It’s time for our weekly segment of Buy or Sell brought to you by Glen Burnie Motorsports. Each week, we pick three topics and let you know if we’re agreeing (buying) or disagreeing (selling) with the statement. Then, you vote and tell us what you think.
THE RAVENS WILL GET STEAMROLLED AGAIN
Last Sunday against New England, the Ravens rolled out a turd onto the field at M&T Bank Stadium the likes of which we’ve seldom – if ever – seen during their time in Baltimore. Certainly, under the current regime of John Harbaugh, Ravens fans had never been embarrassed like that while watching a football game. Fortunately, the team has a chance to rebound and possibly even prolong their season if they can get a win in Cincinnati against the AFC North champions and receive just a little help around the league.
So will they bounce back and “Play Like Ravens?” Or will they mail another one in?
SELL: This has always been a team that plays best when their backs are against the wall, when everyone is counting them out. Last week, EVERYONE was picking them to beat the Patriots – that alone had many purple and black faithful nervous. Whatever it is that makes the Ravens struggle as favorites remains a concern. However, that’s not the case this week. The Bengals are six-point favorites, and everyone is picking them to win. I’ll be shocked if we see a “performance” like the one we watched last week, even on the road.
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THE RAVENS WILL HOLD A.J. GREEN IN CHECK
With 94 receptions for 1365 yards and 10 touchdowns through 15 games, Bengals wideout A.J. Green is once again shining in this, his third season. He already has a career-high in yards, and is just four receptions and two scores shy of setting new marks in those categories. He’s an absolute monster; there’s no denying that. In fact, the AFC North has suddenly become a breeding ground for beastly wide receivers – Green is currently fourth in the NFL in receiving yards; ahead of him are Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown (third), Detroit’s Calvin Johnson (second), and Cleveland’s Josh Gordon (first). The Ravens secondary is going to continue to have their hands full in the coming years.
But will Green go off today?
BUY: The Ravens usually do a good job against Green, and against the opponent’s top WR threat in general. Lardarius Webb and Jimmy Smith are both having strong years, and they’ve handled Green in the past. Though he had 151 yards the last time these teams met, 51 of those came – as we all remember – on the hail mary attempt at the end of regulation. He had another nine of those in overtime. So if not for the hail mary, he’d have had a 91-yard day. Even that would have been his best-ever game against the Ravens. Though he’s far from the only weapon the Ravens have to worry about today, I see another pedestrian game for green against Baltimore.
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THE RAVENS WILL BE CLEANING OUT THEIR LOCKERS THIS WEEK
The clearest path for the Ravens to earn their sixth-consecutive playoff appearance is to beat the Bengals and have either Miami or San Diego lose. Both of those squads are playing at home, while the Chargers have the added bonus of going up against a Kansas City squad that has nothing to play for. While being humiliated a week ago, the Ravens looked like anything but a team that deserves to go to the postseason. The alternative is for John Harbaugh’s 53 “Mighty Men” to head to Owings Mills this week and clean out their lockers without winning a game in January for the first time in his tenure.
So will the Ravens be breaking out the trash bags Monday?
SELL: This is probably a homer pick, and that’s fine with me, as I’m an unabashed Ravens homer. Though they frustrate me to no end at times, they’ve pleasantly surprised me enough through the years to earn the benefit of the doubt in my mind pretty much every week. I think Rex Ryan’s Jets go to Miami and beat the Dolphins, the Ravens squeak by the Bengals, and we’ll be gearing up for another road playoff game for the next seven days.
(And if I’m wrong, it certainly won’t be the first time, nor the last – we’ll be BUYing or SELLing ways to improve the team all offseason.)
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Buy/Sell is brought to you by Glen Burnie Motorsports. This winter, head to Glen Burnie Motorsports if you are looking to buy or sell your ATV. With hundreds of Yamaha products in stock, this is surely a place you’d want to visit. Call 855.253.5253, visit their website or Facebook page for more information. “Enjoy The Ride.”
