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Posting this now caused I think the line goes up.
Ravens -2' over Chiefs. Not a homer play. I don't think the Chiefs are tough enough either physically or mentally to beat the Ravens. The Chiefs have some nice young players but were also beneficiaries of playing a last place schedule. The had a very soft schedule winning only 2 games against teams with a winning record (Chargers and Jags). Had the Ravens played the same schedule they would be 14-2 and have a 1 or 2 seed. Cassell and the RBs had a very nice year but take a close look at the caliber of defenses they were playing against. The Ravens' defense is a totally different animal. I agree they are not what they used to be but they are still darn good. Their rush defense finished 5th and they were third in scoring defense. Point is I think the Ravens shut down the Chiefs running forcing Cassell to beat them, which I don't think he can do.
This is the first playoff game for most of the players on the Chiefs whereas this is the 3rd year in a row the Ravens are in the playoffs. Flacco and the others have played 5 road playoff games the last 2 years winning 3 of them, so the home field advantage at Arrowhead shouldn't phase them. Ravens know what it takes to win on the road. They were 5-3 on the road this year and have won 16 road games the last 3 years, excluding the 3 playoff wins.
I am also not convinced that all is well with the Chiefs' coaching situation. There were rumors that Weis and Haley don't get along and with Weis leaving for Florida as soon as the game is over it has to be a distraction even though everyone will deny it.
Finally this game is almost identical to the playoff game the Ravens played against Miami following the 2008 season. Miami was 11-5 having won the AFC East that year because Brady got hurt. Miami was coming off a 1-15 record the previous year so just like the Chiefs this year, Miami was the beneficiary of a soft, last place schedule. Miami won 11 games that year by running the ball and not turning it over. That year Chad Pennington finished second in QB rating throwing only 7 interceptions all season. He had a year very similar to the year Matt Cassell had this year. Ravens were a wildcard team that year having finished second to Pitt with an 11-5 record. The Ravens went to Miami and completely shut down Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown who had a total of 53 yards in the game. They dared Pennington to beat them which he couldn't do throwing 4 picks and was sacked 3 times in an easy 27-9 win. Ravens were a 3 point road favorite in that game. Sound familiar? I will post my other wildcard picks in this thread later in the week.
BOL to all this weekend.
Ravens -2' over Chiefs. Not a homer play. I don't think the Chiefs are tough enough either physically or mentally to beat the Ravens. The Chiefs have some nice young players but were also beneficiaries of playing a last place schedule. The had a very soft schedule winning only 2 games against teams with a winning record (Chargers and Jags). Had the Ravens played the same schedule they would be 14-2 and have a 1 or 2 seed. Cassell and the RBs had a very nice year but take a close look at the caliber of defenses they were playing against. The Ravens' defense is a totally different animal. I agree they are not what they used to be but they are still darn good. Their rush defense finished 5th and they were third in scoring defense. Point is I think the Ravens shut down the Chiefs running forcing Cassell to beat them, which I don't think he can do.
This is the first playoff game for most of the players on the Chiefs whereas this is the 3rd year in a row the Ravens are in the playoffs. Flacco and the others have played 5 road playoff games the last 2 years winning 3 of them, so the home field advantage at Arrowhead shouldn't phase them. Ravens know what it takes to win on the road. They were 5-3 on the road this year and have won 16 road games the last 3 years, excluding the 3 playoff wins.
I am also not convinced that all is well with the Chiefs' coaching situation. There were rumors that Weis and Haley don't get along and with Weis leaving for Florida as soon as the game is over it has to be a distraction even though everyone will deny it.
Finally this game is almost identical to the playoff game the Ravens played against Miami following the 2008 season. Miami was 11-5 having won the AFC East that year because Brady got hurt. Miami was coming off a 1-15 record the previous year so just like the Chiefs this year, Miami was the beneficiary of a soft, last place schedule. Miami won 11 games that year by running the ball and not turning it over. That year Chad Pennington finished second in QB rating throwing only 7 interceptions all season. He had a year very similar to the year Matt Cassell had this year. Ravens were a wildcard team that year having finished second to Pitt with an 11-5 record. The Ravens went to Miami and completely shut down Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown who had a total of 53 yards in the game. They dared Pennington to beat them which he couldn't do throwing 4 picks and was sacked 3 times in an easy 27-9 win. Ravens were a 3 point road favorite in that game. Sound familiar? I will post my other wildcard picks in this thread later in the week.
BOL to all this weekend.
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