I want to start off by saying that I absolutely hate this game. I have bounced back and forth all week on which way to go. The Chargers are playing absolute crap football and the Ravens are playing absolute crap offense on the road. So who will take the biggest crap?
I am quite confident that this will be a very close game. There will be no blowout. The Chargers took the Ravens for a skull drag last year because they had big receivers who could get separation at will. That played right into the Ravens weakness on defense.
On paper the Ravens are a MUCH better team than the Chargers. They also were much better last year.
So what to look at? How do the Ravens do the week after an emotional victory against the Steelers? Last year they beat the Steelers twice and lost the very next week on the road to 2 very weak teams (Seattle and Tennessee). In 2010, The Ravens beat the Broncos at home after a Steeler win and they beat the Texans in Houston in O/T after a loss to the Steelers. In 2009, They won after a loss to Pitt and lost after a win to Pitt. In 2008, The Ravens were swept by Pitt and split the 2 games the following weeks. The Ravens are 1-3 the following week after a win vs the Steelers (Harbaugh/Flacco ERA)
The Chargers have only beaten the Chiefs in the past 7 weeks. They have have allowed 30+ points in the last 4 "non-Chief /non-Browns" games. San Diego's defense is horrible, and so is the Ravens "away" offense. The Charger's offense is improving, but, so is the Raven's defense.
I am making my pick based on 3 factors. 1) Turnovers. San Diego has coughed up the ball 16 TIMES IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS! Compare to the Ravens 5 turnovers in that same period. Takeaways? San Diego 10, Ravens 13 in the past 6 weeks. 2) Intangibles. The Ravens are finding ways to win ugly. They just might be the ugliest 8-2 team in NFL history. The Chargers, well...1-5 last 6 games compared to 6-1 last 7 for Baltimore. 3) Revenge: When I listened to all the player shows this week, the reoccurring theme was that the players wanted to redeem themselves for the embarrassment last year. They are taking last year's loss personally, and sometimes, that can be enough.
Prediction: Baltimore 24 San Diego 23
Play: Ravens PK
**and I hate it**
My season record on Ravens games: 10-0
This may be the highest hurdle yet.
REST OF TODAY'S NFL SELECTIONS UP BY NOON SUNDAY (32-11 on the year in NFL) (May have a BIGG play)
Last edited:
