Rice bowls the Ravens right to a Division Title

Ray Rice told everyone that the Ravens have been to the playoffs only to fall short for the past three years. He said that something needed to change. That something, playing at home. On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 24-16 and clinched the AFC North division and a first round bye.

This is the Ravens first division title and first round since the 2006 season where they lost to the Indianapolis Colts 15-6 at home. Rice, who was very outspoken on trying to gain the home playoff game for the fans of Baltimore had another career day rushing for 191 yards with two touchdowns. He average eight yards per carry.

The bye week for the Ravens allows veterans such as Anquan Boldin and Ray Lewis to nurse their injuries. Lewis was very instrumental in this win with seven tackles. However, John Harbaugh believes that Terrell Suggs sealed the deal for his quest of defensive player of the year. Suggs finished the game with six tackles and one sack. Suggs finished the 2011 season with 64 tackles and 13 sacks.

NFL Week 17 Predictions (Current Record 148-95)

Ravens vs Bengals. Ravens

Packers vs Lions. Lions

49ers vs Rams. 49ers

Jets vs Dolphins. Jets

Bears vs Vikings. Bears

Bills vs Patriots. Patriots

Panthers vs Saints Saints

Redskins vs Eagles. Eagles

Colts vs Jaguars. Jaguars

Titans vs Texans. Titans

Bucaneers vs Falcons. Falcons

Steelers vs Browns. Browns

Chiefs vs Broncos. Broncos

Chargers vs Raiders. Raiders

Seahawks vs Cardinals. Seahawks

Cowboys vs Giants. Giants

Week 16 NFL Predictions (140-87)

Texans vs Colts  Colts

Browns vs Ravens  Ravens

Eagles vs Cowboys  Cowboys

Broncos vs Bills  Broncos

Cardinals vs Bengals  Bengals

Jaguars vs Titans  Titans

Raiders vs Chiefs  Chiefs

Dolphins vs Patriots  Patriots

Giants vs Jets  Jets

Rams vs Steelers  Steelers

Vikings vs Redskins  Redskins

Buccaneers vs Panthers  Panthers 

Chargers vs  Lions  Chargers

49ers vs Seahawks  49ers

Bears vs Packers  Bears

Falcons vs Saints  Falcons

Week 15 NFL Predictions (Current Record 131-80)

Jacksonville at Atlanta  Falcons
Dallas at Tampa Bay  Cowboys
Carolina at Houston  Texans
Washington at NY Giants   Redskins
Miami at Buffalo  Bills
Seattle at Chicago  Bears
New Orleans at Minnesota  Saints
Cincinnati at St. Louis  Bengals
Tennessee at Indianapolis  Colts
Green Bay at Kansas City  Packers
Detroit at Oakland  Raiders
New England at Denver  Broncos
NY Jets at Philadelphia  Eagles
Cleveland at Arizona  Cardinals
Baltimore at San Diego  Ravens
Pittsburgh at San Francisco  49ers As the NFL gets down to the wire, a win keeps hope alive for the post season, and a lost can kill all dreams. There are three teams that are 6-7 going into this week, and a lost along with a win from another team will spell the end of their playoff hopes.  With four teams with 8-5 records, a win will help them, but by no means will it seal the deal for these teams. In the AFC, The Texans, Ravens, Patriots and Steelers all are 10-3 and none of these teams shows any signs of slowing down. With the Steelers facing another 10-3 team, the 49ers, this will be the most exciting Monday Night Football game of the season. Since Becoming a starter, he has only lost one game, but Tim Tebow has biggest challenge to date. This week, he looks to face Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. Many are saying that Tebow is not an NFL quarterback. Tebow responds by going out there each and every week and winning games. Going against a team that does not have a great defense, things should be a huge testament game for Tebow. When Tebow took over, he was his Broncos were not even thought about when it came to playoff talks. Currently, they hold the fifth seed and a win Sunday will help propel them closer to the playoffs.

NFL Week 14 Predictions

Browns vs Steelers   Steelers

Chiefs vs Jets  Jets

Buccaneers vs Jaguars  Buccaneers

Patriots vs Redskins  Patriots

Falcons vs Panthers  Falcons

Colts vs Ravens  Ravens

Eagles vs Dolphins  Dolphins

Vikings vs Lions  Lions

Saints vs Titans  Saints

Texans vs Bengals  Bengals

Bears vs Broncos  Broncos

49ers vs Cardinals  49ers

Bills vs Chargers  Chargers

Raiders vs Packers  Raiders

Giants vs Cowboys  Cowboys

Rams vs Seahaks  Seahawks

Ravens to Move Training Camp to Owings Mills

In the words of Allen Iverson, "practice, we talking about practice." Baltimore Ravens fans are upset because the team has decided to change where they hold their training camp. For years, the team has held training camp in Westminster at McDaniel College. Due to the NFL lockout, they had to move it to their normal practice facility in Owings Mills. Due to the permits from Baltimore County, as of now fans are unable to attend. Many fans feel that they are losing a type of connection with the team. But what is more important here, watching the fans practice and getting an autograph, or when the season begins, cheering them on as they pummel the Pittsburgh Steelers at home 35-7? With the big picture being the Super Bowl, being well prepared is everything.

