Ravens vs Jets Monday September 13th
PredictionsMonday Night Football kicks off it’s 41st season (is that possible?) with the New York Jets hosting the Baltimore Ravens in a match-up of two of the top contenders in the AFC. For you numbers nuts, the Ravens-Jets game will be the 627th in MNF’s history.
In addition to the first ever covered event here at BSO, this will be the Jets Rex Ryan’s first meeting against the Ravens as a head coach. Ryan was an assistant in Baltimore from 1999 through 2008, serving as defensive line coach for his first six seasons, (winning the Super Bowl in 2000) and was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2005. He was credited with crafting the Raven’s feared defense during his tenure, and remained in his defensive coordinator role under current Ravens head coach John Harbaugh in the 2008 season before taking the head job with the Jets prior to the 2009 season.
Top Online Betting Site’s for the Ravens Vs Jets Game:
As was to be expected, a lot of woofing has been going on leading up to the game. Raven’s All-Pro linebacker and team leader Ray Lewis has made some less than friendly comments on Ryan’s pre-season Namath-like predictions for his Jets and Ryan, also as to be expected, responded with the equivalent of “bring it on.”
The Jets received a boost this week when All-Pro cornerback Darelle Revis ended his holdout. How effective Revis will be after missing all of training camp and pre-season is a mystery, but the distraction of wondering when or if he’d return is at least not a mystery any longer. In Ryan’s first season at the helm, his team reflected his scratch and claw personality; often abrasive, never giving in. It was eerily similar to his defenses with the Ravens, and having Revis back can only be an advantage. Fans shouldn’t expect him to immediately pick up where he left off last season as the league’s premier “lock-down” corner however.
The Jets were a surprise last season, but they didn’t rest on their 2009 achievements. One of the most aggressive, if not THE most aggressive player in the off-season, the Jets added some significant talent to their already formidable nucleus. LaDainian Tomlinson, an almost no-brainer Hall of Famer, headed East to prove to the Chargers and the rest of the league that his mediocre showing in 2009 was a mere blip on the radar. They didn’t stop there. Pass rusher supreme/Dancing Star Jason Taylor and super talented cornerback Antonio Cromartie will only help Ryan’s already brutish defense. He’s suspended for the first four games, but Steeler Super Bowl MVP Santonio Holmes will add to Mark Sanchez’ assemblage of talented receivers.
The Ravens, meanwhile, have also tweaked their offensive attack, seeking to change the perception of them as a grind-it-out, don’t beat themselves, somewhat boring style of team. Adding elite wideouts Anquan Boldin and T.J. Houshmandzadeh to go along with Derrick Mason and standout tight end Todd Heap should make Baltimore a much more dangerous team when they have the ball. No one doubts Joe Flacco’s skills, and now with all that talent to play with, he should elevate his standing among the league’s signal callers to a new level. Ray Rice had a breakout second year in 2009, and with opposing defenses not able to key on him, he could be even better. The main question on offense is a reshuffled O-line. If they can give Flacco at least a minimum of protection however, they should survive until they get healthy.
On defense, not having Ed Reed until perhaps mid-season is not a good thing, and the rest of the secondary is either short on experience or coming off injury, so it could be exploited. Run stuffing is a Raven strength, and may have to carry the load until other pieces either return or solidify. Aside from Tomlinson, the Jets have skill players Braylin Edwards, the vastly overlooked and underrated Jerricho Cotchery, rising young star Dustin Keller at tight end and second-year running back Shonn Greene in their arsenal.
This matchup should be anything but ho-hum, and a lopsided result, either way, would be a shock. Looking to place a bet on Monday’s game? Check out BetUS and you’ll get $500 as a bonus when you deposit at least $500! So you’re pretty much winning, before you make your bet. After all, if you’re going to be betting on the NFL this year, you might as well be doing it with the houses own cash.
There’s definitely no love lost or Christmas cards exchanged between these two teams. Two young, talented quarterbacks; a plethora of skilled receivers; aggressive, slobber-knocking defenses; innovative coaches, Monday Night.
What’s not to like? Buckle up your chin straps. Football is back.
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