Baltimore ravens look to bounce back this year after a mediocre 8-8 season in 2013. This team quickly learned what it was like to be the defending Super Bowl champs. Will they make a run at another championship with this roster?
Offense: Looking at this roster there is talent. You can't deny that. QB Joe Flacco, RB Ray Rice, WR's Steve Smith, Jacoby Jones & Torrey Smith also TE Dennis Pitta. You would think this offense would be near the top in most major offensive stat categories. Well 2013 wasn't very kind to the Ravens. Ranked 30th in rushing coming in just under 90ypg, and 18th in passing just around 224ypg. Stats that don't seem to fit the bill of a returning Super Bowl team from year before. Let's face it, the Ravens really struggled last year to find any rhythm. They had a huge target on them and it showed week in and week out. The most recent news of Ray Rice receiving a 2 game suspension to start off the year will not only disrupt the rhythm of the offense but may cause a disturbance in the locker room as well. That will surface sooner or later if there is a issue. RB Bernard Pierce will have to pick up the load and i think he will be up for the challenge. He has had more reps as the years have taken shape. New WR addition Steve Smith will add some help on the outside for Flacco. I'm not 100% sure Smith is a great fit. One bright spot for the Ravens will be K Justin Tucker. Tucker was tied for the league lead in FGM with 38. I think he will be relied upon again this year to win a few games. The Ravens have a great Punter with Sam Koch and Jacoby Jones may return again this year. Lets just classify that as points and not offense. They did average around 20ppg. Not bad but will not get them into the playoffs if they repeat that output again. All in all i think the Ravens offense can create issues for any team. It's more if they can do it or not.
Defense: This Ravens defense will need to be the strength of this team. Terrel Suggs is a year older but still has the attitude and excitement to fire up this defensive unit. NT Haloti Ngata will be a force to be reckoned with. Ravens have some great young talent that should prove to your typical Baltimore Ravens defensive player. C.J. Mosley, Courtney Upshaw along with Suggs and tackling machine Daryl Smith will make it hard on offensive units this year. The Ravens finished last year 12th in passing and 11th in the rush. I expect them to not regress this year one bit. I can see the old Raven defense we have known starting to take shape again this year. The secondary is going to be a little better this year as well. The two issues i have with the defense is the pass rush and creating turnovers. They only had 40 registered sacks last year and they were -4 in turnover differential. If they can manage to pick up the turnovers and sacks they will be a tough unit to cope with in 2014. I do expect this team on defense to step up big this year and really gel as a solid unit with the classy veterans they have and the young talent that surrounds this Baltimore Raven defensive unit.
Projected line 8.5 -130 Over
http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/schedule/_/name/bal
Schedule: Last year the Ravens had major issues on the road. They went 2-6 on the road and in those 2 wins they won by a total of 5 points combined. 6-2 at home was a big help but the schedule for them was rather favorable at home. This year is anything but favorable. They start the year out with 2 home games...week 1 Vs. Cincy and then week 2 Pitt..Then hit the road for a much anticipated game Vs. Cleveland. Road games include. @ Cleve, Indy, TB, Cincy, Pitt, NO, Mia, Houston......I can honestly say i see them winning 3 games on the road a stretch would be 4. Here is where it gets tough for Baltimore. The home schedule is rather rough for them this year...Home schedule includes...Cincy, Pitt, Caro, Atl, Tenn, SD, Jack, Clev...I can see 4 wins here..but i think 5 is a stretch. They play 2 sets of back to back road games. That always hurts...and they dont have a pushover game out of any of those 4 games...Bye week at week 11 and come out to face NO..in NO..no cake walk there...They do finish up the last 4 games with a chance to make a push at the 8.5 total. @mia, H-jack @Hou, H-Cleve.....This team will really need to take care of serious business before the week 11 bye week...I think 8.5 is a good number here, and i feel 9 wins is a bit of a stretch here in this division, with this schedule.
Pick: I always respected this team because they play with heart and passion. They will do the same this year. I'm not 100% sold on this offensive unit one bit. Nice players but no real super star to carry the load. Ray Rice has not helped this team one bit. Not sure Steve Smith will help much as he has aged and production will soon start to tail off. The defense i really, really like. I think they will be a fun defense to watch for the next few years. My big concern is how will they handle this tough schedule. I'm going with a gut call here and taking all things factored that i have discussed and we will...
Play Baltimore Ravens Under 8.5 TT (Even)