Former Ravens defensive tackle, Michael McCrary recently indicated the importance of facility in Owings Mills. He stressed the fact that there is a lot more equipment even pointing out the fact that there is no need for players to wait in line for a cold tub. McCrary also made fans aware of the limited amound of practices due to the new collective bargaining unit. So if there is less time for error. You have only a few times to get it right. As a fan, it is more important for the Ravens to practice in the best facility and recieve all the best treatment. Remember they still have their own radio shows, and they still are very active in the community. If this helps build a Super Bowl, well then practice in Owings  Mills, keep the fans out, and lets see winners in January and February.

Ravens go into the Dog Pound and Pound on those Nasty Browns

While the rain poured down in Cleveland, the Ravens (9-3) poured a heavy dose of Ray Rice all over the Browns (4-8) defense, as they defeated the Browns 24-10.

Ray Rice set a new career rushing record finishing with 204 yards. Rice finished the game with one touchdown off of 29 carries including a huge 67 yard run. In this game he averaged 7.0 yards per carry. The Ravens finished with a total of 290 yards rushing. Backup running back, Ricky Williams finished with his season high of 76 yards and a touchdown. He averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 16 attempts.

With the ground game being so successful, the Ravens did not need much of an air attack. Unlike any other game, the Ravens had a total of 55 rushing attempts. Joe Flacco managed the game well. While he only threw for 158 yards without a touchdown, he also did not throw an interception.

Next week, the Ravens return to M&T Bank Stadium to face a Peyton Manning-less Indianapolis Colts (0-12). The Colts have been threatening many weeks of the season to win their first game, but they have been unable to do so. The Ravens have lost only three games this season, two to teams under .500. However, they will not be on the road this time, and the Ravens do not lose at home often. At the time of where the playoff race is heating in the AFC, this is a game that the Ravens need to go out and win in the first quarter. A lost here could be devestating as the teams they are tied with, Houston Texans and the New England Patriots are facing teams who are currently outside the playoff picture (Cincinnati Bengals and Washington Redskins respectively).

NFL Week 13 Predictions (Current Record 114-64)

Eagles vs Seahawks  Eagles

Raiders vs Dolphins  Raiders

Titans vs Bills  Bills

Chiefs vs Bears  Bears

Broncos vs Vikings  Vikings

Jets vs Redskins  Redskins

Bengals vs Steelers  Steelers

Falcons vs Texans  Falcons

Panthers vs Buccaneers  Bucs

Colts vs Patriots  Patriots

Ravens vs Browns  Ravens

Cowboys  vs Cardinals  Cowboys

Packers vs Giants  Giants

Rams vs 49ers  49ers

Lions vs Saints  Saints

Chargers vs Jaguars  Jaguars 

As the NFL season comes to close, Week 13 is more important than ever. For teams such as the Packers and 49ers, their playoffs spots are pretty much guaranteed. But for teams such as the Ravens, Steelers, and Patriots, they are nearly a shoe in to be in the playoffs, but now is the time when seeding becomes very important. Then there are the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants. Two teams who switched roles in the NFC East. The Cowboys now are in control of their own destiny towards a division championship, while the Giants are in danger of yet another hot start that does not end in a playoff birth. This week they take on the undefeated Green Bay Packers and many say they are the last hope to prevent the Packers from going undefeated this year. While the Giants have not played as well as they have in the past, I look for them to pull of the upset at home.

Big Brother Harbaugh defeats the little brother on Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is usually a day in which families come together, eat all the food they can and watch football, and in some families, they even play in their backyards before the NFL games start. For Jack Harbaugh, his two boys may have been eating dinner together, but they certainly were not playing in the backyard, instead they were engaging in a coaches duel. In the end, it was John Harbaugh, head coach of the Ravens (8-3) leading his team to victory over his brother Jim and the San Francisco 49ers (9-2) 16-6.

The Ravens knew going into this game that they would have one their biggest challenges to date. The 49ers who had one loss coming into this game which game in overtime against the Dallas Cowboys (7-4), have one of the best defenses in the NFL. The Ravens rising offense knew that this would not be an easy game.

