Keys to the game vs. Flying Rats

[watermock]

Those vultures managed to peck out a win yesterday, apparently able to poke out River's eyes because he was missing open recievers.

Anyone with a lick of sense knows that EVERY game in the NFL is important. Instead of 162, there are 16. Baltimore is 4-0 and we need to grab the tie breaker like we did with New England.

IMO, it's imperative we take out the arrogant moron Heap with a couple well placed smashes to the mouth to shut him up. We can leave that task to Lynch, he likes fines. A well placed elbow in the teeth by Nalen on Ray Ray wouldn't hurt either. We neutralize those two factors, we should be able to roll.

I don't really know if we will place Gold on Heap or Champ. We have to get intensity back after the mini-vacation.

[Bronx33]

Pass rush...

[AboveAverage]

Although it's true for nearly every game, the team that makes the fewest mistakes will win this game.

I imagine the Over/Under will be microscopic this week.

I'm really hoping we break this Raven "curse", (I just can't get satisfaction out of last year's win) because we have the Raiders and Cleveland on the horizon.

The players cannot look ahead, but I just can't resist.

[kmartin575]

Pass rush...


By the Broncos? That's funny.

[dbroncos31]

Stop the run (shouldn't be too hard), and force McNair to beat us. Also, Coyer needs to bring the heat and pressure the hell out of McNair. On O, we have to stick to the gameplan. We can't let their D get in our heads and stuff. Tatum will break at least one this week, I'm thinking. And Jake will strike for a long play-action TD pass. We need to catch the Ravens being over-aggressive.

[Bronx33]

By the Broncos? That's funny.


Hey 2 posts in 30 days ahhhhh i forgot the chefs won.

[dbroncos31]

By the Broncos? That's funny.
You should ask Tom Brady about it. I wonder if he's laughing.

[AboveAverage]

Hey 2 posts in 30 days ahhhhh i forgot the chefs won.

It's crazy. You'd think the Chiefs had won the Superbowl yesterday. The Planet it crazy, talking playoffs, division, etc. I know everyone gets excited after a win, but it's really quite comical over there.

Back to the topic, however. The Ravens have had back to back dramatic wins in the last 30 seconds. The Bengals looked a little gassed today after their emotional win in Pittsburgh. Who knows....

[kmartin575]

You should ask Tom Brady about it. I wonder if he's laughing.

Or I will just ask the Chiefs. What was it, 1 measly sack at home with skin and bones Kyle Turley starting at left tackle? Yeah, I think that was it.

It's not hard to get some pressure on Brady when he threw something like 55 passes in the game.

[Hulamau]

We need to have a wide open game plan with some unpredictable elements and not just the dink and dunk hoping Jake doesnt make any mistakes. No way we run on these guys without first setting up the pass.

Also, we must get the lead in the first half ... and we cant go down by more than 10 anytime from the half onward and expect to win. Kircus and/or Marshall and Scheff must get involved big time to loosen the tight coverage they will have on Walker early.

The Ravens are definitely beatable if you get a lead and don't self destruct like both the Browns and SD did the last two weeks. The Ravens should absolutely be 2-2 and scratchin' their nuts right now, though they do get credit for taking advantage of those major errors (and thus games) that were gift-wrapped and handed to them on a silver platter.

[watermock]

The only thing easier than beating SF is beating Oakland or a Hamster.

[Hulamau]

BTW ... Jerious Norwood is FAST!

[WoodMan]

This game is going to be a defensive struggle. I'd say the keys to win are turnovers and field position, i.e. special teams play.

[Steve Sewell]

Those vultures managed to peck out a win yesterday, apparently able to poke out River's eyes because he was missing open recievers.

Anyone with a lick of sense knows that EVERY game in the NFL is important. Instead of 162, there are 16. Baltimore is 4-0 and we need to grab the tie breaker like we did with New England.

IMO, it's imperative we take out the arrogant moron Heap with a couple well placed smashes to the mouth to shut him up. We can leave that task to Lynch, he likes fines. A well placed elbow in the teeth by Nalen on Ray Ray wouldn't hurt either. We neutralize those two factors, we should be able to roll.

