M & T Bank Stadium has been host to a great season for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens have been very tough to beat at home with a 6-1 record heading into this match up against the Buffalo Bills. The Bills are finishing off a second-rate season at 7-8 with no hopes of a post season spot. Game kicks off at 4:15 p.m. (EST).
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The Ravens at 12-3 have had a spectacular year. Their best in the eleven year history of the franchise, a season they can only improve with a win to make it 13-3. Their 16-13 win over San Diego offers them a tie breaker in the unlikely event that the Chargers lose to the Arizona Cardinals and forfeit the No. 1 seed.
In the worst case scenario the Ravens obtain the No. 2 seed in the AFC, which means they have a home playoff game after a first-round bye.
"We're in a prime position to get home-field advantage," linebacker Ray Lewis said. "With the way we're playing defense and the way our offense is clicking, we're going to be a hard team to beat in the playoffs."
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Ray Lewis is correct on his perception. McNair and the offense have flourished, winning eight of nine since Billick fired offensive coordinator Jim Fassel and took over the play calling.
Since that switch, McNair has thrown for 1,919 yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions while the offense has averaged the seventh-most points in the league with 24.9 per game. The Ravens averaged 18.3 points in their first six games.
Steve McNair threw for 256 yards and three touchdowns against the Steelers after leaving the Ravens' previous win over Cleveland with an injured throwing hand. Jamal Lewis has rushed for 338 yards and scored six touchdowns in his last four home games.
Lewis finished with 77 yards, giving him 1,063 for the season, and scored his ninth touchdown in Baltimore's 31-7 victory at Pittsburgh last Sunday.
While the offense is better, the defense remains the best in the NFL, allowing league lows of 264.8 yards and 12.9 points per game. The Ravens defense is second in the league with 37 turnovers forced, including five in their last two home games.
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Their last two opponents at M&T Bank Stadium have run for just 89 yards, and the Bills have the sixth worst rushing offense in the league at 100.9 yards per game. Buffalo was eliminated from playoff contention after losing 30-29 to Tennessee last Sunday.
Baltimore is a 9½ point favorite with a total of 35 for the game. I suspect that Baltimore will win but not cover and that this crunch bowl will go under the total. I don’t like to root for a boring game but that’s what this looks like versus a terrible Buffalo Bills.
