Saints vs. Ravens
The Ravens and the Saints have been huge surprises in the NFL so far this season. This should be a very interesting game.
Who knows what the Ravens will do on offense with Billick now calling the plays. I look for the Ravens to try to power the ball in the running game against the Saints. The Saints defense is having a rough time stopping the run, allowing 119.7 yards rushing per game and 4.9 yards per carry. Look for Jamal Lewis (352 yards rushing) to have a big game. As soon as the Saints defense creeps up, look for the Ravens to take a few shots down the field to Derrick Mason (23 rec, 310 yards) and Mark Clayton (25 rec, 287 yards). TE Todd Heap will give the safeties and linebackers of the Saints a rough time.
Look for the Saints to mix it up on offense to try to keep the Ravens defense off-balance. Deuce McAllister (444 yards rushing) and Reggie Bush (196 yards rushing) have done well this season, but the Ravens defense is only allowing 71.2 yards rushing and 2.7 yards per carry…..so every yard will be a tough one. The Saints O-Line has only allowed 6 sacks this season, but they will have to play well this week against the aggressive blitzing tactics that the Ravens employ that already has 19 sacks!  When Brees does have time, he will have to be careful throwing the ball downfield, because the Ravens already have 11 INTs.Â
It’s hard for me to pick a winner in this game, but the SuperDome has been a magical place for the Saints….so I think they have a little edge in this game.
The Saints are giving up too many yards in the rushing game. Their defense is very suspect and vunerable against the run. As I keep repeating, defense wins superbowls. The Saints defense is average and that does not take you to the superbowl. All the teams in the past that have won superbowls did it with defense. The saints defense need to start improving right now and not later or they will have a very long non-winning season.
How the HELLLL!!! said they was going to win the Super Bowl? What are you talking about. Nobody said they were going to go from 3-13 to Super Bowl champions. That takes time and they took a big step from what they had done last year. They may not have the best team in the NFL but they are a playoff team. If they dont win the division most likely they will be a wildcard, but jus hold your horses a bit and calm down, okay.
Sometimes defense wins Super Bowls, sometimes quarterbacks. However, they are always won by teams that make the playoffs. First things first. Raven defense is top drawer, but they have found ways to lose two in a row. Sixth win would be a sweet step for Saints, and Baltimore is far from unbeatable. Fear the Dome!