I don't really know if we will place Gold on Heap or Champ. We have to get intensity back after the mini-vacation.

I noticed that McNair usually only takes a 5 step drop. At the end of the game he was getting NAILED by SD, but still making plays. I think Coyer will cook up a good game plan for Baltimore. Their defense is sick though...so glad we had 2 weeks to prepare and that it's a home.

[MechanicalBull]

This game is going to be a defensive struggle. I'd say the keys to win are turnovers and field position, i.e. special teams play.

I would agree. We know they have a great defense and I like how our defense matches up against their offense. This has a feel of a very low scoring game. Jamal Lewis has done next to nothing and I don't see Tatum doing that much in this game either.

They are going to be sending guys like Suggs and Bart Scott which will get Jake on the move a lot. I noticed yesterday and last week that Mcallister and Rolle bite on the pump fake a lot and the Ravens give up an average of about 6 catches for 64 yds per game to the opposing teams tight ends. So it might be good to get Alexander and Scheffler into the mix.

[cutthemdown]

I'll take a page from Thiesman and say the key to the game will be who scores more points. LOL HEHEHEHEH!!!! No really the key will be keeping that defense off of Plummer and out of the backfield. The other Key will stopping Todd Heap and Jamal Lewis.

[fontaine]

Here's the deal:

Ravens on Offense:

Fassel has done a great job so far in limiting the offense so McNair can stay in one piece. One of the reasons why Boller was always nicked up and played poorly was because their OL has severely regressed (especially along the interior).

With McNair having a long history of injuries, from what I've seen, Fassel is exclusively looking at McNair as a short area passer. Almost all of McNair's passes are designed to go to short area WRs on quick drop backs designed to keep him from getting knocked around.

All of this has caused the running game to suffer. Jamal Lewis is averaging 3.7 yards a pop and only 1 TD, which sucks, but the Ravens are happy enough because he's durable and can be a bruising back to take pressure off the passing game.

Right now the Ravens have a great pass rush but no passing game.

The key to stopping their offense is going to be our base defense (three LBs) killing all the short/intermediate stuff across the middle. Champ will lock his side down but this is one game where I think giving DWill/Fox 7-9 yard cushions just isn't going to work.

McNair dinked and dunked his way down the field and beat the chargers that way. We can't afford to give him that cushion Derrick Mason/Clayton are very good WRs who are quick enough to make the most of those short area passes.

The Ravens AREN'T going to beat us with big plays or quick scores. They are going to be methodical on offense with a conservative strategy that is focused on keeping McNair healthy and upright with short/low risk passes and plenty of carries even if the running game goes nowhere. The BEST way to kill this kind of team is to get ahead EARLY and completely take McNair out of his comfort zone.
Next, Our offense vs their defense.

[watermock]

They were laughing in Bang's podcast about Ditka.
"You can't win if you don't score..."

Those two crack me up in those poscasts.

[BroncoMatt]

I believe in all my heart that the biggest key will be to score more points than the ratbirds, if we can do that I am confident we will win.

[fontaine]

Our offense vs Ravens D:

DL vs OL:

This is one of those games where I just don't see the point in running up the interior. Kelly Gragg, Ngata combine to make up a formidable interior and they are almost 700 lbs combined! Guess what? The Ravens DL is currently the best in the league in stuffing the run AND that defense is great in rushing the QB.

This is one game where our undersized Guards and Nalen just won't have a whole lot of luck running inside and shifting that huge DL. I would prefer if we use more sweeps/toss plays to allow Bell to use his natural speed to try and take it outside on the perimeter. This is one game where I really try and establish the bootlegs and rollouts early and often to get that DL tired.

I don't see our running game having that much luck, especially with their LBs and secondary being good tacklers. I expect Chris Mcallister to lock down whoever he's lined up against, be it Rod or Walker but they are weak in their nickel CBs, but with Ed Reed on the field it's going to be hard to force them into nickel situations.

It's going to be our toughest game so far I think and my prediction is that Turnovers will decide it.

