Can Ravens Upset Patriots? 46 Game Predictions
This week on Monday Night Football... pic.twitter.com/1EYcDl12X2
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) December 8, 2016
Everyone is expecting a well-fought battle between bitter rivals in what is expected to be a snowy and cold Gillette Stadium on Monday Night Football.
But very few people predict the Ravens (7-5) will pull off the upset against the AFC’s top team in the New England Patriots (10-2). Of the 46 analysts below, only eight say the Ravens will stun the NFL and take home a victory.
“The big, bad Patriots are actually somewhat of an anonymous group around Tom Brady this year,” wrote The Baltimore Sun’s Mark Selig, who has correctly predicted 10 of the Ravens’ 12 games this year.
“The active roster features just six players who have made a Pro Bowl; the Ravens have 11. As consistent as New England (10-2) has been, it has not defeated a team as good as the Ravens yet this season. Meanwhile, the Ravens certainly haven’t triumphed over anyone on the Pats’ level. So someone will get a signature win Monday night, and more often than not, it’s the Patriots who find ways to do that.”
Selig isn’t alone in believing this will be a tight matchup, but expecting New England to come out on top. The only national outlet with a majority of prognosticators picking Baltimore is Fox Sports.
After mistakenly picking the Miami Dolphins to beat Baltimore last week, Peter Schrager vows not to underestimate the Ravens anymore.
“Alright, I’m convinced. Baltimore is for real,” Schrager wrote. “I had my doubts until I saw the Ravens absolutely smack around and destroy the Dolphins last week. I foolishly picked Miami to win that one. Monday night?
“I just think the Ravens find a way to do what most deem impossible. They’ll win.”
Oakland Loss Benefits Patriots; AFC Playoff Picture
With former Ravens offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele (illness) absent, and an injured pinkie disrupting Derek Carr’s accuracy, the Oakland quarterback didn’t look like the league’s MVP that many have been calling him.
As such, the AFC’s previously top team stumbled on Thursday Night Football and lost 21-13 to the Kansas City Chiefs in a black-and-blue AFC West divisional matchup. Now, the Chiefs (10-3) are the division leaders over the Raiders (10-3) after beating them twice.
Oakland’s loss also had a domino effect on the rest of the conference.
Due to tiebreakers, Oakland held the edge in getting home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. But for now, the Patriots (10-2) hold that spot. New England can either strengthen its grip on the conference lead by beating the Ravens, or fall back in the race with a loss.
Current AFC playoff picture:
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurke_SI) December 9, 2016
Byes: New England, Kansas City
No. 6 Denver at No. 3 Baltimore
No. 5 Oakland at No. 4 Houston
7. MIA, 8. PIT
Tom Brady Putting Deflategate Animosity Behind Him
Well, you have to give both the Ravens and Patriots kudos for keeping pregame smack talk to a minimum.
The folks in New England put a lot of blame on Baltimore for quarterback Tom Brady’s four-game suspension this season stemming from Deflategate. While Patriots media has been chattering, Brady downplayed it in his weekly presser yesterday.
Asked if his history with the Ravens would add any animosity to Monday’s matchup, Brady responded, “For me personally?”
“I think all these games are kind of the same. I just look at the opponent, look at what they do. The only thing that matters is what we do this week in practice and in the game, so I think you just try to put everything aside, whether it was that or whether it was the playoff game a couple of years ago or whether it was the regular season a couple years ago or championship games.”
#Patriots QB Tom Brady, slowed for a few weeks with a knee injury, has been taken off the injury report. He’s good.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 8, 2016
A kicker for MVP? Seriously?
Yes, seriously, says NFL Network analyst and former NFL scout Bucky Brooks.
“At a time when kickers are under more scrutiny than ever, it is quite possible that the NFL's Most Valuable Player is a strong-legged assassin with a penchant for splitting the uprights with rainbow kicks from long distances,” wrote Brooks.
“While I'm sure that statement drew some eye rolls and snickers at first glance, I truly believe Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker deserves serious consideration for the league's top honor based on his production and performance this season.”
Brooks points out that Tucker has been perfect on 27 field-goal attempts, including seven from 50-plus yards, and is a perfect 15-for-15 on extra points. Meanwhile, other kickers around the league are struggling to hit extra points from 33 yards out.
“Tucker accounts for 44 percent of the Ravens' scoring output and he should be viewed as a top offensive player based on his contributions,” he wrote. “Considering how coaches value playmakers at a premium, John Harbaugh and the rest of the league should treat Tucker like a franchise quarterback, running back or wide receiver.
“In a league where playmakers and scorers are held in high regard, particularly on playoff teams, Tucker deserves strong consideration for the league's top honor. While I'm fully aware that Mark Moseley (1982) is the only kicker to walk away with the MVP award, I think Tucker should have a chance to join him if he kicks the Ravens to the AFC North title.”
Quick Hits
Congratulations @JoeFlacco for being voted @FedEx Air @NFL Player of Week 13! #PlayLikeARaven pic.twitter.com/iPSCcJkif5
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 8, 2016
.@PFTCommenter Army knows the answer pic.twitter.com/QiZsXYrOi7
— Connor (@CaptainCons) December 8, 2016
This week's #QuickHits feature @weddlesbeard & @JoeFlacco, who will lead @Ravens into Foxboro for Monday Night Football @ESPNNFL pic.twitter.com/W6u8wzkEZy
— Patrick Gleason (@PMGleason) December 8, 2016CB
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 8, 2016Jimmy Smith on having defensive coordinator Dean Pees at the helm pic.twitter.com/R4UR4eebTVAfter carving up the Dolphins, Ravens tight end
— Edward Lee (@EdwardLeeSun) December 9, 2016Dennis Pitta is expecting a tougher time vs. the Patriots. https://t.co/9oQONt7BPdWe look forward to this opportunity #RavensFlock #tbt https://t.co/mdfKaxnVLI pic.twitter.com/TrkvIKYNdy
—Elvis Dumervil (@EKD92) December 8, 2016#Ravens/#Patriots is the most competitive rivalry in the NFL. Ravens/Steelers remains tops even though the Ravens own the #Steelers recently
— Samuel Njoku (@SamNjokuSports) December 8, 2016#TBT @ravens v @steelers where I was honored as a hometown hero in a packed stadium full of family & friends! #bestdayever #ravensflock pic.twitter.com/wIToXt1Ns3
— Rebecca Meyers (@becca_meyers) December 8, 2016Let it snow, let it snow in Foxborough! Good news, bad news or no news for the #Ravens? pic.twitter.com/2tbkTnPp1u
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) December 8, 2016
