Week 6: Texans vs. Ravens - Who ya got?

[The Rick]

The AFC South leading Texans (3-2, tied with Tennessee) are coming off a loss to the Raiders at home, and will likely be without 'Dre Johnson and Mario Williams. That said, Foster looks to be fully back and healthy and will be a challenge. The Texans are 10-16 on the road since the beginning of the 2008 season (including this season, 1-1).

The Ravens are coming off a bye, which tends to be a good thing, but have been terribly inconsistent on offense. Two pretty good offensive games, two stinkers. The Ravens won the last match-up on a Monday Night last season when Josh Wilson took a Matt Schaub pass to paydirt for a pic 6 and the overtime winner.

Who ya got?

BTW, the AFC North Standings coming into week 6:
Ravens 3-1
Steelers 3-2 (vs. Jaguars)
Bengals 3-2 (vs. Colts)
Browns 2-2 (@ Oakland)

[gallden]

Finally. I hate bye weeks.

[JohnnyK27]

BTW, the AFC North Standings coming into week 6:
Ravens 3-1
Steelers 3-2 (vs. Jaguars)
Bengals 3-2 (vs. Colts)
Browns 2-2 (@ Oakland)


BTW the Steelers have recovered well from their week one Ganking by us. They destroyed the Titans which manhandled the Ravens. So if you're keeping score that will put them in front of the Ravens in one of the tie breakers. Making the game in Pittsburgh all the more important. A loss could again cost the Ravens the division. I know its a little early to be looking at this ...But its certainly possible.

[Sports Guy]

BTW the Steelers have recovered well from their week one Ganking by us. They destroyed the Titans which manhandled the Ravens. So if you're keeping score that will put them in front of the Ravens in one of the tie breakers. Making the game in Pittsburgh all the more important. A loss could again cost the Ravens the division. I know its a little early to be looking at this ...But its certainly possible.Not really.

They played well yesterday and I guess they played well beating Seattle but other than that, they haven't looked good at all.

Ravens would have beaten Houston with Johnson and Williams..They sure as hell are going to beat them without those 2.

[primetime]

Too many things working in the Ravens favor for this game......playing at home, after the bye, no AJ or Mario Williams and a team in Houston that seems to find ways to lose late in close games. Even in the game against Pittsburgh, which they pretty much dominated from the opening whistle, it was a one score game, Houston couldn't put them away and the Steelers had a chance to tie it up late.

In regards to JohnnyK's comment, the tie breaker is common opponents, of which we'll share 14 with Pittsburgh. If we beat Houston, we've evened up that column again, so I don't really see that as a concern.

Hopefully we'll be healthier coming into this game, particularly Ben Grubbs and hoepfully Jimmy Smith. I see this one as a Ravens win something in the neighborhood of 27-13.

We'll see what happens as the week progresses and how the injury report shapes up but this appears to be a game where the Ravens easily take care of business.

[The Rick]

BTW the Steelers have recovered well from their week one Ganking by us. They destroyed the Titans which manhandled the Ravens. So if you're keeping score that will put them in front of the Ravens in one of the tie breakers. Making the game in Pittsburgh all the more important. A loss could again cost the Ravens the division. I know its a little early to be looking at this ...But its certainly possible.

If we beat the Texans, who they lost to, that negates that fact.

Another fact is that we are better than Pittsburgh this year, I have no doubts about that for the first time in several years.

[flashjordnk]

They played well yesterday and I guess they played well beating Seattle but other than that, they haven't looked good at all.

They look good at home when Ben can communicate with the OLine. I think my biggest concern about the Ravens is that the offense wasn't in sync during a home game when Joe gets a chance to survey the defense and make pre-play adjustments and checks openly.

It's clear the Steelers can do that well, and do it well at home at that. They've got a little bit of a tough stretch with NE/Balt/@Cinci there.

It's good to know collectively the AFC North isn't rolling over, but the better Cinci/Clevland looks, the more and more difficult the games at the end of the year will be for Baltimore.

[ShaneDawg85]

We will win, the only question is how hard of a win it is going to be. If we get pressure on Schaub, then it will be much easier than if we don't, because even without Johnson they can still throw the ball.

[McNulty]

Texans just traded for Mason. I'm scared now.

[Tony-OH]

Without Mario and Johnson, I think the Ravens roll to a big win in this one as long as they stay fired up. Since they are home, I don't see that as a problem but I do worry that the Ravens will overlook them and may not have that normal intensity coming off a bye.

Ravens 28- Texans- 10

[Dipper9]

Without Mario and Johnson, I think the Ravens roll to a big win in this one as long as they stay fired up. Since they are home, I don't see that as a problem but I do worry that the Ravens will overlook them and may not have that normal intensity coming off a bye.

Ravens 28- Texans- 10

I think I read somewhere where the Ravens are 8-1 after a bye week, and they have a great record at home. I don't see us taking this game lightly as I think Flacco and crew want to prove they are one of the elite teams in the league. I don't make predictions because I don't want to jinx us, but I think the intensity will be there.

[SouthRider]

This is a classic 'trap game'. Plus the Texans really need the win.

Texans 30
Ravens 24

[Icterus galbula]

This is a classic 'trap game'. Plus the Texans really need the win.

Texans 30
Ravens 24

A "classic trap game" after a bye and before playing the Jaguars? I don't think thats how it works.

[SouthRider]

A "classic trap game" after a bye and before playing the Jaguars? I don't think thats how it works.

According to Yahoo: A "Trap Game" is a game that is played before or after a tough or rival opponent. Teams have a tendency to look past an opponent preparing for the following week's game, or have a letdown after beating a tough or rival opponent.

I think the Jets qualify as a tough/rival opponent. Given the bye week and the satisfaction of beating the Jets the Ravens could be in for a let down. Meanwhile Houston is coming off of a tough loss.

[Icterus galbula]

According to Yahoo: A "Trap Game" is a game that is played before or after a tough or rival opponent. Teams have a tendency to look past an opponent preparing for the following week's game, or have a letdown after beating a tough or rival opponent.

I think the Jets qualify as a tough/rival opponent. Given the bye week and the satisfaction of beating the Jets the Ravens could be in for a let down. Meanwhile Houston is coming off of a tough loss.

I might agree if we had just played the Jets, but I highly doubt the Ravens spent all of the bye week sucking each other's popsicles and not preparing for the Texans. I think the bye absolves us of any trap.

[Sports Guy]

I might agree if we had just played the Jets, but I highly doubt the Ravens spent all of the bye week sucking each other's popsicles and not preparing for the Texans. I think the bye absolves us of any trap.Right..And the Jets aren't some major rival of ours anyway.

This isn't a trap game.

What this is, is a game against a quality team who can put up points...What you have to guard against is assuming that you can win just because Williams and Johnson aren't going to play, in all likelihood.

The Ravens are also very good coming off of a bye week.

[The Rick]

BTW, I'll be there and will be at the Firehall near Ostend St by about 11 or noon. If anyone drops by there, hit me up.

[ccbird]

This is at the near opposite end of the definition of a trap game. Gut tells me this is a relatively low scoring affair. Texans have a solid defense.

20-13 Ravens

[OsnRavensallday]

My gut is telling me this might be another high scoring game between these two, in the end I think were gonna win tho.
Ravens 30 Texans 24

[notfast]

31-15 ravens

[AgentOrange]

Curb stomping

Ravens 30
Texans 13