Yesterday marked the first time I ever spurned watching a Redskins game for a Ravens game and it was well worth it. A good friend of mine who is one of the few Ravens fans in this area decided that it was time to convert me over to their side after seeing the futile attempts of football by the Redskins. Although I showed unwavering loyalty despite my hatred for the person who owns the Redskins, he still continued to woo me over to Baltimore's team. Since I wasn't in the mood seeing my preseason Super Bowl pick, the Atlanta Falcons methodically demolish my favorite team, I figured why the hell not let's watch the Bengals vs the Ravens.
I come over there and saw my pal and his dad watch the game. Already I was a little alarmed as I saw not quite the It's Always Sunny in Baltimore viewpoint that they both had. Apparently the Ravens' defense was not quite their usual self as Carson Palmer was picking apart the defense with short intermediate passes. Ocho Cinco made a couple spectacular grabs and the Ravens were hurt by many penalties that helped continue the Bengals' drive. In my mind Cincy is and will be the NFL's version of the Iowa Hawkeyes always living in danger but not today. It's always a fact that former employees always come to play and Marvin Lewis made sure that the Bengals didn't get too comfortable even into the 2nd half.
As the game went on I saw something a little startling. My friend was always the realist in every single sporting event or real life event and pretty much everything. Except for this game. He continued to be optimistic even in the final minute. LOL kind of reminded me of myself during Gibbs' stretch of coaching this decade.
All in all, a great day for me as he couldn't continue to bash the Skins anymore, well at least on that day. The highlight of that game was when Fabian Washington broke Chris Henry's arm on accident. And Baltimore fans might want the greatest Raven of all time back after all seeing as Steven Haushka missed his second big kick of the season. Of course he will redeem himself next Monday Night against the woeful Cleveland Browns via garbage time XPs and FGs. That is if he lasts the season.
My take on the Ravens: they win the games they are supposed to win especially at home, empowering the fans thinking that it is last year's team all over again. But they will lose the road games they are supposed to lose on the road. The Steelers game at Baltimore will definitely be a toss up and I see the Steelers win that win but it could be anybody's guess. I think they make it to the playoffs. They will definitely go at least 9-7 with a 50/50 chance at 10-6 going through as a wildcard. They win their wildcard game. Maybe they win the divisional game but I doubt it and they certainly won't go to the Super Bowl. Like it or not this is a one and done team in the playoffs unless the Ravens recapture their old glory again. Ray Ray is getting old and Joe Flacco isn't the big time QB that fans in Baltimore think he is quite yet.