Broncos 12
Ravens 9

[BroncoMan4ever]

IMO, it's imperative we take out the arrogant moron Heap with a couple well placed smashes to the mouth to shut him up. We can leave that task to Lynch, he likes fines. A well placed elbow in the teeth by Nalen on Ray Ray wouldn't hurt either. We neutralize those two factors, we should be able to roll.



Sure Heap is a major factor for Baltimore but Ray Lewis is as overrated a player in this league as there is. By all accounts 5 years ago he was scary, but people are still slobbing his knob over things he did years ago. He is just an old LB nearing the end of his career and people need to see that.

[alphamale72]

running,running ,running!!.....clock control keep their D on the field!!!

[broncsyanks]

sorry but i have to say, if I am really worried about this game. my reasons are:

#1 trevor pryce on that line is wow. and he has something to prove the same way he did last year on monday night against the chiefs when he was the player of the game.
#2 our offense was just starting to click. I wonder if the bye week hurt them with there passing game.
#3 mcnair looks much better then he did with the titans.
#4 we really havent had that great of a pass rush
#5 last years win was because kyle boller was the qb and he suked and practically gave us the game. what was the score again something like 11-9??


for these reasons this game scares me








PS. the raiders are perfect this year. they havent won anything
IN CARTMANS WORDS:::

SSSSSSSWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTTTTTT TTT!!!!

[WolfpackGuy]

Just don't turn the ball over and play the field position game because I don't see their offense doing squat against Denver's D if they're in long field situations. There won't be any meaningless passes into the end zone to get picked off (ala Cleveland) or playing scared (ala San Diego) at the end of the game to bail the Ravens out of this one.

[Orange_Beard]

No turnovers.
Jake needs to run for 2 first downs in the first half.
Big play to Walker.
Lights out D.

[orange 4 life]

the kesy to this game are simple.

1)stop their run game and make mcnair beat us.

2)come out quick and throw the ball.....and then throw some more.
3 and 4 wide the first couple series at least. loosen them up, make them contain jake, and then take advantage of the running lanes. throw to set up the run, not the other way around.

[Kaylore]

sorry but i have to say, if I am really worried about this game. my reasons are:

#1 trevor pryce on that line is wow. and he has something to prove the same way he did last year on monday night against the chiefs when he was the player of the game.
#2 our offense was just starting to click. I wonder if the bye week hurt them with there passing game.
#3 mcnair looks much better then he did with the titans.
#4 we really havent had that great of a pass rush
#5 last years win was because kyle boller was the qb and he suked and practically gave us the game. what was the score again something like 11-9??


for these reasons this game scares me


I have the same concerns. While they haven't beat anyone real good yet, other than the Chargers, who also haven't beat anyone real good yet, they are still 4-0. You win like that and you start to believe you're that good and play that way. There are some things to our advantage.

1. Shanahan has a pretty record in games after a bye: 8-3 with one of those wins being against the Ravens in 96.

2. The Ravens are playing a 4-3 instead of a 3-4. Our run game does better agains this scheme and we should be able to run the ball more.

3. Steven McNair, for all the great things he's done, is still out of rythm with his offense. It will be easier to disrupt something that is already a little disrupted.

5. Baltimore has the 23rd ranked rushing offense in the league. It's hard to win if you can't run the ball and they aren't very good at it right now. Our run defense is pretty stout.

So it's not all bad news for us. We'll see how things go. It will be a good game.

[Pendejo]

I think a big key is for the Donks to match their physicality. They can't let the Ravens push them around. Bust 'em in the mush, and set the tone early on.

If the Donks can stay away from turnovers...win the field position battle, and out hit the Ravens...they'll win.

[Cito Pelon]

sorry but i have to say, if I am really worried about this game. my reasons are:

#1 trevor pryce on that line is wow. and he has something to prove the same way he did last year on monday night against the chiefs when he was the player of the game.
#2 our offense was just starting to click. I wonder if the bye week hurt them with there passing game.
#3 mcnair looks much better then he did with the titans.
#4 we really havent had that great of a pass rush
#5 last years win was because kyle boller was the qb and he suked and practically gave us the game. what was the score again something like 11-9??


for these reasons this game scares me. . . . ..

