Well it is upon us again, the return of the Indianapolis Colts to their original home, Baltimore. I look forward to playing the Ravens every year because they are a test to every team that plays them. Now they are even more dangerous because they have an outstanding offense with Joe Flacco throwing and Ray Rice(one of the most underrated RB's in the league) running/catching. This game should be a great one, and the Ravens need a win here to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Colts are looking to stay unbeaten and keep the regular season winning streak alive.
Keys to the game for the Colts:
1) Stop the run game for the Ravens. When the Colts stop the run game, they normally can do a good job agaisnt the pass. Take last week's game for example. In the second half, they basically negated the run, and their defense stepped up and made plays. Their rushing defense has been better this year, and it has helped.
2) RUN THE BALL! If Manning can correctly utilize the play action (by correctly I mean it only works if your running game is scaring the other D) he can really pick apart any D.
3) Dallas Clark. The Pats did a good job of shutting him down, and it showed especially in the first half. Manning needs his go to guy to win this game.
4) NO MORE DROPPED PASSES! I was at the game last Sunday night, and I swear there seemed to be like 10 dropped passes. People in the stands were calling for Garcon's head. That game would have been closer before the 4th if not for that.
Since I am a Colts fan, I will leave the keys to the game for the Ravens up to the Ravens fans. Look forward to a great game, and I will be posting during the game.
Just telling it how it is, sharkbite. Don't get me wrong, I would be THRILLED to see Baltimore win this game, but come on. Not only have the Colts been playing out of their minds this season, they have absolutely owned their former hometown this past decade. To bail out of the city the way they did, taking the name, records, and everything, and then continuously bash Baltimore's new team in their matchups... that's like ripping a guy's arm off and beating him into unconciousness with it.
Lol, good point. I wasn't alive in 84 (a few years after), but I can only imagine how that must have went. I think Manning is 6-0? against the Ravens in his career. The best one for me as a Colts fan had to be that win en route to the SB. Your D did great that game, but your O wasn't good at all. I think that the Ravens can pull it out. Rice is a game changer, and if Flacco can play like he did earlier this year (especially the way he played against the Vikings) they have a good chance. Plus, Freeney and Bethea (our other starting safety) are both questionable. Our D could really be hurting this game.
There we go, someone got the ball rolling on the predictions. I just hope the Colts cover the 1 points spread that is up on the site used for my football pool. Knowing my luck they will win by one like they did last week.
I am hoping that Freeney and Bethea play, and if they do, I think the score will be something like 28-21.
I think we have another blowout on our hands if things get clicking. Something along the lines of 41-14 with our starters pulled in the early third, like the last two games. The Ravens' D isn't what it was in past years and unless Rice has a superb game, I don't think that they'll score a lot of points. I wouldn't mind seeing a better game than this, but the Ravens seem to match up with us even less well than they have in the past.
I just hope we get a W, that's all. I don't care by how much just as long as we do. I have gotten used to not-so-pretty wins being a Colts fan, and we have had a couple this year. After this game, we go to Houston and face a Texans team that I am sure is still mad that they lost because Kris Brown missed a 42 yard field goal. A W this week would surely boost the Colts confidence for next week's important matchup.
I agree about the Raven's D, but they have had games this year that have been good. They know they still have a chance to make the playoffs especially with two important games against the Steelers left. They NEED a win a lot more than the Colts WANT a win. That is why this game scares me.
"The best one for me as a Colts fan had to be that win en route to the SB. Your D did great that game, but your O wasn't good at all."
Ugh, don't remind me. To this day, I still believe that the Ravens that year were the most talented team in the league. As for that playoff game... if you told me the day before that the Colts would not score a single touchdown, I'm emptying my bank account and putting all my money on the Ravens. But no, McNair and the offense had to lay an egg, and Vinatieri would carry your team.
