Thank God football is back!! Now, before anyone goes and empties the 401k on this pick, let's keep in mind that there have been WHOLESALE personnel changes at the very core of the Ravens . For me or anyone else to predict how this new group with new leadership will react to and overcome adversities in a game situation would be a pure guess at best.
First, let me say that personnel wise, I firmly believe that the Ravens are a BETTER TEAM in 2013 then they were in 2012. They have replaced some old (Lewis, Birk, Reed, Pollard), and one dimensional (Kruger, Boulden) players and replaced them with younger, faster players (Dumervil, Huff, Spears, Canty) and a very good Draft (Elam, Arther Brown, Brandon Williams - love this guy). The Ravens also return their shutdown corner in Ladarius Webb, who was injured all of 2012 and get a full season of a lean, mean T-Sizzle.
The Ravens are a playoff team!! I am looking at an 11-5 season as they face a mediocre division and conference. As this season goes on, as this team gels together, the better they will become. I am looking at a 4-3 first half (before the bye week) and 7-2 to finish out the season.
BUT......
Asking this team to play its first game together as a team on the road at arguably the best team in the AFC, who is chomping at the bit for revenge with the most dangerous quarterback in the NFL when he has time to prepare for you.....Well, that may be asking a bit too much.
Peyton Manning is a surgical operator when he has 2 weeks or more to prepare for you. Last year a week 1 beat-down of the Steelers 31-19 and a 34-14 pasting of the Saints the week after their bye.
With the Colts, Manning went 8-2 on opening days and games after bye weeks in his last 5 years there. His most recent loss was against Houston on opening day 2010 om what amounted to Arian Foster's coming out party as he ran for an incredible 231 yards after being on the practice squad for most of 2009.
The Ravens and Broncos may very well square off again in this years' postseason. If and when they do, they will be 2 different teams then what you will see Thursday.
The Ravens biggest obstacle will be how to play without Dennis Pitta. That to me is the biggest loss Baltimore has suffered. He has been Flacco's crutch, his go to guy. Before him, Flacco had Heap. Joe Cool will have to find a way to live without a big Tight End with great hands. Dallas Clark should be an adequate fill in, but the word is he is having big problems learning the play book. So, give him a couple weeks to be up to speed. Flacco is the king of the check-down, and his training wheels have just been taken off. The answer will come, but not at Denver and not in week 1.
I hope I'm wrong, but I just don't see the Ravens going into Denver and winning this game. It will be a good game. Ravens fans will see the signs, a rebirth, the beginnings of something great. They are reloaded and ready for a repeat run. However, getting this team to gel together in week1 against an opponent like Denver in their house, would take something mighty special, a herculean effort and a whole lot of good bounces to go their way. It Broncos by double digits.
I also see a low scoring first half. The first half O/U is 24.5 In the last 13 weeks of the regular season in 2012, NO BRONCO game went over 24 points!!! Add to that a pumped up Ravens defense to start the game along with a slow starting Ravens offense that has simply not gelled together yet. I like the under in the 1st half.
Prediction: Broncos 27 Ravens 16 Final
(Broncos 13 Ravens 6 1st half)
Play 1: Broncos -7
Play 2: Under 24.5 First Half
Hold your heads up fellow Ravens fans, this WILL be a good season. Week 1 will just be some growing pains
