NFL Match Preview: Baltimore Ravens vs Atlanta Falcons
It’s finally starting to feel like football. Don’t get me wrong, the NFL is always bursting with energy and each game is thrilling. It’s a shame that there was no football in the coliseum or Russell Crowe might have played a quarterback in his Oscar winning
role. How does Maximus Matt Ryanus sound? Or Decimus Joseph Flaccoius?
Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco are the gladiators for this Thursday and Georgia Dome is the coliseum. The NFC leaders Atlanta Falcons are going to face the AFC leaders Baltimore Falcons. The two teams hold the number one and two ranks in the league standings.
At the half way point, Thursday’s game is about as big as it gets in the regular season.
6-2 Ravens are going to face their toughest rivals yet when they meet the 6-2 Falcons in Thursday night’s game which would be nationally televised. Both teams are looking like strong playoff contenders and it isn’t entirely unthinkable that the game would
prove to be the precursor to Super Bowl.
Ravens have a weaker offense when compared to Falcons but the Falcons' defence doesn’t quiet measure up to the Ravens. The two teams are pretty much equally matched. The only hole in Ravens’ defence is the rush. That is also Falcons’ greatest strength. Ravens
would have to be ultra vigilant to stop Atlanta’s running game in its tracks.
Ravens average 136.5 yards per game and their rush defence, ranked 13th in the league, has conceded an average of 104.8 yards per game. The battle would end up being fought on the ground more than in the air.
Numbers can tell you only so much about a game. The two sides are largely unfamiliar with each other and without a doubt, they probably have spent a good part of the week analysing each other. Falcons undoubtedly have been preparing. Altanta’s coach Mike
Smith assembled his staff and got to work breaking down the Ravens immediately after Sunday’s game. But it would still be interesting and unpredictable when the two teams get to the field. Ravens would look to Haloti Ngata and Kelly Gregg to cut off the run
and with Ray Lewis rushing the pass, Falcons have much to be worried about.
The defensive backs on the Baltimore side are relatively smaller and Atlanta’s 6 foot 212 pound wide receiver, Roddy White said that it would be an advantage for the Falcons. “Those guys are 5-8, they're quick and fast, but we just got to put our body in
front of those guys and just catch balls and keep the chains moving.”
The game being scheduled for Thursday instead of Sunday puts a significant amount of strain on the preparations of both teams. After paying the physical toll of a Sunday night game, your body is still recovering by Thursday. 4 days are not nearly enough
to be back on the top of your game. NFL teams settle into a routine with games on Sundays, preparations on Mondays and practices on Wednesdays. With a game on Thursday, an entire week would have to fit into these few days. Physical readiness though is a factor
equally applicable to both sides and gives neither team an advantage over the other. Except that Ravens would have to fly to Atlanta.
Falcons almost did lose Roddy White because of the schedule. White is second in NFL with 796 receiving yards. White came out of Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay with a knee injury and missed practice on Monday and Tuesday. He was doubtful for Thursday’s game
until today before White confirmed that he would play against the Ravens.
White is quarterback Matt Ryan’s favourite receiver. Ryan has a passer rating of 90.2 and has thrown 13 touchdown passes this season. He is in excellent form and is closing in on the 2,000 yard mark. To top it all, Ryan has won 17 of 18 games in Georgia
Dome, home of the Falcons.
Ravens’ quarterback Joe Flacco has an equally impressive record this season. Flacco has thrown 1917 yards and 12 touchdowns. The game can go either way and that is exactly what makes it so exciting.
Tags: