Baltimore Ravens ‘Ultimate Franchise Player’ Selection

ray-lewis-baltimore-ravens

This is the third post in Kurt’s epic quest to identify the NFL’s Ultimate Franchise Player. For an explanation of his methodology for choosing each franchise’s ultimate franchise player, and then how you and he will choose the NFL’s Ultimate Franchise Player from that list, click here.

To see all the category page for this series, of which there will be one for every franchise, click here.

Previous selections: ARI | ATL

Quoth the Raven, nevermore.

Always the bridesmaid, never the bride – at least recently. (Never mind that no Maid of Honor could ever possibly look bad in purple and black with some gold thrown in, but I digress…)

Just merely getting deep into the playoffs has gotten old quickly for the Baltimore Ravens, whose Super Bowl 35 win now seems like a lifetime ago – and whose close loss in the recent AFC Title Game in New England is just the most recent and painful in the franchise’s attempts to get back to the big game, let alone win it.

[Read more...]

Cundiff’s Missed Field Goal, Kyle Williams’ Muff and Fumble Doom Ravens and 49ers

billy-cundiff-missed-field-goal-video-kyle-williams-fumble

The two games played yesterday resulted in one of the greatest NFL Championship weekends of all-time. Both games were close throughout, and were decided by a field goal.

Each game has its own fair share of storylines, but there is one common factor that affected the outcomes of both games: special teams.

[Read more...]

Baltimore Ravens-New England Patriots 5 P’s: Preview, Point Spread, Pick, Prediction, and Poll

tom-brady-ray-lewis-baltimore-ravens-new-england-patriots

In this afternoon’s first conference championship game, the top two seeds in the AFC face off as Baltimore travels to Gillette Stadium to face the Patriots.

For Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco (the subject of a recent MSF photo story) this is a big opportunity to show that he belongs in the discussion of the upper tier quarterbacks in the NFL. For Patriots superstar Tom Brady, today provides an opportunity to avenge a playoff drubbing at the hands a Baltimore a few years ago with a win propelling the Brady-Belichick duo to its fifth Super Bowl appearance.

Here is all the basic info you need to know, what MSF’s writers have said about the game this week, and a poll so you can take your pick.

[Read more...]

Harbaugh Bowl II and Patriots-Giants II Offer Two Intriguing, Possible Super Bowl Matchups

jim-and-john-harbaugh

Conference Championship Sunday is only one day away, and four teams still have their hopes alive for a Super Bowl title. The Patriots are hosting the Ravens in the afternoon game, and the 49ers are hosting the Giants in the late game.

The four teams remaining provide possible Super Bowl matchups that will be very interesting to watch.

[Read more...]

AFC Championship Game: Baltimore Ravens at New England Patriots Preview and Prediction

tom-brady-ray-lewis-baltimore-ravens-new-england-patriots

The best two teams in the AFC will play for a berth to the Super Bowl on Sunday, as the top-seeded Patriots welcome the second-seeded Ravens to Gillette Stadium.

It is not often that the top two seeds both win in the divisional round, but their opponents both had shortcomings. The Broncos ran out of steam and were overwhelmed in New England, while T.J. Yates could not get anything going against the Ravens’ defense.

[Read more...]

Cam Cameron, The Key To Sunday’s Ravens-Patriots AFC Championship Game

cam-cameron-baltimore-ravens-new-england-patriots-afc-championship-game

The AFC Championship Game this weekend between the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens hinges on one person.

That’s right: just one.

Tom Brady?  Nope, not the sure-fire first ballot Hall of Famer.

Ray Rice?  Sort of, but that’s not the answer.

Joe Flacco?

Bill Belichick?

John Harbaugh?

No. No. No.

Actually, the most important person in deciding who will advance to represent the American Football Conference in Super Bowl XLVI is none other than the gentleman who holds the worst all-time record of any “non-interim” head coach in NFL history: Baltimore Offensive Coordinator Malcolm “call me Cam” Cameron.

[Read more...]

Houston Texans-Baltimore Ravens 5 P’s: Preview, Point Spread, Pick, Prediction, and Poll

ravens-texans-baltimore-houston-preview-prediction-point-spread-pick-tv-time-announcers

The Houston Texans won their first ever playoff game last week, following the lead of Arian Foster while T.J. Yates managed the game effectively. Playing the Bengals at home is far different from playing the Baltimore Ravens in Baltimore, however.

In today’s first game, Houston will attempt to reach the AFC Championship Game against New England…but they’ll have to beat Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, and the mighty Ravens in their home stadium where the defense typically balls so hard.

Here is all the basic info you need to know, what MSF’s writers have said about the game this week, and a poll so you can take your pick.

[Read more...]

