Courtesy: CBS Sports
Hallelujah, the NFL schedule has been released and the roster looks to be in tact! It’s pretty much a natural reflex for fans to go down the line to mark off the wins and losses, and of course, bitch about back-to-back road games or if the bye week is too early. This is the third year in a row I’ll be checking off wins and losses for my favorite team, the Baltimore Ravens. Last week, I made the schedule for the Ravens as to how I would have liked to have seen it, which you can check out here: https://www.thesportscol.com/
Obviously, the schedule wasn’t exactly like the one I made, but I did get a few things right. In my schedule, I had the Ravens playing at Pittsburgh in the eighth week of the season, with a bye afterwards, and then a game at Cincinnati; move back the Pittsburgh game to the seventh week, and replace Cincinnati with Cleveland, and I nailed that one. I also had two consecutive home games that followed opening night in Denver (I listed the Jets and Bengals instead of the Browns and Texans). Finally, I had the road games against Buffalo and Miami coming back-to-back, which came true, albeit earlier than I predicted.
My track record for this annual column speaks for itself; two years ago, I had 12-4 (12-4 being the actual record), and last year, I had 11-5, with 10-6 being the actual record. So, what do I see for the 2013 season?
Week 1: Baltimore @ Denver (Thursday Night)
First of all, congratulations to the Denver Broncos who are rewarded with hosting the opening Thursday night game that should rightfully belong to the Ravens. No need to cry over spilled milk though, what’s done is done. I guess if you have to start on the road, then why not knockout the hardest road game first? I like the Ravens’ chances here; they can play the disrespect card with Dumervil probably in full “F-You” mode as he’s going back to Denver. Still, Denver is projected to be one of the top teams in the AFC, so I’ll be safe and pick them for this game, but then again, I picked Denver to win the playoff game last year too.
Outcome: Loss (0-1)
Week 2: Baltimore v. Cleveland
I mentioned last week that the Browns always give the Ravens a tough time in Baltimore. Just take a look at the three previous Raven versus Brown games in Baltimore as proof: 24-17, 20-14, 24-16 (all wins for the Ravens). This year might be a little different though; the Ravens will have a mini-bye, possibly following a loss, and not to mention, this will be the home opener for the Ravens (a home opener that SHOULD have been the previous Thursday night). Yeah, that’s going to be more than 70-thousand people unleashing their drunken pent-up anger and emotions. Sorry Cleveland, but you’ve been set-up as the sacrificial lamb.
Outcome: Win (1-1)
Week 3: Baltimore v. Houston
Talk about a huge game early on in the season; this contest could have a lot of implications down the road. The Texans beat the Ravens badly last year in Houston, but luckily, this game will be in Baltimore. Arian Foster is always a tough task, but I’m counting on the Ravens’ run defense to be a lot better than last year with the additions of Canty, Spears, and Mclain. This is going to be a really tough and emotional game with the return of Ed Reed, but I’m giving the edge to the home team.
Outcome: Win (2-1)
Week 4: Baltimore @ Buffalo
I can happily say that I will be making my first appearance at Ralph Wilson stadium this year. Yes, Buffalo will be my annual road game instead of Chicago. Still, I’m very excited for Niagara Falls, casinos, and buffalo wings. As for the game itself? I feel very confident against Tavarvis Jackson or whatever rookie QB the Ravens will be facing.
Outcome: Win (3-1)
Week 5: Baltimore @ Miami
I definitely would have preferred this game to be later on in the season when it’s slightly less humid, but what are you going to do? The Miami Redskins – I mean the Miami Dolphins – bought a lot of big names during the free agency and you can’t blame them; I would try things differently too if I was stuck in mediocrity for years. However, I’m not sure that all the pieces will fit.
Outcome: Win (4-1)
Week 6: Baltimore v. Green Bay
I must admit, I went back and forth on this one quite a few times. The more I think about it though, the more I like the Ravens; Green Bay could be on the decline this year. I know they still have one, if not the best, QB (Aaron Rodgers), but they lack a running game, the o-line sucks, the defense isn’t very good, and they have lost their best receiver. Aaron Rodgers is only one man.
