Rick Stewart/Getty Images
Buffalo Bills (Away)
All-time record against
3-2 (3-1 home, 0-1 away)
All-time score against
100-79
Most recent meeting
Week 7, 2010 season (Overtime win in Baltimore, 37-34)
Prediction
Ravens 26, Bills 16
Only seven teams had worse records than the Bills did (6-10) in 2012. Only seven teams had worse point differentials than the Bills did (-91) in 2012. Only twice in the entire season did quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick throw for 250 yards.
Only in Weeks 2 and 3 (Kansas City, at Cleveland) did the Bills have a winning “streak.”
As you can tell, Buffalo is not a very good team right now. Especially considering they just hired a new head coach (Doug Marrone, formerly the head coach at Syracuse), it’s not a stretch to say the Ravens should have their way with the Bills in this game.
Depending on when the game is, the weather could be a big factor, as Buffalo is frequented by high winds and freezing temperatures.
Even so, there is a large discrepancy of talent and experience between these two teams. It should be at least a double-digit win for Baltimore.
Miami Dolphins (Awary)
All-time record against
3-5 (2-1 home, 1-4 away)
All-time score against
131-146
Most recent meeting
Week 9, 2010 season (Win in Baltimore, 26-10)
Prediction
Ravens 28, Dolphins 14
Despite a 7-9 record, the Dolphins finished ninth in the final AFC Playoff Standings. With limited playmakers and being led by their first-year head coach Joe Philbin and first-year quarterback (Ryan Tannehill, eight overall pick), Miami did an admirable job with what they had to work with in 2012.
Like Buffalo, Miami is just not ready to compete with the “big boys” of the NFL. They’re closer to doing so than Buffalo is, but whoever saw Dolphins games saw too many mistakes.
This could definitely be a competitive game. With the likes of Cameron Wake, who racked up 15.0 sacks in 2012, rushing the passer, the Dolphins will have a shot to disrupt the Ravens’ offense.
Overall, Baltimore is a better team and it should show when these two play next year in Miami.
Courtesy: Rick Stewart/Getty Images
New York Jets (Home)
All-time record against
7-1 (4-0 home, 3-1 away)
All-time score against
171-108
Most recent meeting
Week 4, 2011 season (Win in Baltimore, 34-17)
Prediction
Ravens 30, Jets 6
On the surface, this looks like one of the easier games for Baltimore next season.
Even if Mark Sanchez is the Jets‘ quarterback, he’s proven to be more of a liability than a playmaker. Their offensive line is a mess and New York had the 20th-ranked scoring defense in the league last season.
There is really no position where the Jets are better than the Ravens. Baltimore’s coaching staff and front office is clearly better and more effective than New York’s (draft history, free agent signings, etc.).
Considering this will be a road game for the Jets, expect them to score maybe 14 points. The Ravens should roll in this one.
Courtesy: Sports Illustrated/CNN
New England Patriots (Home)
All-time record against
1-6 (1-2 home, 0-4 away)
All-time score against
140-197
Most recent meeting
Week 3, 2012 season (Win in Baltimore, 31-30)
Prediction
Ravens 30, Patriots 33
Week 3 of the 2012 season marked the first time the Ravens had ever beaten the Patriots in the regular season.
If the Ravens are to win again in 2013, they’ll have to be sharp. The Patriots are beatable but, if they lose, it won’t be by much.
In their last nine losses (dating back to 2010, playoffs included), the Patriots have only lost by an average score of 4.1 points per game.
No matter how you slice it, Tom Brady is among the all-time greats and it will take all Baltimore has to beat him and his team. This is one of the few games the Ravens will likely not be favored in.
