NFL Preview
Published 12:00 am Saturday, September 22, 2012
Associated Press
Today’s NFL preview…
If Lee Evans had better hands or Billy Cundiff a more accurate leg, the Baltimore Ravens might be NFL champions right now.
Both of them are gone as the Ravens entertain New England, the team they flopped against in the final minutes of last January’s AFC title game. And the Ravens are trying not to put extra importance on tonight’s meeting.
“It’s always hard to think like that when you have a totally different makeup as a team,” Ray Lewis said. “You don’t hold onto nothing. Win, lose or draw, you let it go and you move on. We have a totally different outlook on what we’re trying to do as a team. So, we are looking at this game as a totally different game.”
They’re hoping the outcome is different, and the Ravens (1-1) have been unbeatable recently after losses, winning 13 straight in such circumstances.
New England (1-1) is 27-3 after a defeat since 2003.•Also today, it’s Atlanta at San Diego and Philadelphia at Arizona in matchups of unbeaten teams.
San Francisco visits Minnesota, Houston is at Denver, Pittsburgh at Oakland, Kansas City at New Orleans, Cincinnati at Washington, Tampa Bay at Dallas, St. Louis at Chicago, Detroit at Tennessee, the New York Jets at Miami, Buffalo at Cleveland, and Jacksonville at Indianapolis.
Monday night, it’s Green Bay at Seattle. The Panthers lost to the Giants on Thursday night to start off the week.
The games …
Atlanta (2-0) at San Diego (2-0)
Atlanta has dominated this series, winning seven of the eight meetings and outscoring San Diego 156-94. The Chargers are 0-5 at home versus the Falcons.
Matt Ryan is off to a great start, leading the NFL in passing rating (117.6).
Philadelphia (2-0) at Arizona (2-0)
Larry Fitzgerald needs two receptions for 700, which would make him the youngest player to get there at age 29.
S. Francisco (2-0) at Minnesota (1-1)
Since Jim Harbaugh took over as coach, the 49ers are 7-2 away from Candlestick Park.
Houston (2-0) at Denver (1-1)
This one has the makings of a shootout thanks to the offensive weapons on both rosters. Yet it’s more likely the defenses will determine the outcome.Green Bay (1-1) at Seattle (1-1)
Green Bay has won six of the last seven meetings, including two in the playoffs.
Pittsburgh (1-1) at Oakland (0-2)
If you recall when this was among the greatest NFL rivalries, you have a sharp and long memory. These clubs couldn’t be further from the days of the Immaculate Reception.
K.City (0-2) at New Orleans (0-2)
The only matchup of winless teams – perhaps the two biggest flops of the early season.
Cincinnati (1-1) at Washington (1-1)
The Redskins took two big hits to their defense when end Brian Orakpo and tackle Adam Carriker were lost for the season in a defeat at St. Louis. Robert Griffin III has been everything Washington could have asked for, adding big plays and tons of enthusiasm.
Tampa Bay (1-1) at Dallas (1-1)
Dallas has won four straight and 12 of 15 in this lopsided series, and it makes its home debut with a bad taste from last week. A blowout loss at Seattle tempered much of the enthusiasm from the opening victory at the Giants. Plus, they are only 13-11 at Cowboys Stadium.
St. Louis (1-1) at Chicago (1-1)
Both teams struggled with their reactions in games last week, with one big difference: St. Louis came back and won, while Jay Cutler and the Bears imploded at Green Bay.
Detroit (1-1) at Tennessee (0-2)
The Titans overachieved at 9-7 last year but have not built off that moderate success. They rank last in rushing despite having Chris Johnson, who has a 1.1-yard average.
N.Y. Jets (1-1) at Miami (1-1)
The loser here will have the inside track to last place in the AFC East because both have difficult schedules immediately ahead.
Buffalo (1-1) at Cleveland (0-2)
C.J. Spiller, the league’s leading rusher in the midst of a breakout start, will test Cleveland’s defense. Spiller is the first player since Jim Brown in 1963 to average at least 10 yards a carry through the first two weeks of a season.
Jacksonville (0-2) at Indy (1-1)
One thing the Colts displayed last week in beating Minnesota was poise. For a young team in the midst of a rebuilding project, that’s encouraging.