NFL Playoffs: Houston Texans at Baltimore Ravens Preview and Prediction

joe-flacco-ravens-texans-preview-point-spread-prediction-tv-time-announcers

Much of the AFC playoff coverage has been focused on Tim Tebow and the Broncos, but there is another game being played on Sunday that should be great to watch.

The Houston Texans, who are now undefeated in the playoffs as a franchise, are heading into Baltimore to take on the Ravens. They already faced each other this season, in a game which the Ravens won by a score of 29-14. It seems like a lopsided win, but five field goals by Billy Cundiff turned out to be the difference, in an otherwise hard-fought game.

[Read more...]

NFL Playoffs Divisional Round Predictions: Saints-49ers, Patriots-Broncos, Ravens-Texans, and Giants-Packers

packers-giants-prediction-point-spread-tv-time-announcers-green-bay-new-york

Four games, eight teams, eight storylines.

The Divisional Round often produces the most compelling and memorable moments of the NFL Playoffs. Favorites carrying the weight of the world, or underdogs with nothing to lose and not getting enough respect even after being just one of eight teams out of 32 left.

Jerod offered his spread picks for each game earlier in the week. Now here are my predictions for each game.

[Read more...]

NFL Playoffs: 10 Predictions and Things to Watch

breesus-drew-brees-son-nfl-playoffs-predictions

The holidays are over, and the 2011 NFL regular season has concluded along with them.

Before we as sports fans switch our focus to other items like March Madness or the Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight that I will keep assuming will happen, we get 11 more games that make up the annual NFL playoffs. These 660 minutes will re-write, or at very least alter, the season’s script to which many think they already know the ending.

[Read more...]

NFL: AFC Playoff Scenarios and Predictions for Week 17

Steelers-Ravens-nfl-afc-playoff-scenarios-predictions-texans-patriots-bengals-titans-broncos-raiders

I just broke down the playoff scenarios for the NFC (including my predictions for what the first round matchups will look like).

Now let’s break down the playoff scenarios for the AFC based on what happens in Week 17. There is still a lot to be decided.

[Read more...]

Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers Preview and Prediction

ravens-chargers preview prediction point spread baltimore san diego sunday night football

The Ravens head into San Diego tonight looking for a win to stay in a good spot in the tightly contested AFC playoff race and also maintain their lead over the Steelers in the AFC North. At the same time, the Chargers are looking for a win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

[Read more...]

Fantasy Football Week 15 Start Em, Sit Em Advice, Player Projections, and Roster Q&A

tim-tebow-denver-fantasy-football-week-15-start-em-sit-em-projections

I am skipping an introduction this week because I’m too mad at fantasy football.

In my league of 14 teams, I finished right in the middle of the pack in terms of points…but because I had the third most points scored on me, I missed the playoffs…by a lot.

I finished second to last.

Lame.

Sometimes, fantasy football goes that way. I will spare you my three heart-breaking losses of the year because, quite frankly, we all have them…and nobody else cares.

[Read more...]

The Unsung Heroes of Week 13 in the NFL

You too can own a small piece of Lambeau Field.

It was an eventful week in the National Football League.

Aaron Rodgers led a last-minute drive to give the Packers a win over the Giants, extending Green Bay’s winning streak to 18. Drew Brees became the first quarterback in league history to throw for more than 4,000 yards in 12 games. Tim Tebow led the Broncos to their fifth straight win and proved that he is more than just a pair of legs, throwing for 202 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Chris Johnson put to rest any doubt that he had emerged from an early-season, hold0ut-induced funk by rushing for 153 yards and 2 scores. Marshawn Lynch had similar numbers in the Seahawks’ Thursday-night thrashing of the Eagles. And the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski caught 3 touchdown passes, tying the record for most touchdown receptions in a season by a tight end with 13.

First-year coach Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers clinched the NFC West and earned their first Playoff bid in nearly a decade. During the Niners’ shutout of St. Louis running back Frank Gore became the leading rusher in franchise history.

These are the players you’ll see on the highlight shows and read about in the week-in-review columns. These are the players who sell jerseys and star in commercials for insurance companies. But, as is always the case in football, no team is successful apart from the contributions of several players whose exemplary work we often overlook.

Here are but a few of the unsung heroes from Week 13 in the NFL:

[Read more...]

San Francisco 49ers-Baltimore Ravens Thanksgiving Game Quick Preview

thanksgiving-day-jim-john-harbaugh-san-francisco-49ers-baltimore-ravens-preview-prediction-point-spread

Today’s final Thanksgiving Day game features the once-defeated San Francisco 49ers against the up and down (but mostly up) Baltimore Ravens. Here is the TV and spread info, plus what our writing team has had to say about this game throughout the week, including our picks…and yours.

[Read more...]