Was last week legit or more false hope? Too early to tell.
The Raiders take their one game winning streak to Baltimore this week looking to improve their standing in a very weak AFC West. With Denver and San Diego scuffling, the division is strangely up for grabs. There is a lot (a lot) of work to be done before the Raiders can be considered in the mix, but their schedule allows them the opportunity to be relevant the rest of the way.
This week’s opponent sports one of the best defenses in the league. They are loaded with All-Pros who form a terrifying unit. Mistake prone teams like the Raiders are the type of squad the Ravens feast on.
But, the Ravens have their issues as well. Their offense is very methodical and lacks punch. Their rookie QB (Joe Flacco) is rapidly improving, but their passing game still leaves a lot to be desired. So, they employ a run heavy offense, something the Raiders typically have trouble with.
All in all, these teams are similar offensively. Both are very inconsistent, relying more on defense to keep them in the game. However, Baltimore’s D is far superior. This difference (plus a good home field advantage) makes Baltimore the pick. Ravens 13, Raiders 3.