Outcome: Win (5-1)
Week 7: Baltimore @ Pittsburgh
The Ravens have won the past three regular season games at Heinz Field. As much as I’d love to say they’ll make it four, they can’t win in Pittsburgh all the time. This will probably be another 3-point game; it’s almost always a 3-point game with these teams.
Outcome: Loss (5-2)
Week 9: Baltimore @ Cleveland
Wow! Cleveland gets the short end of the stick for the second game too, which is unbelievable. The Ravens are typically very good after a bye week, and the Browns are…well, they’re the Browns. Need I say more?
Outcome: Win (6-2)
Week 10: Baltimore v. Cincinnati
I’ve got to give the Bengals credit; last season, I witnessed something I thought I would never see, and that was the Bengals making the playoffs for two consecutive years. Now, the question is: Can they make it three years? I’m still not so sure; the Bengals are typically a pain-in-the-ass for the Ravens every year. So, for that reason and because I should give the Ravens one loss at home, I’m going for the Bengals.
Outcome: Loss (6-3)
Week 11: Baltimore @ Chicago
The Ravens are in a tough spot here; they’ll be coming off of three straight division games, and going into the dreaded non-conference road game. I can also imagine that Chicago won’t exactly be 70 and sunny on November 17th. I’m seeing one of those ugly, low-scoring games here.
Outcome: Loss (6-4)
Week 12: Baltimore v. New York Jets
This will be the beginning of a rare three game home stand, and what a great way to start with such a disaster-of-a-team in the New York Jets. Not only have the Jets traded their best player (Revis), but there are reports that they could be getting rid of Sanchez, Holmes, and Cromartie after this year. Buck Showalter will have a good laugh when this game is over, and so will I.
Outcome: Win (7-4)
Week 13: Baltimore v. Pittsburgh (Thanksgiving Night)
Never, in a million years, would I have imagined the Ravens hosting a Thanksgiving Night game for the second time in three years, with the opposition being the most hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens will definitely have an advantage here; the Steelers will be coming off a road game in Cleveland only four days prior, while the Ravens could possibly be playing back-ups in the second half of their game against the Jets. The deck is stacked just too much against Pittsburgh in this case.
Outcome: Win (8-4)
Week 14: Baltimore v. Minnesota
There’s no doubt in my mind that the Ravens will sweep this three game home stand. The Vikings were a bit of a fluke last year, and it will show in this upcoming season.
Outcome: Win (9-4)
Week 15: Baltimore @ Detroit (Monday Night)
This could be a fun shootout in the dome. Once again though, it’s the dreaded non-conference road game. The Ravens are definitely better than the Lions, but I don’t know; I see some weird shit going down here, which is typically a standard for the Ravens. This is my official pick for, “Weird-Shit-Game.”
Outcome: Loss (9-5)
Week 16: Baltimore v. New England (Sunday Night)
The NFL is sure loading-up in Week 16, huh? They’re not only loading-up with this game, but with Pittsburgh/Green Bay, Dallas/Washington, and Atlanta/San Francisco. I’m sure that they’re hoping for both the Ravens and Patriots to be good and in the playoff-race, and I think they will be. Something will be on the line here, and I love the Ravens’ chances. The Ravens love playing the Patriots; it’s always been a good match-up for Baltimore, and as a fan, I must say I’ll never get tired of beating the Patriots.
Outcome: Win (10-5)
Week 17: Baltimore @ Cincinnati
This is now the third year in a row that the Ravens will be playing at Cincinnati in Week 17 – real original, guys. Like last season, the possibility of a lay-down game is in play, but I’m thinking that the Ravens will need this game to ascend a seed or two. The Ravens would have beaten the Bengals in Week 17 last year as well – if they had needed that game – and I firmly believe that. Sorry Bengals, no sweep for you.
Outcome: Win (11-5)
There it is! I say 11-5, which is exactly what I pinned for last year, and of course, I was only one away from that. 11-5 is typically good for a division title and number three seed, but this year may be a little different. Can anyone say with absolute confidence that another team in the AFC, besides Denver, is a sure thing for 12 or more wins? I sure can’t; not for New England, not for Houston, not for anyone. Are you ready for this people: “At 11-5, your DEFENDING SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONSSSSSSSSS of the WORLD, number two seed in the AFC.”
