Jets at Ravens
The Ravens were able to make it to the AFC Championship Game last season thanks to a defense that gave up just 15.3 points per game and 261.1 yards per game. The mastermind behind that unit was Rex Ryan. Now Ryan will face his old team as the head coach of the Jets as Week 2 of the NFL preseason draws to a close.
Ryan?s first year at the helm of an NFL franchise has already been mired in a quarterback controversy. Kellen Clemmens was the lone holdover from last year?s stable of QBs in New York. The Jets then went out and picked up Mark Sanchez out of Southern Cal in the first round of the draft.
Clemmens was given the starting nod since he had experience in Brian Schottenheimer. Yet he has had a sloppy training camp this summer, which hasn?t helped Clemmens? cause at all.
Sanchez has shined during camp with his ability to grasp the workload. It also helps that he completed three of his four passes for 88 yards in his debut against the Rams on Aug. 14.
The rookie from USC has done enough to get the starting nod for Monday night. Ryan has made mention that Sanchez could get the majority of the snaps against Baltimore. This game is going to go a big way towards determining who will be No. 1 on the depth chart in the QB race. As Ryan has mentioned, "You're going against a top group. Obviously, you're taking the body of work. It won't be just through one game. But if someone steps up and shines against the best defense in the NFL, then you'd have to weigh it more than you would going against somebody else."
Baltimore doesn?t look like there is much to worry about at the moment. The Ravens took Washington to task on Aug. 13 as three-point home favorites, 23-0. Joe Flacco looked sharp in completing nine of his 15 passes for 103 yards. Troy Smith also appeared to put a stranglehold on the backup job by connecting on 14 of 30 pass attempts for 200 yards and a touchdown.
The Ravens? defense was solid all night long in surrendering just 196 yards for the night. They were also able to hold the ?Skins to just one third down conversion on 11 chances in Week 1.
Most betting shops have opted to go with the standard preseason football line here by installing Baltimore as a three-point home ?chalk? with the total sitting still at 32 ?.
The Ravens have had little problems over the past few years when the Jets have visited by posting a 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread in the last five games at M&T Bank Stadium.
That information might suggest Baltimore is the play on Monday night. However, you have to remember that John Harbaugh is 1-2 SU and ATS in the three times the Ravens were listed as home faves during the preseason under his tenure.
New York would appear to be the play for this contest as they have gone 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight preseason games played on the road.
You can catch this contest on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
The Ravens were able to make it to the AFC Championship Game last season thanks to a defense that gave up just 15.3 points per game and 261.1 yards per game. The mastermind behind that unit was Rex Ryan. Now Ryan will face his old team as the head coach of the Jets as Week 2 of the NFL preseason draws to a close.
Ryan?s first year at the helm of an NFL franchise has already been mired in a quarterback controversy. Kellen Clemmens was the lone holdover from last year?s stable of QBs in New York. The Jets then went out and picked up Mark Sanchez out of Southern Cal in the first round of the draft.
Clemmens was given the starting nod since he had experience in Brian Schottenheimer. Yet he has had a sloppy training camp this summer, which hasn?t helped Clemmens? cause at all.
Sanchez has shined during camp with his ability to grasp the workload. It also helps that he completed three of his four passes for 88 yards in his debut against the Rams on Aug. 14.
The rookie from USC has done enough to get the starting nod for Monday night. Ryan has made mention that Sanchez could get the majority of the snaps against Baltimore. This game is going to go a big way towards determining who will be No. 1 on the depth chart in the QB race. As Ryan has mentioned, "You're going against a top group. Obviously, you're taking the body of work. It won't be just through one game. But if someone steps up and shines against the best defense in the NFL, then you'd have to weigh it more than you would going against somebody else."
Baltimore doesn?t look like there is much to worry about at the moment. The Ravens took Washington to task on Aug. 13 as three-point home favorites, 23-0. Joe Flacco looked sharp in completing nine of his 15 passes for 103 yards. Troy Smith also appeared to put a stranglehold on the backup job by connecting on 14 of 30 pass attempts for 200 yards and a touchdown.
The Ravens? defense was solid all night long in surrendering just 196 yards for the night. They were also able to hold the ?Skins to just one third down conversion on 11 chances in Week 1.
Most betting shops have opted to go with the standard preseason football line here by installing Baltimore as a three-point home ?chalk? with the total sitting still at 32 ?.
The Ravens have had little problems over the past few years when the Jets have visited by posting a 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread in the last five games at M&T Bank Stadium.
That information might suggest Baltimore is the play on Monday night. However, you have to remember that John Harbaugh is 1-2 SU and ATS in the three times the Ravens were listed as home faves during the preseason under his tenure.
New York would appear to be the play for this contest as they have gone 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight preseason games played on the road.
You can catch this contest on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
