My Take on Ravens/Titans this Sunday

The time is fast approaching again Ravens fans for the purple and black to take the field. This week, the Ravens will play the 4-0 Titans in Baltimore.  As Neil stated, these two team are mirror images of each other.  In order for the Ravens to win, here are my keys to the game:

Stop The Run: Lendel White, the REAL running back from USC, and Chris Johnson are one of the best running back tandems in the NFL.  They don’t really gain a lot of yards, but combined, they have seven rushing touchdowns this year. The Ravens have the second best run defense in the NFL.  In order for the Ravens to win, they will need to show everyone why they are the number one defense overall in the NFL.

Remind Kerry Collins why He Lost Super Bowl XXXV: This defense of the Baltimore Ravens is much like the 2000 Ravens, where they play as a team. The last time we played against Kerry Collins was in Super Bowl XXXV, where Collins passed for only 157 yards and was picked off 4 times by the Ravens secondary.  The Ravens are very good at putting pressure on the quarterback this year.  They haven’t allowed a 200+ yard passer at all this year and they have played against three pro bowl quarterbacks in Carson Palmer, Derek Anderson and Ben Roethlisberger.

Pass Defense, Keep Up The Good Work!: The Ravens are tops on the list for pass defense.  They haven’t allowed a receiver to go over 100 yards, which includes Ocho Cinco, Housmenzadeh, Edwards, Winslow and Ward. Justin Gage and Bo Scaife are the leading receivers on the Titans and will look to break that trend for the Ravens secondary.

They Can’t Stop the Run: The Ravens running backs, Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain have produced the third best running game in the NFL, averaging 161 yards per game.  Albert Haynesworth, Kyle Van Den Bosch and the rest of the Titans defense, currently ranked 5th in the NFL, will look to stop the Three Headed Monster.

Special Teams: This will be the X-Factor for the Baltimore Ravens.  If return specialist Yamon Figurs can get them into good field position, Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense can be in great field position to possibly score a couple of touchdowns, if not, field goals are money for Matt Stover.

Hey Joe, Stay Cool: This will be the toughest defense that Joe Flacco has played against in his young career.  He did an outstanding job against a tough Steelers secondary passing for 192 yards and one touchdown.  The Titans biggest threat in the secondary will be Cortland Finnegan and Joe will have to find away to throw around this guy.

HEEEEEEEAAAPPP!: Just get the man the ball!!!

This will be the best game this week in the NFL.  If it was up to me, it would be played on Sunday Night.  However, all eyes will be on this game.  Statistically and realistically, the Ravens are the far superior team and they proved that in Pittsburgh on Monday Night.  Kerry Collins will be pressured all day to get rid of the ball, which will lead to costly mistakes.  The wideouts for the Titans will be covered all game long and I doubt if they get over 100 yards this game.  If the offense can eliminate the mistakes, which they will, and the defense can stop White and Johnson, which they will, the Ravens will walk out of this one with yet another victory against the Titans.

Ravens 31      Titans 17