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Broncos Get Hoodwinked


Last Update: 10/30/2009 1:16 pm
By Larry Carney, WMAR-TV

Sweatshirt wearing & Broncos Head Coach Josh McDaniels gets hoodwinked Sunday, taking his first loss in his career.

Sure, the Baltimore Ravens lost three in a row. But, take the Ravens anyway.

For starters, it’s not like the Ravens are getting blown out. As bad as their secondary has played (and it’s been really bad), Baltimore’s lost its last three games in the final minute.

The defense is caught between a rock and a hard place. In some cases, they’re not getting to the quarterback fast enough. In others, the secondary isn’t covering long enough to allow the front 7 get to the quarterback.

But, you’ve got to think that the Ravens figured something out during the bye week. Maybe Safety Ed Reed won’t be allowed to freelance as much. Maybe CB Fabian Washington can recover from being benched against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Broncos should still be able to make big plays, but not like the plays the Vikings made in the first two drives in the last game. The difference in the two teams comes down to Denver QB Kyle Orton.

Unlike many, I actually think Orton is as good quarterback. The guy just wins games. But the Ravens don’t lose games to good quarterbacks. Baltimore loses games to great quarterbacks, and that’s not Kyle Orton.

In their three loses, the Ravens lost to Tom Brady, Carson Palmer & Brett Favre. And the biggest problem in the Vikings game was that the Ravens didn’t come up with any turnovers. Orton will cough them up in this game.

The best match-up though is on the other side of the ball. Baltimore carries the 5th best offense in the NFL. Denver flaunts the 2nd best defense.

Denver’s secondary is terrific. But it won’t matter. The Ravens passing attack isn’t just about the wide receivers. QB Joe Flacco spreads the ball around, hitting TE Todd Heap and the running backs out of the backfield.

And in a weird way, the strength of the Denver secondary could actually help the Ravens. In the last three games, the defense spent a lot of time on the field because Baltimore’s offense was scoring quickly.

Denver will be able to take away the big play, forcing the Ravens to put consistent, methodical drives together.

Give me the Ravens this week, 26-21.


The Talent

John Lindsay - Scripps Howard News Service, Washington

John Lindsay is sports editor for Scripps Howard News Service in Washington, D.C. Writing sports since 1985, John Lindsay has covered NFL, MLB, college football and basketball and major golf events for several newspapers in his career and has been a Heisman Trophy voter since 1996.

Tom Korun - WFTS, Tampa

As we will move forward in our blogging relationship, you and I will likely agree to disagree. You'll learn I mean what I say, and say what I mean. If you don't bring passion, don't waste my time and yours!

David Francois - WFTS, Tampa

A Virginian by birth, David Francois can be found at Elmer’s in Ybor City on Sundays, the only Redskins bar in Tampa. He attended JMU and is proud to say he went to the same school as Scott "Wide Right" Norwood.

Brian Nutt - KJRH, Tulsa

Living in Tulsa means Golden Hurricanes, Sooners, or Cowboys, but not for this guy. Woo Pig Sooie Razorbacks! Nothing like a fall evening in Razorback Stadium calling the Hogs.

Aaron Heintzelman - KSHB, Kansas City

Aaron hopes to use his limited football expertise to fuel many fantasy victories this year, but a quick look at his roster proves he has some work to do. Aaron's true allegiances lie with the Eagles, but you'll also catch him tuning into Chiefs, Steelers and Dolphins games.

Tom Leyden – WXYZ, Detroit

The first book Tom ever read was, "Super Bowl," by John Devaney, written in 1971. He was hooked from that moment. He knows every Super Bowl site, score and MVP. Go ahead - try him. Especially XXI, XXV and XLII. G-Men!

Ian Preuth - WCPO, Cincinnati

I've lived in Cincinnati my whole life so I've seen many bad teams and a few good ones. Most of the time the good teams get screwed because Cincinnati is cursed. I can watch any sport, enjoy competition no matter what it is and appreciate a good debate.

Larry Carney - WMAR, Baltimore

Larry loves crab cakes, football and everything purple and black. He hates Heinz ketchup, Primanti Brothers’ sandwiches and all things Pittsburgh. His fantasy football teams grab running backs on good teams and wide receivers on bad ones. Hidden Talent: Great heckler.

Jeff Heisner - KNXV, Phoenix

I grew up and worked in Detroit and have a keen sense for what bad football really is. After escaping to Arizona I've come to find out professional football isn't all that bad.

Craig Fouhy - KNXV, Phoenix

He's played the game, he's been a coach, and now he's spouting off about it! It's not just about highlights in Phoenix...out here it's a little bit of highlights and a lot of..."Fouhy on Sports!"

Cory Williams - KNXV, Phoenix

Representing the west coast! Cory has spent the last 15 years covering the desert dwelling teams of Arizona. When you’re tired of all the east coast bias (and there's plenty of it here!)...Laugh it off and look west!

Wyatt Wright - WPTV, West Palm Beach

Wyatt Wright is a husband, father and football fan. When he's not yelling at the neighbor kids to get off his lawn, he's reminiscing about seventh grade, when he was a scrappy but undersized linebacker for the 110-pound "B" squad.

Chip Mahaney - E.W. Scripps, Cincinnati

Even though Chip's Cincinnati office has a view of the Bengals' stadium, his heart and mouth are native Texan. His first NFL memory: Super Bowl VI (Cowboys 24, Dolphins 3). Each Saturday in autumn, he prays for a resurrection of the Southwest Conference.

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