2* - Green Bay Packers (+3?)
The Ravens have been playing a gimmicky defensive set that has been has been successful for them this season. Many teams will occasionally load the defensive line with a combination of eight linemen and linebackers in short yardage situations leaving two corners to defend the receivers man on man with a single safety. The Ravens however, have adopted this scheme as their primary defensive set many times this season as they are confident in the athletic ability of their linebacker corp. This approach worked wonderfully last week against the Broncos and very nearly earned Baltimore an upset in a road game as they held Denver to just 12 points. While this set has undoubtedly worked well against nearly every running attack that the Ravens have faced, it has not won them many games. While Baltimore may be allowing only 19.4 points per game, their offense is scoring only 12.9. Kyle Boller is a bad quarterback with just 1,106 yards passing in six starts for only five touchdowns and NINE interceptions.
A veteran quarterback like Bret Favre has literally seen every defensive alignment known to man and I am confident in his ability to pick this one apart. Favre may have seen better days during his career but the guy has still passed for 3,161 this season with 19 passing touchdowns to go along with those numbers. The defensive alignment that Baltimore runs is particularly vulnerable to the tight end pass and a few completions in that direction should open up the deep threat nicely. The Pack has not benefited a great deal from their running game this year anyway although rookie Samkon Gado rushed for 171 yards against Detroit last week and without Ray Lewis in the middle of the Raven?s defense to gum things up, I expect that Gado will have a decent night on limited carries. Did I mention that Green Bay?s defense ranks 5th overall in the NFL, 1st against the pass and has allowed one touchdown or less in each of their last four games
Bottom line, Brett will get his points and the Raven?s won?t. The 3? points is a gift.
The Ravens have been playing a gimmicky defensive set that has been has been successful for them this season. Many teams will occasionally load the defensive line with a combination of eight linemen and linebackers in short yardage situations leaving two corners to defend the receivers man on man with a single safety. The Ravens however, have adopted this scheme as their primary defensive set many times this season as they are confident in the athletic ability of their linebacker corp. This approach worked wonderfully last week against the Broncos and very nearly earned Baltimore an upset in a road game as they held Denver to just 12 points. While this set has undoubtedly worked well against nearly every running attack that the Ravens have faced, it has not won them many games. While Baltimore may be allowing only 19.4 points per game, their offense is scoring only 12.9. Kyle Boller is a bad quarterback with just 1,106 yards passing in six starts for only five touchdowns and NINE interceptions.
A veteran quarterback like Bret Favre has literally seen every defensive alignment known to man and I am confident in his ability to pick this one apart. Favre may have seen better days during his career but the guy has still passed for 3,161 this season with 19 passing touchdowns to go along with those numbers. The defensive alignment that Baltimore runs is particularly vulnerable to the tight end pass and a few completions in that direction should open up the deep threat nicely. The Pack has not benefited a great deal from their running game this year anyway although rookie Samkon Gado rushed for 171 yards against Detroit last week and without Ray Lewis in the middle of the Raven?s defense to gum things up, I expect that Gado will have a decent night on limited carries. Did I mention that Green Bay?s defense ranks 5th overall in the NFL, 1st against the pass and has allowed one touchdown or less in each of their last four games
Bottom line, Brett will get his points and the Raven?s won?t. The 3? points is a gift.
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