarter, but the defense played great.  Rookie DB Ronnie Prude had a tackle, defensed 2 passes and intercepted a pass that he returned 12 yards for a TD.  Rookie safety Dawan Landry had 2 tackles and 2 interceptions, one of which he returned 12 yards for a TD.  The Ravens stopped the Saints running game cold, allowing only 35 yards rushing on 14 carries (2.5 ypc).  The Saints completed 24 of 46 passes for 368 net yards passing.

The Ravens are averaging 18.3 points per game, but the defense has been setting up alot of short fields for the offense.  The Ravens are only averaging 94.3 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry.  The Ravens passing game has been nothing to write home about either, averaging 177.3 net yards passing and completing 56.0% of their passes.  We’ll see if Brian Billick can get anything out of this unit now that he’s calling the plays.

The Ravens defense is one of the best in the NFL.  The Ravens are only allowing 11.5 points per game so far this season.  The defense suffocates the oppositions running game, only allowing 71.2 yards rushing per game and 2.7 yards per carry.  The Ravens secondary has been decent, allowing 180.8 net yards passing and 55.0% completions.

The Ravens and the Saints have been huge surprises in the NFL so far this season.  This should be a very interesting game.

Who knows what the Ravens will do on offense with Billick now calling the plays.  I look for the Ravens to try to power the ball in the running game against the Saints.  The Saints defense is having a rough time stopping the run, allowing 119.7 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry.  Look for Jamal Lewis (352 yards rushing) to have a big game.  As soon as the Saints defense creeps up, look for the Ravens to take a few shots down the field to Derrick Mason (23 rec, 310 yards) and Mark Clayton (25 rec, 287 yards).  TE Todd Heap will give the safeties and linebackers of the Saints a rough time.

Look for the Saints to mix it up on offense to try to keep the Ravens defense off-balance.  Deuce McAllister (444 yards rushing) and Reggie Bush (196 yards rushing) have done well this season, but the Ravens defense is only allowing 71.2 yards rushing and 2.7 yards per carry…..so every yard will be a tough one.  The Saints O-Line has only allowed 6 sacks this season, but they will have to play well this week against the aggressive blitzing tactics that the Ravens employ that already has 19 sacks!   When Brees does have time, he will have to be careful throwing the ball downfield, because the Ravens already have 11 INTs. 

It’s hard for me to pick a winner in this game, but the SuperDome has been a magical place for the Saints….so I think they have a little edge in this game.

The Ravens have lost two games in a row and the offense hasn’t looked good.  With Billick now calling the plays, he could use the extra time to re-evaluate the offense.  The Ravens are only averaging 94.3 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry.  They need to either get Jamal Lewis going or let Mike Anderson and/or Musa Smith have a shot as the main running back.  The Ravens also could use the extra time to work on their passing attack which has been shooting blanks so far this season.  The Ravens are only completing 56.0% of their passes for 177.3 net yards passing per game.  Steve McNair needs to do a better job throwing the football, because the receivers are there for a productive passing game.

The Ravens defense has been sharp this season.  The Ravens are only allowing 11.5 points per game.  The Ravens are shutting down the opposition’s running game allowing only 71.2 yards rushing per game and 2.7 yards per carry.  The Ravens have done well against the pass too, allowing 180.8 yards per game and 55.0% completions.