But getting back to today's game, if Baltimore wants any chance to win, these are their top priorities:
1) PASS RUSH! The Ravens lack talent in the secondary (even Ed Reed hasn't looked like his usual self this year), but they certainly can't be blamed too much when opposing quarterbacks are sitting in the pocket with enough time to read a Stephen King novel. Any QB, let alone Peyton Manning, will make you pay if you don't pressure them.
2) Going along with the same theme on the other side of the ball, Baltimore's young line needs to protect Flacco. Even if Freeney is questionable, it will be interesting to see the duel between him and Oher, who is thus far having an impressive rookie season.
3) Bring back the 3-headed monster! Last year, the Ravens had a perfectly balanced rushing attack between Rice, McClain, and McGahee. So far this year, it's all been about Ray Rice. It would be wise to control time of possession, and wear out Indy's defense throughout the game. Obviously, if Baltimore falls behind quickly, they'll probably ditch this plan.
Oh yeah, and I may be going out on a limb here, but I think Baltimore will have to score more points than Indy if they're going to win this game.
Ugh, don't remind me. To this day, I still believe that the Ravens that year were the most talented team in the league. As for that playoff game... if you told me the day before that the Colts would not score a single touchdown, I'm emptying my bank account and putting all my money on the Ravens. But no, McNair and the offense had to lay an egg, and Vinatieri would carry your team. Lol, and I probably would have too. Every game in those playoffs were exciting except for the SB! The SB was over after the Colts took the lead in the first half. At least in the Ravens and Pats games, they were games until the end!
2) Going along with the same theme on the other side of the ball, Baltimore's young line needs to protect Flacco. Even if Freeney is questionable, it will be interesting to see the duel between him and Oher, who is thus far having an impressive rookie season. I will agree with that too. The thing is, even if Freeney doesn't play, the Colts still have Mathis who is prety much just as good even though he has a different style. I personally think he is the main reason the Colts won last Sunday. His 2 sacks, FF, and pressure at the end of the game pretty much gave the Colts the ball back to win it.
Oh yeah, and I may be going out on a limb here, but I think Baltimore will have to score more points than Indy if they're going to win this game. Best analysis anyone can give. But if you are a Pats fan that isn't true. A lot of them still think they won last Sunday night.
As a Baltimore fan for 30 years, there is still resentment in the air whenever Indy comes to town. Every time I see this game on the schedule it reminds me of that horrible night in 1984 when the Mayflower trucks took our team out of Baltimore.
The Ravens will need to be extremely sharp in order to keep up with the Colts. Like the Patriots, it will be important to limit Dallas Clark and Reggie Wayne. After Garcon's drops I would feel comfortable leaving him with the single coverage as Peyton might second guess a throw to him. But the main problem is containing Joseph Addai. The right side of the defense has injury issues with Suggs out and minor injuries to Gooden and Ngata, passes in the flat as well as running plays in that direction will be tough. The D will HAVE TO put pressure on Peyton Manning and get a few sacks, even with great coverage Peyton can make the throws if he has enough time.
Offensively a heavy dose of Ray Rice early will be necessary to soften the intermediate and the deep coverage. Flacco will need to keep Heap involved all day as well as Mason, but I think Heap will play the more important role. By throwing in Heaps direction it will keep the Colts linebackers on their heels, opening up the running game.
Is Heap playing today Brooklyn? He is listed as questionable on the website. I don't know what his injury is or how bad it is, so I don't really know what his status is.
Ya know this has to be the most civilized thread I have ever read on this forum...lol. All of you have made very good points, and I agree with all of them. However, I do expect the game to be closer then some. I still think my Colts are to much for the Ravens this year, but the Ravens always play us tight (regardless of past scores). You guys nailed the keys to the game for both sides, so I won't go into that.
Thanks icon, and I really hope that the Colts can pull this one off. If we can win our next two, we should be good to go. Just need to focus on getting healthy and patching up that defense to get ready for the playoffs. If Sunday nights' game is any indication of how Manning is going to play under pressure this year, then I am excited for the playoffs. And yea, civilized threads are nice. It is good to have normal sports fans here who just like to talk about the game.
