orioles

[u][b]Baltimore Ravens at Denver Broncos Sky Sports, Saturday 9.30pm[/b][/u] The Ravens have killed me this season, with Flacco alternating between hopeless and highly competent. However, today (even giving up so many points) I'm going to take Denver to finally put an end to my nightmare. Last week, I suggested that Ray Lewis may prove a liability, and although he made 13 tackles in the game, this quote from the Baltimore Sun may be telling, because today I expect Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos to make more of Rice’s shortcomings: ‘According to the guys over at Pro Football Focus, Lewis was the team's lowest graded defender Sunday... Of course, these grades are subjective, but Pro Football Focus is a reliable and respected stats website.’ [i]Baltimore Sun, Jan 7[/i] As...

Two horribly out of sorts teams: the Giants struggled to move the chains last week and the Ravens have been badly hit by injuries - the key may be the return of Ahmad Bradshaw. [b]Pick: New York Giants -1.5 @ 1.91 [i] Pick: 1st TD Victor Cruz @ 8 Pick: Anytime TD Martellus Bennett @ 3[/i][/b]

This could be a close game, but the difficulty is knowing which Joe Flacco/Ravens' offense will turn up. Baltimore are difficult to cap because it sometimes look as though they haven't really decided what the offense should look like: Ray Rice didn't carry the ball at all in the 4th quarter last week! Presumably though, Baltimore are going to attack the shaky Washington secondary, but the home team have shown some improvement of late and have toughened up in the red zone, ranking eighth in the last three weeks. Flacco also seems less comfortable on the road, so the offense could struggle for rhythm, even against the Redskins. The Ravens have the weapons deep, and Washington are a little nicked up; it's about time Flacco showed he is made of the right stuff. Washington are rolling ...

The Ravens can eliminate the Steelers from the AFC title race tonight and given the Pittsburgh offensive troubles (I'm trying to be diplomatic) I don't think Baltimore are going to pass up the opportunity. Charlie Batch is under centre, and if that isn't bad enough for the visitors, their O line is in pieces, so Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata may think that Christmas has come early. Batch isn't a complete bust, but he's old and there's little mobility and even less arm strength. Last week, every tailback put the ball on the ground and the Steelers certainly won't survive that sort of profligacy. Jonathan Dwyer will likely be the lead back, but with Batch's arm a limited threat, Baltimore can load up on the run and take their chances, so it'll be a tough go on the ground. The passing...