This game ended up being a battle of two of the leagues most prominent defenses. Neither team scored a touchdown until the 4th quarter. The Ravens had a very tough time running the ball, but unlike other games, they still managed a balance attack.

The Ravens defense played one of the best games of the season. Ledby Terrell Suggs who had three of his own, the team totaled for nine sacks and was able to hurry 49ers quarterback 12 times. The 49ers defense would not be outdone as they were able to hold Ray Rice under three yards per carry.

Joe Flacco, who came to Baltimore when coach Harbaugh came, would not disappoint his coach in the teams  quest to gain the victory for their coach. Flacco managed the game well, with a couple of big plays on third down to keep drives alive, along with the games only touchdown pass to Dennis Pitta in the fourth quarter. Flacco finished 15/23 for 161 yards .

The Ravens have a long week as they prepare for the division rival Cleveland Browns. The Browns have the number one pass defense in the league, so this will be a very important week of preparation for Cam Cameron and the Ravens offense.

Week 12 NFL Predictions (102-60)

Green Bay vs Detroit  Packers

Miami vs Dallas  Cowboys

Baltimore vs  San Francisco Ravens

St. Louis vs Arizona  Cardinals

NY Jets vs  Buffalo Jets

Cincinnati vs  Cleveland  Bengals

Houston vs Jacksonville  Jaguars

Carolina vs Indianapolis Colts

Tennessee vsTampa Bay  Buccaneers

Atlanta vs  Minnesota Falcons

Oakland vs  Chicago Raiders

Seattle vs Washington Redskins

New England vs Philadelphia Patriots

San Diego vs Denver Chargers

Pittsburgh vs  Kansas City Steelers

New Orleans vs  NY Giants Saints

When the 2011 schedules were release, if someone would have said that on Thanksgiving Night, Jim and John Harbaugh would be going head to head in a matchup that could be a potential Super Bowl Preview, they would have been accused of craziness. If someone would have said that out of the two teams, Jim would be coaching the team with the better record, again, they would probably be crazy. Both is true. The San Francisco 49ers (8-1) travel to Baltimore to take on the Ravens (7-3). The 49ers have one of the best defenses in the league, while their quarterback is still learning his identity. However, he has a coach that understands his limits and does not try to push him above them. The Ravens have been able to defeat the good teams, including their rival, AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers twice, but have struggled against teams under .500, including loses to Jacksonville and Seattle. But when the Ravens play a well balanced game, their chances of winning rises. Understanding this, look for the Ravens to use a balanced attack, and take advantage of the fact that the 49ers had to travel 3000 miles on short rest. In their first head to head matchup, This one is for John.

Ravens Offense Balance the Bengals

"The Ravens need to run the ball more if they plan to win football games" was the common theme around the city of Baltimore. Fans were not the only ones who felt this way, as players addressed their concern with the playcalling also. Sunday, Ray Rice carried the ball 20 times rushing for 105 yards averaging 5.2 yards per carry with two touchdowns as the Ravens (7-3) defeated the Cincinatti Bengals (6-4) 31-24.

This was an important game for the Ravens. After losing to Seattle, fans began to question whether or not they are really a Super Bowl contender. With this being a division game, a loss would knock the Ravens not only out of first place, but out the immediate playoff picture. With this win, the Ravens are in first place in the AFC and right now control their own destiny to have homefield advantage throughout the playoffs.

Joe Flacco, who was not asked to throw the ball 50 times, had an impressive performance as well. Flacco was 17/27 with 270 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. For years Baltimore has lacked a big play offense. Both of Flacco's touchdowns came off of huge plays, one to Anquan Boldin for 35 yards and the other to Torrey Smith for 38 yards. Smith also caught a 28 yard pass in which Bengals defensive back Adam Jones tackled him by his dreadlocks. Without that tackle, Smith may have scored a touchdown.

This game was clearly won by the offense simply outscoring the opposition. While the defense allowed 483 yards, the pass rusher was able to rattle the rookie, Andy Dalton in the most crucial part of the game. With the Ravens defense causing a turnover on downs with under two minutes left, the offense was able to go back on the field and excute what John Gruden calls the best play in football, the quarterback kneel.

The Ravens have a very short week as they prepare to take on coach John Harbaugh's brother Jim and the San Francisco 49ers (8-1).  The 49ers who have been rolling this season look tro establish themselves as one of the most elite teams in the NFL, but the task will be tough traveling from the west coast to take on the Ravens in M&T bank stadium where they have been 5-0 this season.

