Baltimore Ravens vs. Houston Texans
Sunday, 1:30 p.m. ET, M&T Bank Stadium
The Quarterbacks
There will be many different philosophies when fans look into these quarterbacks. The common denominator will be how will they do against the defenses? Will Joe Flacco be able to have enough completions to keep the drive alive and let the rushing game develop? He is a veteran that should be able to handle the pressure. Flacco did win against the Matt Schaub led Houston Texans way back in October throwing for 305 yards. He will have to do it again against the 3rd ranked passing defense.
The injury replacement T.J. Yates came in and stepped up and through a wild card berth made it to the divisional game. The test is here to see if the the magic will survive. Survival is the key word because the Baltimore Ravens play in the face of the quarterback the whole game. The veterans staring at you while signal calling he will need t find the receivers quick and stay away from turnovers. If both quarterbacks stay injury and turnover free tey will do there job.
The Quarterbacks
There will be many different philosophies when fans look into these quarterbacks. The common denominator will be how will they do against the defenses? Will Joe Flacco be able to have enough completions to keep the drive alive and let the rushing game develop? He is a veteran that should be able to handle the pressure. Flacco did win against the Matt Schaub led Houston Texans way back in October throwing for 305 yards. He will have to do it again against the 3rd ranked passing defense.
The injury replacement T.J. Yates came in and stepped up and through a wild card berth made it to the divisional game. The test is here to see if the the magic will survive. Survival is the key word because the Baltimore Ravens play in the face of the quarterback the whole game. The veterans staring at you while signal calling he will need t find the receivers quick and stay away from turnovers. If both quarterbacks stay injury and turnover free tey will do there job.
Advantage - Ravens
Running Backs
The running back matchup will be like a heavyweight fight. Both getting plenty of carries and will take the load off the quarterbacks while sustaining drives that will eat the clock at around 5.0 yards a carry. The mighty Ray Rice, all 5'8" 212lbs of him is a beast between the tackles. Once he hits the hole he takes the whole field. This season he carried the ball 291 times for 1,394 yards and 12 touchdowns an average season of greatness. The greatness does not stop there he also has the skills to catch the ball out of the backfield and 76 receptions for 704 yards this season will attest to that fact. A complete all purpose back had 2,068 yards of total offense.
Not one to take a back seat or lye down, Arian Foster bounced back from early season injury and put together 1,224 yards with 10 touchdown season rushing and 617 yards receiving with an added two touchdowns. Like Rice a running back that can do it all and both are fan favorites that should hear 27 and 23 chanted all game. Playoff fantasy football owners lock in!
Advantage - Even
Big name wide receivers need to have big games. The injury to Andre Johnson and his 492 yards was limited all season, the one time pro bowler took second fiddle behind the 677 yards earned by the stand out tight end Owen Daniels who will play with a hand injury. Johnson is probable for the game so we could see the game we have waited for all year! If not Arian Foster will more than likely get more touches and Ben Tate will get the extra short yardage 3rd down plays.
The Ravens also have an aging vet that needs to step it up. Anquan Boldin did have 887 yards receiving this year but, only scored three times in the regular season. He did split touches with Torrey Smith that had 841 yards receiving nearly eclipsing the one time superstar.
Could the balance, untapped potential and injury concerns make this game so unpredictable that we could see one of these receivers have an MVP game?
Running Backs
 |
| Rice |
 |
| Foster |
 |
| Rice |
 |
| Foster |
Not one to take a back seat or lye down, Arian Foster bounced back from early season injury and put together 1,224 yards with 10 touchdown season rushing and 617 yards receiving with an added two touchdowns. Like Rice a running back that can do it all and both are fan favorites that should hear 27 and 23 chanted all game. Playoff fantasy football owners lock in!
Advantage - Even
Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
 |
| Boldin |
 |
| Johnson |
 |
| Smith |
 |
| Daniels |
Big name wide receivers need to have big games. The injury to Andre Johnson and his 492 yards was limited all season, the one time pro bowler took second fiddle behind the 677 yards earned by the stand out tight end Owen Daniels who will play with a hand injury. Johnson is probable for the game so we could see the game we have waited for all year! If not Arian Foster will more than likely get more touches and Ben Tate will get the extra short yardage 3rd down plays.
The Ravens also have an aging vet that needs to step it up. Anquan Boldin did have 887 yards receiving this year but, only scored three times in the regular season. He did split touches with Torrey Smith that had 841 yards receiving nearly eclipsing the one time superstar.
Could the balance, untapped potential and injury concerns make this game so unpredictable that we could see one of these receivers have an MVP game?
Advantage - Even
Defenses
Defenses
 |
| Lewis |
 |
| Cushing |
 |
| Suggs |
 |
| Barwin |
Ray Lewis Raven's leading tackler with 95 tackles and 72 were solo is still getting it done while leading with passion. He does have some help with Terrell Suggs getting in the mix with a team leading 14 sacks and a presence feared by most receivers cutting across the middle.
The Texan's don't have the flashy names but they finished the season the 3rd ranked passing and the 4th ranked defense in the league. Brian Cushing the man they look to for their passion had 114 tackles and 76 were solo to set the tempo for this hungry defense. Connor Barwin loves feeding on quarterbacks so getting 11.5 sacks this season will just makes him hungrier for more in the playoffs.
You might not need a stop watch for this game. You may need a seismograph to track the quake you may feel from these defenses.
Advantage - Even
Prediction Ravens 13 - Texans 10
Now fans time to show your pride!
Now fans time to show your pride!
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