Sunday, September 7, 2014

M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore

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During the opening week of the National Football League season, the American Football Conference North division will see two of its best teams compete. M&T Bank Stadium will be the home to the showdown between the 2013 Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens and the 2013 regular season divisional champion Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals ran away with the division title after an 11-5 season, while the Ravens failed to make the playoffs after going 8-8.

The Bengals are led by one of the most underappreciated quarterbacks in the NFL in Andy Dalton. A year ago, he had a career season, starting all 16 games, throwing for 4,293 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 20 interceptions. Dalton, who just signed a massive contract extension in the offseason, is lucky to have one of the best young wide receivers in the sport in A.J. Green. In 3 seasons in the NFL, Green has made the Pro Bowl 3 times, catching 260 passes for 3,833 yards and 29 interceptions. Also leading the way offensively for the Bengals is second-year running back, Giovani Bernard, who ran for 695 yards and 5 touchdowns in limited play.

The Ravens will be looking to get back to the successes they had the year before last. With Joe Flacco at quarterback, Torrey Smith and Steve Smith at wide receiver, Dennis Pitta at tight end, and Ray Rice at running back, they have all the offensive weapons needed to get them 30 points a game. Now, it is only a matter of whether their defense can hold up to other elite offensive units. The defensive squad still features players like Terrell Suggs and Haloti Ngata that scare quarterbacks, but it is the lesser known players that will be tested the most, especially in week 1 against the Bengals.

Injuries to Watch

Cincinnati Bengals

08/29/14 T Andre Smith Concussion questionable Sunday vs. Baltimore
08/29/14 TE Tyler Eifert Shoulder questionable Sunday vs. Baltimore
08/29/14 LB Vontaze Burfict Hamstring probable Sunday vs. Baltimore
08/29/14 DB Darqueze Dennard Hip questionable Sunday vs. Baltimore
08/29/14 DB Chris Lewis-Harris Suspension expected to miss 2 games
08/17/14 RB Rex Burkhead Knee out indefinitely
08/13/14 G Mike Pollak Knee out indefinitely
08/12/14 WR Marvin Jones Foot out indefinitely

Baltimore Ravens

08/29/14 CB Lardarius Webb Back questionable Sunday vs. Cincinnati
08/29/14 DB Will Hill Suspension expected to miss weeks 1-6 of regular season
08/29/14 DL Brent Urban Knee out for season
08/25/14 RB Bernard Pierce Concussion probable Sunday vs. Cincinnati
08/13/14 DE Kapron Lewis-Moore Achilles out for season
08/13/14 NT Terrence Cody Hip out indefinitely
07/27/14 RB Ray Rice Suspension expected to miss weeks 1 & 2 of the regular season
07/27/14 CB Aaron Ross Achilles out for season

Tony's Pick: Take Cincinnati

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