Week 11 NFL Predictions Current Record (92- 56)

 NY Jets vs Denver Broncos

 Atlanta vs  Tennessee Falcons

 Miami vs Buffalo Bills

 Baltimore vs  Cincinnati  Ravens

 Cleveland vs Jacksonville Jaguars

 Oakland vs Minnesota Vikings

Detroit vs  Carolina Lions

Green Bay vs Tampa Bay Packers

Dallas vs Washington Cowboys

San Francisco vs Arizona 49ers

St. Louis vs Seattle Rams

Chicago vs  San Diego Bears

NY Giants vs  Philadelphia Eagles

New England vs  Kansas City Patriots

NFL Week 10 Predictions (Current Record 84-48)

 San Diego vs Oakland  Raiders

 Pittsburgh vs Cincinnati  Bengals

 Kansas City vs  Denver Broncos

Jacksonville vs Indianapolis  Colts

    Dallas  vs  Buffalo   Cowboys

Houston vs Tampa Bay   Texans

   Carolina vs  Tennessee Panthers

  Miami vs  Washington Redskins          

 Atlanta  vs New Orleans  Saints

 Chicago vs Detroit Bears

      Cleveland vs St. Louis Browns

 Philadelphia vs Arizona  Eagles

Baltimore vs Seattle Ravens

San Francisco vs NY Giants 49ers 

 NY Jets vs  New England

Green Bay vs Minnesota Packers

This Sunday the San Francisco 49ers (7-1) will have their toughest test to date when they face the New York Giants (6-2). When it comes to the quarterback position, there is no competition. The Giants, led by Eli Manning, ranked 5th in passing offense. The 49ers, led by Alex Smith, ranked 30th. Manning, who considers himself an elite quarterback, let his works speak for him a week ago, when he gave Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, a dose of their own medicine, in a 4th quarter come back to defeat the Patriots in Foxboro. For the 49ers, it has been the run game on both sides of the ball that has led them to success this year. They rank 6th in rushing offense and they are number 1 in stopping the run. This will be key in this match-up. The Giants rank 29th in rushing the ball. This year the 49ers have been winning the close games that they were losing. Out of seven wins, four have been ten points or less. In this game it will come to coaching. Tom Coughlin vs Jim Harbaugh, who can out last the other?

Ravens Sweep Through Steel City

Before the 2011 NFL Season began, it was Steelers linebacker Lamar Woodley who said that the Ravens would never win a Super Bowl with Joe Flacco as their quarterback. On Sunday Night, an injured Woodley had to watch from the bench as Joe Flacco led the Ravens to a fourth quarter comeback with a 26 yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Torrey Smith with :08 seconds left. The Ravens (6-2) defeat the Steelers (6-3) 23-20. The Ravens sweep the season series against the arch rival.

92 yards in 2 minutes for Joe Flacco. "Nobody shined brighter than Joe Flacco in this game," Coach John Harbaugh says during the post game press conference. For the first time this season, Joe Flacco threw for over 300 yards in back to back games. Flacco finished the game with 314 yards, one touchdown with a quarterback rating of 86.7.

The Ravens came out firing. On the first play of the game, Ray Rice took the straight to the endzone. However, the play would be called back after a holding penalty. The Ravens were able to move the ball, but they kept getting held to three points.

All year the Ravens struggled on third down conversions, however tonight, they were 14/21. The Ravens finished with 356 yards of total offense with most coming in the air, after the run defense of the Steelers held the Ravens to yards on the ground.

Going into this game, Terrell Suggs stated that Heinz field is his Madison Square Garden. "Either one or two things are happen, either we the same team from last year, or we going show the world how we are grow up," Terrell Suggs says, describing the victory over the Steelers. Suggs made a huge interception that stalled the momentum that the Steelers had during the third quarter. "If we keep playing Raven football, then when we see them in January they will have to come into our house."

Torrey Smith, who had not caught a touchdown pass since the week 3 vs the Rams, when he had three. On the first play of the game, it was Smith who was called for holding which wiped Rice's touchdown of the board. After dropped constantly, Smith did not give up. "Throughout the game we were in his ear, letting him know we need him to make a big play," Anquan Boldin says. With :08 seconds left, Torrey Smith changed the taste that the Ravens last had when leaving Heinz field a year ago from sour to sweet.

The Ravens get ready to travel to Quest Field to take on the Seattle Seahawks (2-6). The Ravens have struggled against teams with losing records in the past two matchups, losing to the Jaguars, and needing all fourth quarters to put away the Arizona Cardinals. This will be a huge game for them to continue their momentum. The Steelers are travel to face the Cincinnati Bengals (6-2) who are quietly tied for first place with the Ravens. If the Steelers do not win this matchup, their Super Bowl hangover will surely become the runner up nightmare.