Week 7: Saints @ Ravens

This is a must win game. The Bengals will be facing a high flying 5-1 Chiefs who only lost to Brady & Co. The Ravens have had Brees' number in the past and their defense ranks among the worst allowing 140 points this season. Despite that they're 3rd in in the league in scoring (180) and are 4-1 and leading their division.

As I mentioned in the the Titans thread (post-game) our offense is efficient, but seems to lack either the ability or the willingness to run up a score. They'll need to do that here with the Saints as it will be have to a shoot out. Their run defense (if you can believe it) is ranked 1st in the league (Ravens are 3rd by comparison), but their pass defense is 30th allowing nearly 300 yards per game. Right now Joe actually has more yards and completions than Brees YTD. With our rushing attack ranked 21st averaging just 99 yards per game, Joe is going to need to carry this team unless some ex-machina (Gus Edwards??) can punch holes in their wall. I'm not sure why we haven't seen Ricard out front blocking as much this year when they so desperately need a FB blocking ahead of a relatively weak OL. Unless something dramatic changes in the run game, it's going to be a QB duel that wins this match.

The defense needs to just keep on being themselves - unless your name is Matt Judon. If you're Matt Judon then be some other player non-penalty making player! We don't need a quasi-Vontaze Burfict. Brees has only been sacked 8 times, but Mariota was sacked only 6 heading into last Sunday. The teams is on pace to tie the single season team sack record (Bears 72, 1984) with 26 in 6 games. If they can get the same kind of pressure on Brees as Mariota (pressure on 53% of his drop backs) then this could be another solid win though its extremely unlikely they hold him scoreless.

Though their backfield features Alvin Kamara and mark Ingram, the Saints could find some success in the short pass with various screen plays. Baltimore has been susceptible to these and Brees is a master especially with two great receiving RBs at his disposal.

The Ravens will be at home and their defense will be flying high off that last win. They have a good history against New Orleans even when playing their best. This should be a shoot out.

Ravens 29 - Saints 23.

 

I recalled that I never saw Brees beat the Ravens in his career. I was rewarded by seeing that sports writers also realized that as well. Brees never has beaten the Ravens in his career over 3 matches dating back to 2006.

Best part is that they're the only team he hasn't beaten in his career. To do so would make him only the 3rd QB to beat all 32 NFL teams. The last time the Saints beat Baltimore was Dec 2002 and they're just 1-5 against us going back to 1996.

Here's hoping that this will be the last time he plays Baltimore and send him home with a 4th loss. He'll be 43 and hopefully retired by then with no wins against Baltimore an unalterable regret.

 

This game just got harder. Both James Hurst and Marlon Humphrey are inactive today. Likely to have Bozeman AND Brown on the line

 

And it would seem we only have one backup o-lineman today......just one. That's crazy

 

Better not lose 2 of them then. They'll probably have Lamar Jackson in there.

 

Anyone have a link to a working stream?

 

http://liveball.tv/nfl-live-stream/

 

http://www.jokerlivestream.com/streamvideo10/baltimore-ravens-live-streaming-4757666.html

 

hubris in action right here.

 

Defense not looking good. Can't get off the field on 3rd or 4th down. Had a 3 & out, but that fake punt screwed them up.

 

that is a fumble

 

And that is a fumble and defensive recovery. Stripped it right out of his hands on the way down.

 

Is Grassu active?

 

wow. this continues to be the worst officiated sport. How do you fuck up on replays? you can see he doesnt have possession. touching his body is not fucking possession.

2k

 

NICE!!!!!!

Redemption!

And no points for the Saints!

 

justice

 

That's got to be 15-20 batted pass for Flacco this year. What's up with that?

 

I still don't get it. They have a 300 lb FB. USE HIM!

 

Yes. And he was in at LG when Bozeman went down. Not sure if Bozeman came back, but if he didn't, we have no other backup lineman.

3-0 is a decent start. Defense looking good overall, 4th downs not withstanding

 

That's what I've been saying since Week 3! So frustrating when even as a fan we see that the run game needs that support. And we know it works!