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Ravens Battle Jets In Monday Night AFC Action
Ravens Battle Jets In Monday Night AFC ActionThe New York Jets were the surprise team of the 2009 season, using a powerful rushing game and suffocating defense to advance all the way to the AFC Championship game before losing to the Indianapolis Colts. They won’t be sneaking up on anyone this season, however, and face a tough assignment in their season opener as they welcome the Baltimore Ravens to the new Meadowlands Stadium. The Ravens are looking to improve on their performance of last season, which saw them upset the New England Patriots in their first playoff game before being eliminated by eventual AFC Champion Indianapolis.

Baltimore’s trademark during the past decade has been an intimidating defense, and the front seven remains one of the most fearsome in the NFL led by menacing Ray Lewis. Quarterback Joe Flacco is improving with experience, and has shown more confidence in throwing downfield. He won’t need to do too much of that, however, as the Ravens boast a solid power running game featuring all purpose back Ray Rice. Anquan Boldin will give Flacco a game breaking target downfield when he does take to the air.

The Jets return most of the contributors to last season’s breakout performance, and that means they’ll once again have the enviable combination of a stout defense with a productive rushing game. The team led the league in both rushing and run defense last year, and it should be more of the same in 2010. Close out safety Darrelle Revis has come to terms with the team ending his holdout, and despite a lack of depth at the wide receiver spot should be ready to challenge for the AFC title in 2010.

Mark Sanchez has always received high marks for his poise, but the 2nd year quarterback will have it severely tested in this game by Baltimore’s pass rush. On the upside, the Ravens are much weaker in the secondary so if he can find time to throw he should be able to move the ball well. In many ways, these teams are mirror images of one another and are also very close in terms of talent. That’s reflected in the pointspread for this game, which has the Jets a -2’point home favorite.

A couple of points may not seem like much, but in what should be a defense oriented battle of field possession they can be huge. We don’t see either team opening a big lead on the other, and in a very evenly contested game that is unlikely to produce much scoring we’ll definitely take the points. The Ravens have covered six of the last seven against the Jets, including three straight at home. Look for them to open the season with a narrow road victory.



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