2011 NFL Predictions: AFC North Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore Ravens

Last Season: 12 – 4

2011 NFL Draft: CB Jimmy Smith (Colorado, Rd. 1/Pick 27), WR Torrey Smith (Maryland, Rd. 2/Pick 26), T Jah Reid (UCF, Rd. 3/Pick 21), WR Randon Doss (Indiana, Rd. 4/Pick 26), CB Chykie Brown (Texas, Rd. 5/Pick 33), DE Pernell McPhee (Miss. St., Rd. 5/Pick 34), QB Tyrod Taylor (Virginia Tech, Rd. 6/Pick 15), RB Anthony Allen (Georgia Tech, Rd. 7/Pick 22)

Key Additions: S Bernard Pollard

Key Losses: FB Le’Ron McClain, WR Donte’ Stallworth, WR Derrick Mason, TE Todd Heap, RB Willis McGahee

2010 Individual Stat Leaders:

• Passing yards — Joe Flacco — 3,622 yards

• Passing touchdowns — Joe Flacco — 25

• Rushing yards — Ray Rice — 1,220 yards

• Rushing touchdowns ­— Ray Rice/Willis McGahee — 5

• Receiving yards — Anquan Boldin — 837 yards

• Receiving touchdowns — Anquan Boldin/Derrick Mason — 7

• Tackles — Ray Lewis — 139

• Sacks — Terrell Suggs — 11

• Interceptions — Ed Reed — 8

2011 Regular Season Schedule:

Week 1: Steelers

Week 2: @ Titans

Week 3: @ Rams

Week 4: NY Jets

Week 5: Bye

Week 6: Texans

Week 7: @ Jaguars

Week 8: Cardinals

Week 9: @ Steelers

Week 10: @ Seahawks

Week 11: Bengals

Week 12: 49ers

Week 13: @ Browns

Week 14: Colts

Week 15: @ Chargers

Week 16: Browns

Week 17: @ Bengals

Analysis: If you look at what the Ravens lost in the past two weeks and what they gained, you will see they didn’t help their offense, but improved one of the NFL’s most elite defenses. Losing WR Derrick Mason as well as TE Todd Heap takes away two of QB Joe Flacco’s top three targets. Yes, they still have WR Anquan Boldin, but he will be lining up with a new crowd this year, including rookie WR Torrey Smith. RB Ray Rice will also have to carry even more of a load in the backfield with the loss of RB Willis McGahee and FB Le’Ron McClain. However, the defense got even stronger. S Bernard Pollard will line up at safety along S Ed Reed and rookie CB Jimmy Smith out of Colorado should see good minutes on the field. Linebackers Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs will continue to dominate opposing run games and second year DT Terrence Cody should continue to improve in the trenches. The losses on offense are a cause for concern, but as in several years past, it will be the defense that carries the Ravens.

2011 Season Prediction: 12 – 4, Second in the AFC North and AFC Wildcard

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