Let's get right to the point. This is a season defining game for the Ravens. Sitting at 3-4 and coming off of a bye, the Ravens can ill afford to fall to 3-5. The Bengals lost Thursday night and a Ravens win can place them just 1 and a half games behind Cincinnati for 1st place with a home game on the horizon against the Bengals next week.
Bernard Piece put this game in proper perspective. "Every game is a must-win game to me, honestly. But in the eyes of everybody and the players, I could say this is a must-win game."
The Ravens, who have been decimated by injuries all year, finally got a chance to heal up. The Ravens had all but one player (Oher) on the active roster participate in practice Wednesday.?This will be the healthiest we?ve been,? Head Coach John Harbaugh said on Thursday.
The team also sent Marcus Canty and Micheal Huff packing, a week after getting rid of dead weight (pun intended) by trading Bryan McKinney. These 3 didn't play like Ravens. Good moves in my opinion
During the 2 week break, the Ravens "reorganized their offensive coaching command. No one got fired or demoted, but it is clear that Juan Castillo, the Ravens run game coordinator, will be taking on a much less active roll in the offensive line scheme and game plan. He was brought in at the beginning of last January to help with the post season run. After a Superbowl win, Harbaugh hired on his old Philadelphia Eagles "buddy" to full time in the 2013 season, He completely changed the offensive blocking scheme to a "zone blocking" which compensates for the lack of footwork of the linemen, but takes several weeks to acclimate the scheme properly. Castillo promised the O Line to "stick with this and I promise that by week 6 or 7, we will be a dominate force...Promise unfulfilled. Harbaugh, at the bequest of the players, including the most outspoken man in this situation, Ray Rice, has decided to go back to a more conventional approach. In my humble opinion, it can't be worse than what we have seen the first 7 weeks.
With all the problems, poor coaching decisions and injuries, the Ravens (outside of the 2nd half of week 1) have played toe to toe with everyone. Their last 3 losses have been by 3 points or less and all 3 losses can be pointed at a horrible coaching call (crazy onside kicks, running on 4th and 1 at the goal in a 3-0 game), trying to cover 73 yards in :27 seconds before the half, etc).
To me, this game is the turning point of the Ravens season. Will they come together, play smart and once again take care of the Browns setting up a showdown with the Bengals next week? Or. will the frustration of under achievement continue, creating a downward spiral that cannot be pulled up from.
I am taking the Ravens this week based on 3 main points.
1) They have not lost to the Browns in the Flacco / Harbaugh era
2) Ravens are 5-0 coming of the bye weeks during this era
3) This is an absolute must win for Baltimore
Yes, its also a must win for the Browns. They have played much improved this year. Siting at 3-5 a win pulls them to within 2 games of Cincinnati and n sole possession of 2nd place. This would create an almost frenzied atmosphere within the Cleveland fan base. However, the Browns Quarterback merry-go-round does not help their cause. Jason Campbell takes reigns today. He can be spectacular or down right dreadful (which is why he is no longer in Oakland). The Ravens, lead by T-Sizzle, will pressure him hard.
I will take my chances here with the team that have 5 straight playoff seasons, a Superbowl ring and has a track history of overcoming adversity.
Play: Ravens -2
Prediction: Ravens 23 Browns 17
