The Browns took the ball down the field in the first series of the game and scored a TD.  After that, Yamon Figurs fumbled the kickoff and the Browns were up 14-0 before you could blink an eye.  The Ravens got a lot of yards trying to catch up but the Browns never let them back in the football game.  Steve McNair completed 34 of 53 passes for 307 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception as he was working the short passes.  Willis McGahee was outstanding as he carried the ball 14 times for 104 yards (7.4 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 32 yards (16.0 avg) but the Ravens abandoned the run trying to play catch up.  WRs Derrick Mason (10 rec, 78 yards), Demetrius Williams (5 rec, 63 yards) and Mark Clayton (3 rec, 43 yards) did a lot of damage on short passes.  TEs Todd Heap (4 rec, 36 yards) and Quinn Sypniewski (6 rec, 34 yards, TD) also were keys to the passing game for the Ravens.  The Ravens finished up with 111 yards rushing on 20 carries (5.6 ypc) and they completed 34 of 53 passes for 307 yards.

The Ravens defense was led by linebacker Bart Scott who had 8 tackles.  The Ravens did a good job against the Browns running game holding them to 99 yards on 30 carries (3.3 ypc).  But, the Browns completed 10 of 18 passes for 204 yards.

The Baltimore Ravens are going back to the city they once called home before the city of Baltimore stole the Browns in much the same way that the Colts were stolen from them.  The hate resonates from the parking lot into the stadium when the purple birds head to Cleveland.  And it no doubt will be there again this Sunday.  The cherry on the top for this game is that Jamal Lewis is out to prove that the Ravens made a big mistake in getting rid of him in the off-season!

The Ravens offense has to be excited about playing a Browns’ “defense” that is allowing 176.3 yards rushing per game and 254.3 yards passing per game.  They hope to control the football on the ground with Willis McGahee (272 yards rushing, 4.1 ypc) doing the heavy lifting.  But, look for Steve McNair’s groin to suddenly feel much better with Kyle Boller stealing some of his playing time and the Browns’ secondary having big issues.  The Ravens must keep OLB Kamerion Wimbley out of there backfield to give McNair enough time to look downfield.  TE Todd Heap (15 rec, 165 yards, TD) could cause the Browns defense big problems as FS Brodney Pool has been repeatedly torched so far this season.  Derrick Mason (23 rec, 209 yards, TD) has emerged as the go-to receiver for the Ravens but the Browns’ corners should be able to put up a fight with him.  But, look for Demetrius Williams and Mark Clayton to stretch the defense.  Clayton is off to a slow start but he had an outstanding game in Cleveland last season.

Look for the Browns to give Jamal Lewis every opportunity to attack the Ravens’ defense.  He has carried the football 53 times this season for 307 yards (5.8 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He will no doubt have some high impact collisions with MLB Ray Lewis and it will be fun to watch.  If the offensive line gives Derek Anderson time to throw the football he could have some success against the Ravens defense and they are allowing 239.7 yards passing per game.  Another interesting battle will be Kellen Winslow (16 rec, 271 yards, TD) against all-world safety Ed Reed.  The Ravens will likely put Chris McAllister on WR Braylon Edwards (15 rec, 278 yards, 3 TDs) and that will also be an outstanding matchup.  An advantage that the Browns should try to exploit will be Joe Jurevicius against backup corner Corey Ivy.

Special teams could also have a big impact in this game as Yamon Figurs (Ravens) and Joshua Cribbs (Browns) both have the capability to take any punt return or kickoff return to the house!

PREDICTION:  I have to think that the Ravens will win this game because they have the better football team.  But, the Browns have played the Ravens well in Cleveland as they have won two of the last three meetings outscoring the Ravens 54-34!  With that in mind I would take the Browns and the points.

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Starting cornerback Samari Rolle will miss this week’s game with the Cleveland Browns after he had a bad reaction to medicine to cure an unspecified illness.  Rolle has made 10 tackles this season for the Ravens.  Rolle will be replaced in the secondary by Corey Ivy who has been a playmaker so far this season.  Ivy has made 11 tackles, has 2 sacks and recovered a fumble already this season for the Ravens.  Look for him to make some big plays against the Browns this weekend.

The Ravens were just good enough yesterday to hold off the pesky Cardinals.  Steve McNair was solid as he completed 20 of 27 passes for 198 yards with 1 TD and 0 interceptions before leaving the game with an injured groin.  Kyle Boller led the way down the stretch for the Ravens as he completed 8 of 10 passes for 83 yards.  RB Willis McGahee also had a solid game with 21 carries for 98 yards (4.7 ypc) and he also caught 4 passes for 23 yards (5.8 avg).  WR Derrick Mason led the way for the Ravens in the passing game with 8 catches for 79 yards (9.9 avg) with a TD grab.  TE Todd Heap also had a solid game with 4 catches for 60 yards (15.0 avg).  The Ravens rushed for 129 yards on 30 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 28 of 37 passes for 252 yards.  The Ravens’ offense was also set up for good field position by rookie WR/KR Yamon Figurs who returned 2 kickoffs for 64 yards (32.0 avg) and 2 punts for 75 yards (37.5 avg) with a TD return.