Is there anything you are not scared of? Hell, it's only Monday and you're already crapping your panties.

[Cito Pelon]

. . . . . .. We'll see how things go. It will be a good game.

Agreed.

Denver is the better team on O and D. On paper, Denver blanks the Raven O, and Denver scores 17 minimum. But we'll have to see, that's why the games are played.

[elsid13]

Actually I feel we need to the same thing SD did to them yesterday and run the ball. Both LT and Turner were able to get good run against them on the edges. Force them to commit to stop the run and force them to bring Reed into the box. and take advantage of Baltimore young safety Landry with the TE down the seems.

Also I expect a lot of double moves on the Corners because they seem to bit a lot

[watermock]

I think a big key is for the Donks to match their physicality. They can't let the Ravens push them around. Bust 'em in the mush, and set the tone early on.

If the Donks can stay away from turnovers...win the field position battle, and out hit the Ravens...they'll win.

And remember...you can't win if you don't score.

[TXBRONC]

By the Broncos? That's funny.


Oh Kmart I see you're over here to get thumped like you do on Broncomania.

[JoRo]

Here's the deal:

Ravens on Offense:

Fassel has done a great job so far in limiting the offense so McNair can stay in one piece. One of the reasons why Boller was always nicked up and played poorly was because their OL has severely regressed (especially along the interior).

With McNair having a long history of injuries, from what I've seen, Fassel is exclusively looking at McNair as a short area passer. Almost all of McNair's passes are designed to go to short area WRs on quick drop backs designed to keep him from getting knocked around.

All of this has caused the running game to suffer. Jamal Lewis is averaging 3.7 yards a pop and only 1 TD, which sucks, but the Ravens are happy enough because he's durable and can be a bruising back to take pressure off the passing game.

Right now the Ravens have a great pass rush but no passing game.

The key to stopping their offense is going to be our base defense (three LBs) killing all the short/intermediate stuff across the middle. Champ will lock his side down but this is one game where I think giving DWill/Fox 7-9 yard cushions just isn't going to work.

McNair dinked and dunked his way down the field and beat the chargers that way. We can't afford to give him that cushion Derrick Mason/Clayton are very good WRs who are quick enough to make the most of those short area passes.

The Ravens AREN'T going to beat us with big plays or quick scores. They are going to be methodical on offense with a conservative strategy that is focused on keeping McNair healthy and upright with short/low risk passes and plenty of carries even if the running game goes nowhere. The BEST way to kill this kind of team is to get ahead EARLY and completely take McNair out of his comfort zone.
Next, Our offense vs their defense.


The good news is our defense last year excelled at stopping short passes such as those to the tight end and rbs...so all we gotta do is step up along the perimeter wit dwill

[rovolution]

No turnovers.
Jake needs to run for 2 first downs in the first half.
Big play to Walker.
Lights out D.

not only a big play but big plays to walker

[Florida_Bronco]

Just kick their asses!

[watermock]

http://www.gis.net/~scatt/earlywork/SM-crow_full.jpeg

[brncs_fan]

I have the same concerns. While they haven't beat anyone real good yet, other than the Chargers, who also haven't beat anyone real good yet, they are still 4-0. You win like that and you start to believe you're that good and play that way. There are some things to our advantage.

1. Shanahan has a pretty record in games after a bye: 8-3 with one of those wins being against the Ravens in 96.

2. The Ravens are playing a 4-3 instead of a 3-4. Our run game does better agains this scheme and we should be able to run the ball more.

3. Steven McNair, for all the great things he's done, is still out of rythm with his offense. It will be easier to disrupt something that is already a little disrupted.

5. Baltimore has the 23rd ranked rushing offense in the league. It's hard to win if you can't run the ball and they aren't very good at it right now. Our run defense is pretty stout.

So it's not all bad news for us. We'll see how things go. It will be a good game.

