2006 Baltimore Ravens Predictions
With the addition of quarterback Steve McNair, the Baltimore Ravens
think they have all the pieces in place to be Super Bowl contenders again. When
you combine the McNair acquisition with the rest of the Ravens' off-season
moves, it's hard to argue with them.
McNair comes to a team that has some explosive weapons on offense in wide
receivers Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, tight end Todd Heap, and running backs
Jamal Lewis and the newly acquired Mike Anderson. Baltimore's defense is not the
dominating group that led it to the Super Bowl XXXV championship, but it is
still one of the best in the NFL. Six years after their only Super Bowl
appearance, the Ravens hope an aging but still effective defense will receive
more help from an upgraded offense to get it back to the Promised Land.
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Key Additions: QB McNair, DTs Justin Bannan and Haloti Ngata (rookie), RB
Anderson, DB Corey Ivy.
Key Subtractions: DB Will Demps, RB Chester Taylor, DT Maake Kemoeatu, QB
Anthony Wright, WR Randy Hymes.
Sportsbook Odds: After the addition of McNair, the Ravens' odds to win the Super
Bowl dropped substantially. WagerWeb.com currently has Baltimore as +$365 to win
the AFC North, +$1500 to win the AFC championship and +$2800 to win Super Bowl
XLI.
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Watch: McNair is a huge upgrade from incumbent Kyle Boller, who has a 69.2
career QB rating and has thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in his three
seasons with the Ravens. McNair will be reunited with his favorite receiver in
Tennessee, Mason, who signed with Baltimore as a free agent last season. Mason
led the Ravens with 86 catches last season and enjoyed Pro Bowl seasons with
McNair throwing to him in Tennessee, grabbing 95 and 96 catches in 2003 and
2004, respectively. In 11 seasons with the Titans, the 33-year-old QB was 81-59
as a starter. He brings a winning attitude to the team and has restored the
confidence of the entire franchise. "There are no excuses why this football team
can't win and win big," said defensive coordinator Rex Ryan. "There's no more,
'We don't have this.' Sometimes guys would get caught up in other teams having
this and that QB. Well, now we've got that QB. We've got one of those rare
cats."
Outlook: The Ravens' defense is still one of the most feared in the league led
by All-Pros Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. The team also has added some quality veterans
in the past two seasons such as defensive end Trevor Pryce and cornerback Samari
Rolle. With a potentially explosive offense now, all the pieces are there for
this team to not only make a run at the playoffs, but at the AFC North title and
possibly even a spot in the Super Bowl. It's just a matter of whether the
offensive line can keep the first franchise quarterback in the team's history in
one piece.
By Mike Brody of
WagerWeb |
