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Grab all the points you can get, but it won't matter because Baltimore is set to win this game tonight outright. They will dominate this Denver team and hold the Ponies to single digits. They will force Jake Plummer into mistakes and capitalize with short drives for scores. Coach Brian Billick likes the way his team puts past week's result behind and immediately begins focusing on the task at hand. Baltimore, which has covered five of its last six Monday night affairs, will punch Denver in the mouth and win this game by a huge margin. At least two touchdowns. Denver will barely score and Baltimore will score in the low-to-mid twenties as this game stays under the posted price, too.
Last December, Baltimore came to the Mile High City and fell 12-10 to a Denver team that ultimately finished with the conference's best record. The Baltimore defense played great as usual and the special teams did their share in making plays to give the team a chance to win. But it was the Baltimore offense, no really, it was the Baltimore quarterback, Kyle Boller, who didn't do his part that day. The team had four turnovers, three from Boller (two picks, fumble) and it was the last straw in Boller's shot to show he could lead the team. So Steve McNair came and with him a sense of calm, leadership and poise that this team really needed. They've won all four games, but their offensive numbers aren't real great, nor much different from last year's.
McNair won't make mistakes (I can't say with confidence the same of Plummer) and he'll give his team a chance to win. He knows that it is the Baltimore defense that will lead this team through the season. But Baltimore's offense will only get better. They have some good wide receivers and a change this week along the offensive line (guard Jason Brown in for the injured Edwin Mulitalo) should gain the line quickness and strength. Baltimore hasn't gotten the running game cranked up and and could do so tonight as Denver has had some backs (KC's Larry Johnson and Steven Jackson) run for better than 100 versus. Jamal Lewis is due and he'll provide some clock-winding runs for first downs tonight. At least one score, as well.
Ray Lewis and Ed Reed have both been past league defensive players of the year, but linebacker Bart Scott has been the beast among beasts this season. This aggressive, up-field defense has picked off a league-high eight passes and recovered three fumbles (Denver has had just one game where it produced more than one turnover) and tops the league in rushing yards allowed (63.3 ypg) and sacks (17). They don't give up much. Denver's offense has some talent and will find moments of success tonight as Plummer likes to take chances. But he'll get greedy or just not play smart and Baltimore will force him into mistakes. Plummer doesn't like facing Baltimore.
These teams know each other and don't like each other. In the five previous meetings, including last December's defensive standoff, Baltimore is 4-1 SU and 5-0 ATS against the Ponies. They are the better team now even more so with McNair bringing a claming influence. They know they can win. They are the more physical football team and they will win this game handily by punishing Denver with defense while the Baltimore offense has its best game of the season. Baltimore in an outright rout!