Ravens vs. Jets preview: Trash talk sets stage for Monday Night
All the talking is over, the holdouts are over and the excuses are over. Now it’s time for the New York Jets to back up what they’ve been saying all season and play some football. The Jets have hyped themselves up all season as Super Bowl favourites and the Baltimore Ravens are not taking too kindly to that, heading into Monday night's opener for both teams.
Jets’ coach Rex Ryan joked that he might sit Darrelle Revis to give the Ravens a chance. Ravens’ captain, linebacker Ray Lewis didn’t take too kindly to that jab and fired back at the brash Ryan.
"Rex can talk all he wants to. Rex isn't putting on pads, so that's pressure on his players. If it's pressure, and his players respond to that, then let them respond,” said Lewis. “At the same time, you put that bulls-eye on your team's head. They're doing all this talking. They're in the Super Bowl. Okay, do what you do. Come Monday night, the whistle has got to blow and somebody has to get hit.''
Lewis also said he’s glad Revis signed after his long hold-out so the Jets will have no excuses if they lose.
The Jets will look to challenge Lewis and the Ravens’ feared defence with a heavy dose of the running game from Shonn Greene and LaDainian Tomlinson. The running game was the Jets’ bread and butter last season as they ranked first in the league. The question is if they can duplicate that without the focal point of their rushing attack of last year. Thomas Jones was let go in favor of the younger Greene.
The Jets’ Super Bowl hopes will ultimately lie on Mark Sanchez who had a shaky rookie season, but a better playoff run. However Sanchez has always struggled when forced to throw more so if the Jets’ running game stalls, the their offence could be in trouble. The Jets acquired Santonio Holmes to boost their passing game, but Holmes is suspended for the first four games for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Look for Sanchez to use his running backs and tight end Dustin Keller.
The Ravens’ defence counters with an amazing front-seven with Haloti Ngata plugging up running lanes and rushing the passer. Ngata is emerging as one of the league’s best defensive linemen. Look for him to get after Sanchez often unless the Jets’ elite offensive line can stop him. The test doesn’t stop there, as Lewis and Terrell Suggs will be waiting in the middle.
The Ravens’ secondary is their only concern with safety Ed Reed out but the Jets' passing game should not be much of a threat. Braylon Edwards is a deep-threat but has horrible dropping habits.
The Ravens will feature running back Ray Rice, as he is a dual threat in the running and passing game. Jets’ defensive tackle Kris Jenkins will look to plug up the holes and prevent Rice from a big night, as well as the line-backing tandem of Bart Scott and David Harris. Calvin Pace is out with a broken foot.
The Ravens will look to put their new offensive weapons to work as receivers Anquan Boldin and T.J Houshmandzadeh go up against two amazing cornerbacks in Darrelle Revis and Antonio Cromartie. The Jets’ secondary will also receive a boost from Jim Leonhard at strong safety.
It will all depend on how well Joe Flacco will be able to withstand the Jets’ pressure. The Jets will look to harass Flacco all game long and establishing a threat through the air and on the ground will be key.
The Jets have set themselves up to be really disappointed if they don’t start fast this season. They have a tough early schedule as they host the Ravens, Patriots and visit the Dolphins to open the season. A slow start will set major doubts into the team, making this opener so important. The Ravens just look to take care of business and be the first team to silence Rex Ryan, their former defensive coordinator. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST from New Meadowlands Stadium on Monday night.
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