This season, we’re going to keep track of how all of our writers are doing with predictions so far this year. When judging who had the best prediction the week before, the most important measure will be the correct winner, followed by point differential (if everyone picked the wrong team, such as last week, I will still consider this), followed by total points, followed by stats predictions. – Tyler Lombardi
Here are our staff picks for this week.
Brian Bower
The Ravens get their first win of the season by a score of 28-24 by terrorizing Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. Dean Pees turns Jason Babin loose and he gets two sacks while Dumervil comes up empty again this week.
Joe Flacco hooks up with Maxx Williams for his first NFL career touchdown while Justin Forsett runs for two scores.
Last week’s prediction: 28-14 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Mike Fast
The Bengals score first and put more pressure on the Ravens and their fans. But in the fourth quarter, after trading scores all day, the Ravens pull ahead for good with a touchdown from Kamar Aiken. Justin Tucker hits a 40-yard field goal just before the two-minute warning, and the Ravens get their first win of the season (sealed by a C.J. Mosley interception), 24-20.
Last week’s prediction: 34-10 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Tony Lombardi
The Ravens really do have their backs up against the wall and oftentimes that brings out the best in them. A loss on Sunday AT HOME would be disastrous against a divisional rival given their (0-2) start. An (0-3) start for all intents and purposes would dash any hopes for a 7th playoff appearance in the team’s 8 seasons under John Harbaugh.
Let’s not forget that since the current NFL playoff format was established in 1990 only 3 teams have made it to the postseason after an (0-3) start – the ’92 Chargers, ’95 Lions and the ’98 Bills. A loss would leave us all hoping that the Ravens would be the fourth and the first in 17 seasons to do so. Clearly that’s a position in the standings to avoid.
To improve to (1-2) the Ravens need to start fast AND THEY WILL. Joe Flacco will come out in the no huddle with a hot hand and carve up the Bengals defense for a score on the team’s first possession going 80 yards on 9 plays capped by a TD toss to Michael Campanaro.
After their initial success the offense will struggle for much of the day but muster up another 13 points on their way to a 20-16 win as Dean Pees’ defense FINALLY gets a stop on the Bengals last possession while in the Ravens red zone.
And then we’ll all sit back and say, “See what press coverage can do?”
Last week’s prediction: 26-9 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Adam Bonaccorsi
The stadium will be filled with cautious optimism as the team comes out of the tunnel, but by the 4th quarter, relief sets in as the Ravens pull away with a 24-17 win over the Bengals, causing those obnoxious Bengals fans that sit behind me to finally stop yapping.
Dean Pees doesn’t fully abandon the 3-man rush, but finally decides to mix it up a bit more, resulting in 2 turnovers for the defense and Jason Babin’s 1st career sack as a Raven. On offense, Justin Forsett finally gets it in gear as he breaks the 100yd mark (total yards), and Crockett Gillmore once again finds the endzone.
The game will end on an Andy Dalton heave down the sideline to AJ Green, but unlike his last horseshoe-up-the-you-know-where game winning score in Baltimore, he doesn’t have Chykie Brown covering him. Pass gets knocked down. Game over.
Last week’s prediction: 31-13 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Drew Forrester
I called for a blowout in Oakland and it didn’t materialize. Not even close, in fact. So, maybe it’s time for me to scale back on my enthusiasm for a week or two. Nahhhhhh…
I’m sticking with this theme: The Ravens aren’t starting the season 0-3. I don’t think they’re better than Bengals, but they’re not losing on Sunday because — well, because they’re not starting the season 0-3. If the Baltimore area gets morning/afternoon showers as the forecast calls for, that probably helps John Harbaugh’s team even more. Either way, I think the Ravens are going to try and run the ball a lot on Sunday and figure out a way to get both Juszczyk and Buck Allen involved in the short passing game, which might eventually open up some breathing room for Flacco to utilize Crockett Gilmore.
For some reason — probably because I like going to the well time and time again — I think the Ravens are going to win this one easily. Baltimore goes up early 10-0, leads 13-7 at the half, 16-7 after three and then scores a 4th quarter TD to win 23-7.
Last week’s prediction: 38-16 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Ryan Jones
There seems to be a lot of cautious optimism surrounding the Ravens this week. Sure they’re 0-2 and the Bengals are 2-0, but the Ravens are finally playing a home game and there’s no way they can start 0-3 right? Call me Debbie Downer but I’m not buying it.
The Bengals have done a lot of things well the first couple of weeks, and two that will impact this game is their ability to shut down a teams top receiver and tight end. If I’m Marvin Lewis I’m sticking to that blueprint, because outside of Crockett Gillmore and Steve Smith the Ravens don’t have anyone on offense who even makes me a little bit nervous.
I see this game playing out a lot like the Denver game. A frustrating day on the offensive side of the ball with Flacco under duress all day and the Ravens struggling to move the ball on the ground. I think it’s close but I think Flacco gets picked twice as he continues throwing off his back foot, and the second pick seals the game for Cincy in a low scoring affair. 20-17 Bengals and the Ravens start 0-3 for the first time in franchise history.
Last week’s prediction: 24-14 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Joe Polek
The Ravens need this game. With the first two games being on the road they will come home to a noisy crowd and one of the best home field advantages in all of football. That noise will dramatically help energize the Ravens defense. Flacco will be able to successfully stretch the field and the run game will have some holes to work with. Justin Tucker will be key. The Ravens will hold on for a 27-24 victory.
Last week’s prediction: 34-13 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Kyle Rate
The Ravens enter a rare must-win Week 3 against a tough divisional foe. Both the offense and defense improve from their west coast performances, but it still won’t be enough.
Cincinnati, having watched Derek Carr shred the Baltimore pass defense, will draw up a gameplan that sees Andy Dalton getting rid of the ball quickly, and the Ravens will fail to record a single sack.
An interception by Jimmy Smith is matched by Adam Jones, and a rushing touchdown by Forsett is doubled by two scores from Jeremy Hill who regains his coaches’ trust. This one is a bit uglier than people expect, which favors the home team, but the Ravens still can’t match the Bengals’ firepower.
Cincinnati wins 20-13.
Last week’s prediction: 24-0 Ravens (0-1 on season)
Tyler Lombardi
The Ravens need to come out of this next stretch of 3 games with at least 2 wins. Preferably, the wins would come against the Steelers and Bengals, because they’re the bigger threats. Unfortunately, they will drop one of the two. I have been jumping back and forth, trying to decide which one they lose. Home field advantage isn’t as important when it comes to divisional games, so I have lowered how heavily I weight that.
What it comes down to will be one big play. In the past two match-ups, the visiting team has had a long touchdown toward the end of the game. Unfortunately, that play was called back for offensive pass interference for the Ravens. In this game, it will be the road team that makes the big play again. This time, instead of A.J. Green, it will be Marvin Jones who makes the big play to put the Bengals in field goal range at the end of the game. Ravens lose by the score of 22-19.
Last week’s prediction: More than 30 to less than 20 Ravens. I wasn’t very specific. (0-1 on season)
