Can the Ravens improve to 2-0? RSR staff give their predictions for this week’s game:
Tony Lombardi
The Ravens have an opportunity to start the season 2-0 and recent history shows when teams do that they go to the playoffs about 58% of the time. The jump start is particularly important for John Harbaugh & Co. because 3 of their last 4 opponents are potential Super Bowl 51 participants according to one of the best prediction sites, namely the New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals.
Losing a divisional game to a down-trodden team forced to go to their backup QB, despite it only being Week 2, doesn’t bode well for the long haul.
Not to worry! Ain’t happening!
It’s hard to believe that it was 13 years ago to the week when Jamal Lewis shredded the Browns defense for 295 yards. This time around it will be a heroic performance from the Ravens signal caller. Joe Flacco will throw for over 400 yards and 4 TD’s. The performance will be reminiscent of his effort back in 2014 against Tampa when he threw for 5 TD’s in the first 17 minutes.
Other Bold Predictions:
– Dennis Pitta scores a TD on the same field where his career nearly ended
– Matt Judon gets a strip sack that is scooped up by CJ Mosley for a score
– Terrence West exacts revenge on his former mates averaging 5.5 YPC
– Ravens win 38-17
Brian Bower
The Ravens will have their hands full going against Hue Jackson and QB Josh McCown but pull out a squeaker on a late Justin Tucker 40 yard FG. Joe Flacco passes for just 180 yards but tosses two touchdowns including one to Breshad Perriman. Terrence West, going against his former team adds two rushing touchdowns and goes for 100-plus yards.
On defense, McCown tests the newly shaped secondary early and often. While McCown throws for 250 yards and two touchdowns, Lardarius Webb gets his first interception of the young season with Terrell Suggs forcing a fumble.
Ravens 31, Browns 28
Ken McKusick
Want to understand frustration as a football fan? Go read the Browns’ message boards. A significant portion of their fan base is already treating this season like a sacrifice bunt attempt. A common stated concern this season is whether their front office has the quarterback evaluation skills to make use of the #1 draft pick.
That said, Josh McCown couldn’t care less what the fans think and turns in another brave performance against the Ravens’ improved defense. It’s just not enough this time.
For the Ravens:
– Kamalei Correa sees his first playing time on defense
– The Ravens get their first turnover of the season sometime in the first 3 quarters and add a late interception
– The Ravens get the run game working with over 140 total rushing yards despite effective penetration from Danny Shelton
– The passing game remains effective with deep balls and the line provides significantly more time and space than versus the Bills
– The Browns are not effective running the football, so they turn to the pass early in this one.
– The Ravens pass rush provides pressure that is effective enough to win.
Ravens 23-13
Derek Arnold
I feel a lot less confident about our squad after watching the New York Jets (who lost to Cincinnati) pretty much have their way with the Bills IN Buffalo. Were it not for a couple long touchdowns on plays Tyrod Taylor extended (of course, the Ravens get credit for not allowing those type of plays), it would have been a Gang Green blowout last night. That said, I’ll choose to believe that the offense we saw from the Ravens in the first half last week will return, and that Josh McCown won’t recognize this defense compared to the one he had so much success against last year.
Still, I’m afraid we’re in for a nail-biter. That’s Ravens football, right?
Ravens 23 Browns 21.
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Adam Bonaccorsi
I’m not buying a ticket for the Josh McCown hype train this week. Why? Because the defense that JMC shredded last season is drastically different from the one he’s facing on Sunday.
The ’16 Ravens secondary won’t be relying on the likes of Kyle Arrington, Kendrick Lewis, or Will Hill to get picked apart. McCown also won’t have LB Daryl Smith to get burned on check downs, or Jason Babin to extend 2 eventual scoring drives with stupid penalties on 3rd down. Then there was the Barnidge-bobble-embrassment TD that pumped JMC’s stats too…
On the flip side, the Ravens lost Flacco & Forsett prior to the 2nd meeting last year, while Suggs and Smith Sr. missed both games. The wideout set of Smith Sr-Wallace-Perriman (3 WR’s they never saw last year) will be drastically better than the Aiken-Butler-Givens trio the Browns saw from Baltimore last season, and with those 2 big downfield threats having a big day, I see this game getting lopsided. FAST.
BAL- 34
CLE- 17
Flacco breaks 300 yards with 2 passing TD’s, while Terrance West punches one in to a chorus of boos (possibly a shower of booze as well).
On the defensive side of the ball, I foresee a pick-6 coming from Lardarius Webb (don’t @ me, bro), and a second pick by Jimmy Smith. Matt Judon spends his afternoon hanging out with McCown in the backfield, recording 2 sacks, 1 of the strip-sack variety.
In the end, the Ravens get their 2nd win of the season in Week 2- something that took 8 weeks last season.
Mike Fast
Joe Flacco throws for 400 yards and 3 TD–one of which goes to Breshad Perriman.
Matt Judon sacks McCown twice, and finishes with 2.5 TFL.
Jimmy Smith and Eric Weddle record one interception each.
Ravens roll, 34-10.
Ryan Jones
When it was announced that Josh McCown would be starting for the Browns this week a lot of Ravens fans had flashbacks to Week 5 of last season. McCown absolutely torched the Ravens. It was at that point most of us knew 2015 was a lost cause. But this defense looks much better a year later.
Last week was a small sample against what looks like a bad Bills team, but it was impressive nonetheless. The biggest reason for that being Shareece Wright and Eric Weddle, two players who weren’t on the team for that first meeting last season. McCown will still have some success but he won’t throw for even half of the 457 yards he did at M&T Bank Stadium in 2015.
The offense will be better but not by much. The Ravens have traditionally had success running the ball against the Browns and that should be the game plan this week. Ravens running backs combine for 150 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens win another ugly one 17-14.
Joe Polek
Last October McCown was 36-for-51 for 457 yards and two touchdowns in their win against the Ravens. McCown has always been one of the top backup quarterbacks in the NFL. Frankly, he is a better QB than a few of the starting QBs in the league. He will make this game tougher than if RGIII was starting.
However, Shereece Wright continues playing well has he gets an INT. Justin Forsett breaks through the hole and takes a long run to the house. Flacco stays upright and continues to spread the ball around the field, but this time Steve Smith Sr. plays more of a role.
McCown starting and the Ravens’ ugly win last week actually has some national “experts” picking the Browns to win this week. But for me, there are two picks that I make every week, no matter what… Patriots to win, and the Browns to lose.
Ravens win 24-17.
Cole Jackson
Ravens win in a nailbiter 24-23.
Touchdowns: Terrance West goal line run, Joe Flacco to Dennis Pitta in the red zone, and a 40+ yard TD to Breshad Perriman. Flacco remains solid finishing with 250+, 2 TD’s and 0 INT’s.
Justin Tucker’s game-winning FG is a 40+ yard kick in the final minute.
Disappointing performance from the Ravens defense after looking good last week. They will allow 400+ yards to the Browns, including 320 from McCown. However, Weddle gets his first INT in the process.
