The 3-2 Baltimore Ravens head North to face the 5-0 NFC North Leading Minnesota Vikings today.
Here are some things that I will be looking for.
1) The Viking Offensive-line has the experienced combo of Bryant McKinnie, and Steve Hutchinson at LT, and LG. Both are former 1st-round picks, and Hutchinson is a 6-time All-Pro. Hutchinson is dealing with back-trouble and might not be able to go. On the other-side of the line, Minnesota starts Rookie RT Phil Loadholt, who also is a game-time decision due to injuries. I am looking forward to seeing how the Ravens defensive-line fares against these guys, and who controls the line of scrimmage. If the injuries keep Hutchinson, and Loadholt on the side-line, than the Ravens better decisively win this match-up.
2) Bernard Berrian averaged 20.1 yards per reception last year. This year, that has decreased to 11.4. My guess is that the emergence of Sidney Rice, and the addition of 2009 1st-round pick Percy Harvin has had some-impact. Berrian and Farve are also probably still working to get into sync. I am hoping that today is not the day that Berrian comes up with a couple of deep catches down the field.
3) Farve has a history of utilizing the TE. Maryland native and Morgan State (Baltimore) grad Visanthe Shiancoe is the Vikings starting TE. Shinacoe is coming off of a year where he had nearly 600 yards receiving, with 7 TD’s. I expect Farve to look Shiancoe’s way today.
4) Coming off of a 2007 season where DE Jared Allen had 15.5 sacks, Allen celebrated his first-season in Minnesota with 14.5 more sacks in 2008. Allen might be the best pass-rushing DE in football. With Gaither expected out of the game today, the rookie Michael Oher will have a difficult match-up. Combining with Allen on the Defensive-line, are the Pro Bowl Defensive Tackles Pat & Kevin Williams. It will be interesting to see how the Ravens interior O-line (Grubbs, Birk, and Chester) hold-up.
5) Vikings OLB Chad Greenway was a 2006 1st-round pick that missed all of his rookie-season with a knee injury. Since that time, he has started every-game from the 2007 season on. Greenway had 5.5 sacks last-year, but none in 2009. If Gaither is out, and Oher is at LT, I could see Greenway being sent over the top of the RT Yanda. The Henderson brothers (EJ and Erin) are Maryland natives, and former Terrapins. As a Terp, EJ was not great moving laterally, but was tremendous in making plays behind the line of scrimmage, and stopping the run. In two-back sets, McClain has to get to Henderson and put a helmet on a helmet.
6) Antonie Winfield has been a number 1 CB for the majority of his career, but he is now 32. Cedric Griffin is a 2006 2nd round pick that should play today despite a hand-injury. This is an ok CB unit, that Baltimore should be able to make some plays on. The Vikings starting Free-Safety is Madieu Williams (another former Terp) who has always been more of a hitter than a ball-hawk. I look for Flacco to take some chances attacking the Minnesota secondary.
7) Ray Rice is averaging more combined yards per game than Adrian Peterson, with only 12.6 carries a game. I am very interested to see how committed the Ravens are to attempting to run the ball today. While I want Rice to get the ball in space today, I am kind of excited about seeing McClain get an opportunity to pound at the Viking Defensive Tackles.
Today should be interesting, in that it features a game between two teams that can run the ball, and stop the run. When I predicted the Ravens record for the season, I called this game a loss for Baltimore. I have always thought the Ravens could win, but that you should not expect to win in Minnesota. As game-time nears, I believe Baltimore is going to find a way to win today.
My thinking really amounts to nothing more than believing that Baltimore should be extremely motivated to end their two-game losing streak, and get a win going into the bye. The Ravens run-defense is going to want to atone for what happened last-week against Cedric Benson.
Unlike many-teams, the Ravens have a legitimate chance of limiting Adrian Peterson. If that is accomplished, I am not sure Farve is capable of beating the Ravens. Hopefully the Ravens can keep Farve in the pocket, and on his back. When Farve rolls-out and attacks with the deep-ball, the Ravens have to get their hits in on Farve.
The Ravens lost a game at-home last week that they should have won. They need to win a game on the road today, that they might not have been expected to win.
24-17 Ravens.
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.