1,2,3...5? :rofl:

[Mile High Shack]

I honestly can't see us winning here

even when the Ravens stunk, we still couldn't beat them

shoot we barely beat them last year when 1/2 their D was out on injuries and they had Kyle Boller playing QB for us (yeah I said us)

they own us like a cheap whore and until we break away, they are going to keep pimp slapping us around like the sluts we are

[brncs_fan]

The trick to the running game up the middle will be using our zone blaocking and counters to get the big guys on their D-line moving and then get our line to use their size and momentum against them. That way they can create some holes up the middle and up the side that Bell can turn upfield and maybe get some long runs.

[WABronco]

Edwin Mulitalo is out for the game, and the season. B-more's OL just took a massive shot in the gut.

I think their ground game will be a complete non-factor.

[Mile High Shack]

Edwin Mulitalo is out for the game, and the season. B-more's OL just took a massive shot in the gut.

I think their ground game will be a complete non-factor.

we are going to have to score to win

[brncs_fan]

we are going to have to score to win

Pick 6?

[Mile High Shack]

Pick 6?

honestly

with us against the 3-4 (with fast LBs, not that bad 3-4 NE was trying to run against us)..and by us I mean Jake, he is terrible vs. the 3-4

this may be the only way we score a TD

[ZONA]

I'm actually not too concerned with this game. The Ravens offense hasn't been anything to write home about. They've need some last minute heroics to win their last two game. I don't believe that either of them (Browna & Bolts) are really that good anyways. I think our Defense might actually keep them out of the endzone for the entire game. The Ravens could easily be 2 & 2 on a soft schedule thus far. It's at mile high. I don't think we're going to light it up exactly on offense but I see this game as a double digit point win when all is said and done. I think Champ might get a pick and return for a TD in this game. Watch.

Broncos 20
Ravens 9

[2KBack]

honestly

with us against the 3-4 (with fast LBs, not that bad 3-4 NE was trying to run against us)..and by us I mean Jake, he is terrible vs. the 3-4

this may be the only way we score a TD


Baltimore doesn't run a 3-4 anymore, Mr. Ray Lewis whined about it too much.

[Atlas]

Those vultures managed to peck out a win yesterday, apparently able to poke out River's eyes because he was missing open recievers.

Anyone with a lick of sense knows that EVERY game in the NFL is important. Instead of 162, there are 16. Baltimore is 4-0 and we need to grab the tie breaker like we did with New England.

IMO, it's imperative we take out the arrogant moron Heap with a couple well placed smashes to the mouth to shut him up. We can leave that task to Lynch, he likes fines. A well placed elbow in the teeth by Nalen on Ray Ray wouldn't hurt either. We neutralize those two factors, we should be able to roll.

I don't really know if we will place Gold on Heap or Champ. We have to get intensity back after the mini-vacation.

Like every game Denver's defense must control the opponents run game.

denver must run the ball 25 times. It doesn't matter if they get lots of yards but they need to keep running the ball.

Denver shouldn't blitz. They need to rush with four and drop the rest. McNair isn't a tremendously accurate passer and although he doesn't throw tons of INTs Denver can control the Raven's running game by making McNair think while he is back there.

The Ravens have great LBers and CBs Denver must throw to the RBs and TEs also they need to throw deep a few times to try to keep this team honest.

Last year the Ravens played a 4 LBer 4 DL defense. Making it very difficult for Denver to run the ball. If they do that this year the Broncos must go at them deep. The CBs are good but if Denver's WRs are in man to man situations Denver has to push the ball deep.

Bottom Line:
Denver must win the turnover battle. If they don't turn the ball over they will win the game.

Denver 20 Ravens 13

[Atlas]

I honestly can't see us winning here

even when the Ravens stunk, we still couldn't beat them

shoot we barely beat them last year when 1/2 their D was out on injuries and they had Kyle Boller playing QB for us (yeah I said us)

they own us like a cheap whore and until we break away, they are going to keep pimp slapping us around like the sluts we are

In 1996 Denver put 45 points on them!!!!

[Mile High Shack]

Baltimore doesn't run a 3-4 anymore, Mr. Ray Lewis whined about it too much.

they will against us

[brncs_fan]

they will against us

Or the ultimate Plummer killer, they rush three and drop a DE into Coverage.