Eagles-Ravens predictions
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Eagles-Ravens predictions
Jeff McLane
JEFF MCLANE
Record, 1-0.
Week 2: The preseason is finally over. Let the real opponents begin. OK, so the Eagles had to fight tooth and nail and Michael Vick’s indecision to scrape past the Browns last week. And that alone was a positive sign considering how last season’s Eagles would have surely folded in the fourth quarter. But Cleveland was never going to be a barometer, especially with rookie quarterback Brandon Weeden at the commands. The Ravens, of course, will be a better test. I think the Eagles will come with their No. 2 pencils sharpened. Problem is it won’t be enough. Vick can’t possibly be as bad as he was last week. That’s a low bar to set, but I think we’ll see significant improvement and a game plan that takes some of the decision-making out of the quarterback’s hands. So there will be more balance and quicker throws. The wrench in the plan is that the Eagles’ wide receiving group could be short a starter, possibly two. DeSean Jackson’s hamstring injury doesn’t appear serious enough to hold him out, but Jeremy Maclin (hip pointer) will likely be a game-time decision.
Juan Castillo’s defense was very good last week, Weeden or no Weeden. But the unit was able to take advantage of a quarterback that had no chance of beating them through the air and a rookie running back also playing in his first NFL game. Joe Flacco and Ray Rice are significant upgrades. If I was Castillo, I would have Mychal Kendricks shadow Rice, who can line up in multiple spots. I would give the linebacker additional help, too. Make Flacco beat you. If the defensive line can generate pressure against a Ravens offensive line that is strong in the middle and weaker on the edges, Flacco can be rattled. All that being said, I think Rice will be too much to handle. Ravens 23, Eagles 21.
What goes right: Eagles cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Brandon Boykin keep Ravens wide receivers Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin in check.
What goes wrong: Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata gives the interior of the Eagles offensive line all it can handle.
ZACH BERMAN
Record, 1-0.
Week 2: Expect a better performance on Sunday from the Eagles, who should rebound with a more focused and polished effort in their home opener. That won't be enough, especially with Maclin battling a hip injury. Vick will look sharper and cut down his interceptions against Baltimore, but he won't have as much success downfield. Look for LeSean McCoy to have a big game catching the ball out of the backfield. But the Ravens will remain stout on defense and keep the Eagles from taking a lead. The Ravens won't score 44 points, but they'll do enough -- particularly with Rice -- to outscore the Eagles. It will be a close game, but Baltimore will head down I-95 with a victory. Ravens 23, Eagles 17
What goes right: Vick plays better, McCoy is more involved and the Eagles' pass rushers disrupt Baltimore's passing game.
What goes wrong: Rice breaks two big plays, and without Maclin either in the game or at 100 percent, the Eagles lack offensive firepower.
If the first week is any indication of what these two teams can do I'd be surprised if the Birds lose by less than 14....but my fingers are crossed.— Curse of Billy Penn- Ravens 30, Eagles 6
Hope I am wrong. Go Eagles.— coloradoeagle - how can anyone expect success given the week vick had against a lesser defense and the fact that his two best receivers are less than 100%... on the bright side 1-1 is better than 0-2.— nyphilliephan
- Vick sacked 5 times. 2 INTs. 1 fumble. Rice runs for over 150 yeards and two touchdowns. Eagles lose 38 - 3— Lttim76(2)
- if you think the Ravens are gonna roll, bet it. Ravens getting +3. Teams are never as bad as they look the week before. Never as good as they were the week before. See the Bears/Packers game for further evidence.— CSpangler
Comment removed.- The bookmakers have the Eagles favored by 2. Anyone who watched the games last week should be all over the Ravens. But the bookmakers aren't in business to give away free money. The line is what it is for a reason.— swinger18
- Cut the penalties in half, and not have Vick toss 4 ints, and we have a ball game. This will be the Eagles toughest opponent of the regular season. I look for the Eagles to win a close one, OR get screwed by the refs. I wonder if the game rates an "A" crew or a group of cast offs like last week.— Craig321
- So the only options are, the Eagles win, or they lose because of the refs? The Ravens being the better team I guess is a non-factor. — van210
- Zack, Pay attention. Here is something quarterbacks philly sportswriters never talk about mainly because the Eagles haven't a quarterback that could be discussed in these terms in 14 years. The most important part of any quarterback is his brain. Jeff George had probably the best arm that ever came into the NFL. He didn't have a brain to go along with it. When the teams play, on both sides of the ball, it is a chess game between the quarterback and the defensive coordinator and in some cases, the defensive p[layewrs who is calling defensive plays. When it's Payton Manny against a defense coordinater or player, it's no contest. If it;s Jay Cutler or Michael Vick it's the other way around. They both have the skills to be a good quarterback, but they don't have smarts, the leadership and the confidence of a Payton Manning or Tom Brady. You can do well in a game or two with a highlight play on occasion, but at the end of the year, these will mean little in the face of another failing season. Reid has been a head coach for 14 years and still has no clue.— mario1239
- Ravens 17 Eagles 13— Bobphxville
- Ravens aren't as good as they looked and Eagles aren't as bad. Eagles win in a close one: Eagles 10 Ravens 9. Go Eagles!— richrose97
- Good predictions by Berman and McLane. We won't be as bad as last week, but we'll struggle. Ngata and company give the offense plenty of trouble. Birds' rushers get to Flacco three times, but he shreds the D for 325. Rice runs for 150 on 30 carries. Reid gives McCoy 17 carries, for 90 yards. Ravens 37, Eagles 17.
The job is then to recover, realize we just started the season badly, and go 11-5. The score won't mean anything if we win ten more.— armchairGM - 38-0 Ravens Win. The defense will be on the field for most of the game. After the Offense goes 4 and out each time. 1st play eagles run and then the next three are pass plays led by our QB who has no appartent field of vision. Raven secondary will have a field day with Vick. Its going to be nice out this weekend make some plans and spend time with your families this will not be worth watching.— ONLYinPhilly
- 27-17 Eagles win - Eagles rush defense limits ray rice and really creates turnovers. Eagles run the ball more with McCoy and Bryce Brown. Both TEs get TDs and the crowd really becomes a factor. go eagles!!!!!— Yes_General
