Garceau: Ravens Bye Week 2015
The bye week comes at a bad time for the Ravens; John Harbaugh's mighty men are riding a 1-game win streak, there goes the damn momentum! This is the third 2-6 first half in franchise history; all three head coaches experienced one. Ted Marchibroda started 2-6 in 1998 (finished 6-10) and was fired after that season, Brian Billick's 2005 Ravens started 2-6 (finished 6-10) and now John Harbaugh has lost 6 of the first 8.
The Ravens offense has been wanting but the numbers aren't horrible. The Ravens rank 10th in total offense and a middle of the pack 15th in points scored. Defenses is the issue the Ravens rank next to last in pass defense and are tied for last with only 4 takeaways, by comparison the Eagles have 19 takeaways. The Ravens give up nearly 27 points game that ranks 25 out of the 32 NFL teams.
The Ravens have a chance to get better in the second half, 5 of the remaining 8 games will be played at home that's the good news, the bad news they'll have to play those games without Steve Smith who suffered a season ending and perhaps career ending Achilles injury last week against the Chargers. Smith was the Ravens first half MVP and was on pace to catch over 90 passes for 13-hundred yards.
No Ravens this week, no problem there are some good matchups this week here are 3 of the best.
Rams (4-3) at Vikings (5-2) Fox 1:00
Big game for both teams, the Vikings have won 4 of their last 5 games to pull within a game of the Packers in the NFC North. Jeff Fisher's team might be the Los Angeles Rams next year but that distraction hasn't ruined this season. In this pass-happy day a great old-school running back battle here. Adrian Peterson is running to Canton and Rams rookie Todd Gurley is off to a brilliant start, he's the 1st rookie in NFL history with 4 consecutive games of 125+ rush yards, Gurley has rushed for 566 yards (141.5 per game) in past 4, most in SB era in 1st 4 career starts. Local notes, former Terp Stefon Diggs is first in NFL history with 85+ yards receiving in his first 4 starts. The Vikings rookie has 419 rec. yards (104.8 per game) and 2 TDs in 1st 4 career games. And former Dunbar prep star Tavon Austin of the Rams had receiving TD (66 yards) & rush TD last week. 1 of 3 players in NFL with rec., rush & return TD in 2015.
Packers (6-1) at Panthers (7-0) Fox 1:00
After an overtime win over the Colts Monday night the Panthers are 7-0 for the first time in franchise history. Cam Newton's numbers aren't flashy but his leadership and late game drives have fueled the perfect start. Newton has 28 games with a pass TD and rush TD, 2nd most in NFL history. Green Bay is coming off a 29-10 whipping at Denver where Aaron Rodgers was held to a career low 77 passing yards. Green Bay is 2nd in NFC with 23 sacks led by Julius Peppers (5.5) Peppers played his first 8 seasons with Carolina.
Broncos (7-0) at Colts (3-5) CBS 4:25
Peyton comes home! He ranks last in the NFL in TD/INT ratio but Manning showed life last week when he passed for a season-high 340 yards and earned his 186th career win, tying Brett Favre for most regular season wins by starting QB. Drafted number 1 overall by Indy in 1998 this could be Peyton's last game in Indianapolis. Andrew Luck (2-1 vs Den.) has struggled this season, his 12 interceptions lead the league and he's ranked 32 in passer rating. Two former Ravens assistants matched in this game. Gary Kubiak the Ravens OC last year is the 4th NFL head coach to start 7-0 in 1st year with a new team since 1970. Chuck Pagano, the former Ravens DC, is on the hot seat and is likely in his last year with the Colts.
