AFC North hopes on the line for Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens are one game behind division leading Pittsburgh in the AFC North, and will need to win out and hope the Steelers lose one or two more to take the title. Despite the fact that there is a 3 game difference in the win column between the Ravens and the Houston Texans, this game will be much more competitive than many NFL experts are predicting.

Baltimore is a 3 point favorite in most sportsbooks for this Monday Night match-up, but to me that shows that Houston is still considered a threat. Their offense is dynamic now that they have added a tremendous rushing attack. The addition of Arian Foster initially seemed as though it would help this Texans team get over the top in terms of making the playoffs, but a total break down on defense has doomed them once again.

A 5-8 record looks hideous, but if you consider that Houston lost 3 consecutive game by a touchdown or less, and that 2 of those losses were in the final minutes, you will see that they are far better than their record indicates. Foster is currently leading the league in rushing with 1230 yards and total touchdowns with 15. He has been nearly unstoppable this season, and will give the stout Ravens defense all they can handle.

If Baltimore can penetrate the offensive line and keep Foster contained, then Matt Schaub will have to step up. As we have seen in years past, he is perfectly capable of doing so. Schaub isn’t having his best season, but his stats are still very respectable. He has thrown for 3069 yards with 17 touchdowns to just 8 interceptions this season, and has a solid QB rating of 93.2. The problem for Schaub this year has been the lack of protection he has received from his offensive line. He’s on pace for being sacked 35 times this season, and is becoming a little gun-shy in the pocket.

Baltimore’s Joe Flacco is anything but gun-shy. He has improved over each of his 3 seasons in the NFL, and is having his best year yet in 2010. Flacco is on pace for almost 4000 yards this season, and is completing over 62% of his passes. Despite not having the greatest receiving group in the league, Flacco finds a way to get the ball downfield. Having Ray Rice in the backfield certainly helps his ability to pass. Rice is finally starting to utilized to the fullest now. Early in the year he was not incorporated into the passing game as much as he should have been, but now he is catching enough balls to force defense to keep an eye on him.

Both of these teams have the weapons to move the ball offensively, and it will come down to which team can make more stops. Most football handicappers will say that the Ravens defensive unit that is ranked 7th in the NFL in yards allowed has the better chance, but Houston just may surprise all of us!

Related posts:

1. AFC North Divisional Round Battle: Pittsburgh v. Baltimore
2. AFC North Showdown: Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore
3. Ravens host Bengals in AFC North Showdown
4. AFC’s Elite Battle Sunday: Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore
5. AFC North Showdown: Bengals host Ravens

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