The Ravens defense was barely good enough to win yesterday as Kurt Warner led a furious comeback.  The Ravens held the Cardinals to 61 yards rushing on 14 carries (4.4 ypc) and the Cards completed 24 of 40 passes for 303 yards.

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This is a big football game for each the Cardinals and the Ravens as they are both 1-1 on the season.  The Cardinals have a very balanced offense that will challenge the hard hitting defense of the Ravens.  The Cards would like to run the football to set up the pass but that will be easier said than done against a stout Ravens run defense that only allows 62.0 yards rushing per game and 2.5 ypc.  Still, the Cardinals will try to plow ahead in the running game with Edgerrin James (220 yards rushing, 4.4 ypc, 2 TDs).  If James can get it going on the ground the Cardinals will be hard to stop as they have a nice set of receivers and they have only allowed 1 sack this season.  Matt Leinart played well last week against the Seahawks but the Ravens defense is light years better than them.  WRs Larry FItzgerald (10 rec, 107 yards) and Anquan Boldin (8 rec, 105 yards, TD) will challenge CBs Samari Rolle and Chris McAllister.  The Cardinals also could look to TE Leonard Pope (4 rec, 52 yards, TD) when they get near the end zone as he is a huge target at 6′8″.

The Baltimore Ravens would like to run the football to keep the ball away from the Cardinals offense.  The Cardinals only allow 92.0 yards rushing per game but the opposition has averaged 4.0 ypc.  Willis McGahee (174 yards rushing, 3.9 ypc) could find some running room which would help open up the play action passing game of the Ravens.  The Ravens really need WR Mark Clayton back healthy as he was there best receiver last season and he only has 1 catch for -1 yard this season.  Derrick Mason (15 rec, 130 yards) and TE Todd Heap (11 rec, 105 yards, TD) are reliable but they haven’t been able to get down the football field.  Which leaves Demetrius Williams who has caught 4 passes for 68 yards to stretch the field. 

PREDICTION:  Look for the Ravens to win a hard fought game.  They have the better defense which is the reason I side with them to win this game by a field goal.

 

Steve McNair didn’t play in the 2nd game of the season after injuring his groin against the Cincinnati Bengals in the season opener.  McNair completed 20 of 34 passes (58.8%) for 203 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT (63.7 QB Rating) and he also lost 3 fumbles.  It’s amazing that McNair couldn’t move the football against a defense that allowed the Cleveland Browns to roll up over 500 yards and 51 points last week.  Kyle Boller relieved McNair in the 4th quarter of the first game of the season and he started and played well last week against the Jets.  He has completed 25 of 41 passes (61%) for 204 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 interception (79.7 QB Rating).  Boller has also carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc).  Coach Billick seems likely to stick with McNair for the time being, but, if he doesn’t improve his play on the field soon I don’t think Billick would hesitate to replace him with Boller.

The Ravens have signed free agent linebacker Nick Greisen to help out with depth.  Greisen played in all 16 games last season for the Jaguars and he made 34 tackles, defensed 3 passes, recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass.  Over his career, Greisen has played in 70 games and he has made 188 tackles, defensed 13 passes, has 4 sacks, forced 4 fumbles and has 1 interception.  Greisen will help the Ravens on special teams and he will help out on defense if the need arises.

The Baltimore Ravens have lost Pro-Bowl DE Trevor Pryce to a broken wrist that required surgery on Sunday Night.  He will miss at least the next three weeks.  Pryce was off to another good start this season for the Ravens with 6 tackles and a sack so he will be missed big-time by the defense.  Dwan Edwards who has 4 tackles on the season will replace Pryce in the starting lineup.  This is a huge dropoff as Edwards has not been that much of a contributor to the defense in his career as he has mostly been a special teams player until now.

The Ravens made big plays when they had to yesterday to hold off the pesky New York Jets.  MLB Ray Lewis intercepted a Kellen Clemens pass in the enzone late in the 4th quarter to seal the victory.

Kyle Boller made a rare start and he ran with it completing 23 of 35 passes for 185 yards with 2 TD passes.  RB Willis McGahee also was busy as he carried the ball 26 times for 97 yards (3.7 ypc) and he also caught 2 passes for 6 yards and a TD.  TE Todd Heap led the Ravens in receiving with 7 catches for 76 yards (10.9 avg) with 1 TD catch.  Derrick Mason also had a decent game with 8 catches for 54 yards (6.8 avg).  The Ravens rushed for 118 yards on 34 carries (3.5 ypc) and they completed 23 of 35 passes for 185 yards.

The Ravens defense was led by MLB Ray Lewis who had 7 tackles and the game winning interception.  The Ravens defense was sharp against the run holding the Jets to 69 yards rushing on 27 carries (2.6 ypc).  The Jets completed 19 of 37 passes for 235 yards.  Rookie Yamon Figurs had a solid game on special teams as he returned 2 kickoffs for 89 yards (44.5 avg).

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