On The Ravens Case: Today the Ravens need to be Cain
The Buffalo Bills will walk into M&T Bank Stadium this afternoon, with nothing to lose,which could make them a dangerous team. They have not won a game all season, they can not stop anyone defensively, and they sort of feel like they are being played like a homecoming game with the celebration of the Super Bowl 35 team at half time.
For the Ravens here are the keys to the game:
1. Last night Cain Velasquez walked into the Octagon at UFC 121 to face Brock Lesnar for the UFC Heavyweight title. Brock has been a monster in the MMA world and this was thought to be his toughest opponent to date. Lesnar charged out of the corner when the bell sounded and started swinging for the fences against Velasquez looking for the early knockout. Velasquez took his best shots and weathered the early storm, while Lesnar soon had a look of why are you still here on his face. The Bills will come out trying to make a statement against the Ravens early in the game and set a tone. The Ravens, much like Velasquez last night have to just weather the storm and not blink. Once Velasquez realized he had taken the best from Brock last night, he quickly turned the fight into a clear case of an elite MMA fighter against a guy who is talented, but not on his level and dominated Lesnar til the fight was stopped.
The Ravens are a much better well-rounded football team today. They have to make a statement against the Bills and when they have a chance to put them away, do so. When you let a team like the Bills hang around in a game that they really shouldn't, they feel like they have a chance to win. Today, the Ravens have to not let the Bills fill that way. The last thing the Ravens want is to go into a bye week 4-3 and coming off of a loss to the Bills.
2. I think you will see a sense of urgency out of the special teams unit this week. They have been called out by their coach Jerry Rosburg and by head coach John Harbaugh,about penalties, and lack of big plays. Today they get their leader back in Brendon Aynabadejo who is a multi-time Pro Bowler playing special teams, and I expect possibly their best game yet.
3. One of the greatest to ever play his position could return to the field for today's game. Depending on how much he plays today, I really think you will get to see this happen today against the Bills.
My pick: Ravens 33 - Bills 16
