Ravens Schedule Reaction

I'm going through the just-released 2010 Ravens schedule to find the many ways in which the NFL  purposefully stuck it to Baltimore, because we know the league despises Charm City (just kidding).  Kicking off with consecutive road games against 2009 playoff teams (Jets and Bengals- both coached by former Ravens d-coordinators) is a fun start.   The Jets first game in their new stadium on a Monday night is a "homecoming" set-up and the environment would be challenging for any visitor.  The opener in the new Meadowlands stadium is the first of 4 prime time Ravens games (wait, I thought the NFL hated Baltimore!).  The league lived up to its promise of ending the season with division games (at Cleveland and home vs. Cincy) in an effort to make games potentially more meaningful at the end.  It may work out that way, and it may not.  Hey, if you have tickets for a late-season game, buyer beware: the game may not matter and players may rest.  It's only been that way since...forever.  I laugh at the outrage over this natural occurrence in every sport:  playoff spots get wrapped up before the season's actually over.  Who knew?  Gotta change that!   The Ravens can hope Joe Flacco's holding his helmet on the sideline while Troy Smith scrambles around against the Bengals in a meaningless game Jan. 2 because the Ravens have already wrapped up the number-2 AFC playoff seed.  Will you be outraged?  I didn't think so.

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Sept. 13 at New York Jets Meadowlands Stadium 7:00 p.m.
Sept. 19 at Cincinnati Bengals Paul Brown Stadium 1:00 p.m.
Sept. 26 CLEVELAND BROWNS M&T BANK STADIUM 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 3 at Pittsburgh Steelers Heinz Field 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 10 DENVER BRONCOS M&T BANK STADIUM 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 17 at New England Patriots Gillette Stadium 1:00 p.m.
Oct. 24 BUFFALO BILLS M&T BANK STADIUM 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 7 MIAMI DOLPHINS M&T BANK STADIUM 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 11 at Atlanta Falcons Georgia Dome 8:20 p.m.
Nov. 21 at Carolina Panthers Bank of America Stadium 1:00 p.m.
Nov. 28 TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS M&T BANK STADIUM 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 5 PITTSBURGH STEELERS M&T BANK STADIUM 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 13 at Houston Texans Reliant Stadium 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 19 NEW ORLEANS SAINTS M&T BANK STADIUM 1:00 p.m.
Dec. 26 at Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns Stadium 1:00 p.m.
Jan. 2 CINCINNATI BENGALS M&T BANK STADIUM 1:00 p.m.