How bad will the Indianapolis Colts lose this week? It will likely be pretty bad. There is almost no chance that Indianapolis has a chance to beat the Baltimore Ravens in their week 14 matchup. The two teams are headed in opposite directions this season. Indianapolis is 0-12 on the season and appears headed for the top pick in the 2012 NFL draft. Baltimore is 9-3 on the season and is preparing for the 2011 NFL playoffs. This game should prove the direction that each team is headed.

To make matters worse, Indianapolis this week lost three significant defensive players. Cornerbacks Jerraud Powers and Terrance Johnson as well as defensive tackle Drake Nevis were all placed on injured reserve this week. Indianapolis’ cornerbacks will be very inexperienced in this game and Joe Flacco will likely look to test them downfield. Jacob Lacey is the only player remaining with any NFL experience and even he was benched earlier this season for his poor play. If Baltimore can pass the ball well, it could be a long day for the Colts.

Good news for fans is that both tight end Dallas Clark and middle linebacker Pat Angerer are expected to play. Angerer is a key to the defense and has been arguably the most consistent player on the Indianapolis defense this year. Clark has missed the last three games with a leg injury. His return will certainly help the passing game but shouldn’t do much to help win the game.

Dan Orlovsky played well last week and provided a big spark for the offense. This Baltimore defense is very good though and will provide a challenge for the inexperienced Indianapolis offensive line. The offense should try to establish Joseph Addai and build upon the recent success of Donald Brown.

In the end, these two teams are headed in different directions and Indianapolis stands no chance to win the game. This loss will surely push them to 0-13 and leave them with just three chances remaining to get a win in the 2011 season. Fans should hope that this game ends quickly and they can move on to next week where they will try for their first win this year.

Prediction: Ravens 34, Colts 10

Kyle Rapoza is a Featured Contributor for the Yahoo! Contributor Network and has been a lifelong fan of the Indianapolis Colts. He attended Super Bowl XLIV in Miami and follows the team closely. Follow him on Twitter @kyler11.

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By David Ginsburg

In the annual duel for supremacy between Baltimore and Pittsburgh, Round 1 this year goes to the Ravens.

No one on either side would be surprised if the decisive matchup occurs months from now – in the playoffs.

The Ravens forced a team-record seven turnovers Sunday and rolled to a 35-7 season-opening victory. Baltimore took an early 14-0 lead and cruised to its most lopsided win in the history of the rivalry, but all that means is that the Ravens lead the Steelers by one game in the AFC North with 15 to play.

“That’s a heck of a football team. I guarantee you they will be back,” Baltimore coach John Harbaugh said of the Steelers. “So we’ll see them again.”

The next Steelers-Ravens game is slated for Nov. 6 in Pittsburgh.

Much can happen before then.

“It’s one win, although it’s a big one against our divisional rival,” Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson said. “We’re going to see them again in eight weeks. We got to keep stepping on the gas.”

There’s no guarantee the rivalry will be put on hold after Nov. 6. After all, these teams have met in the postseason in two of the last three years, so who’s to say it won’t happen again?

The Ravens sure looked like a playoff team on Sunday. The Steelers, not so much.

“We got beat into submission,” linebacker James Farrior said.

Pittsburgh won eight straight openers and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was unbeaten in his last seven starts against Baltimore, but both streaks ended in hideous fashion.

Roethlisberger was sacked four times, threw three interceptions and lost two fumbles.

“I need to play a lot better. It’s the first one, first game of the year,” he said. “I grabbed our offense at the end and just talked to them and said the season’s not won or lost today, the division’s not won or lost. We just dug ourself a little hole. We’ll be all right. We’ll learn and we’ll come back stronger than ever.”

Very little went right for Big Ben, who entered the game with a career-high run of 158 passes without an interception.

“It hurts so much to lose (but) it’s hard not to chuckle at some of the things,” he said. “Tipped balls at the line of scrimmage getting intercepted, balls coming out, fumbles, just everything didn’t go our way.”

Baltimore, on the other hand, was darn near perfect.

Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes, Haloti Ngata had a hand in three turnovers and Ray Rice ran for 107 yards and scored twice.

It was a rematch of a second-round playoff game in January, when the Steelers rallied to beat Baltimore 31-24.

That day, the Ravens let a 21-7 halftime lead evaporate with three turnovers in the third quarter. At halftime of this one, Baltimore linebacker Ray Lewis spoke loudly in the locker room after his teammates compared the two games.

“They were saying, ‘We’ve been here before,’” Lewis said. “No, we haven’t been here before. This is a whole new year.”

This time, the Ravens got three takeaways in the third to turn a 21-7 advantage into a rout.

Ngata was the driving force, causing a fumble and deflecting a pass that produced an interception. Ed Reed also picked off two passes for the Ravens, who mercilessly harassed Roethlisberger.

“I guess they were waiting for this one,” the quarterback said.

Both sides can’t wait for the next one.

“Obviously we have a lot of work to do. We didn’t stop those guys enough,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said.

“We’re one up on them now right now, and that’s how we’ve got to approach this,” Rice said. “It’s always a slugfest with them, and Lord knows what’s going to happen later in the year.”

AP

By Joel Thorman

– NFL Editor, SBNation.com

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Aug 30, 2011 – The 2011 NFL season is almost here which means it’s time to preview every team’s chances this year. SB Nation’s Baltimore Beatdown gives us the scoop on the Baltimore Ravens.

Record Prediction

With the Baltimore Ravens scheduled to play the NFC West, easily the weakest division in the NFL, as well as seeing both the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns twice, they could definitely be figured to sweep all eight of those games. If they can win five of the other eight games, they should be able to reach a 13-3 season and with it, that elusive AFC North division title and what would most likely earn then a playoff bye and a playoff home game for the first time in four consecutive trips to the post season.

Best Game On The Schedule

Although there are 16 games in the regular season, none can be looked at as better than the season opener hosting their hated AFC North division rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right now, hands down this is the best rivalry in the NFL and starting off the season with a home victory over the Steelers would set the tone for the rest of the year. Of course, hosting the San Francisco 49ers, coached by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh’s brother, Jim, on Thanksgiving night, has to be a close second, as Baltimore, be it the old Colts or Ravens have never played on Thanksgiving Day.

Player Who Takes A Step Back This Year

Most people would jump up and yell, “Ray Lewis,” but for the 16^th straight year they would continue to be incorrect, as Ray remains one of the best inside linebackers in the game despite his advanced age. His film study, preparation and training regimen has him playing harder, stronger and even faster than many guys a decade younger than him. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about veteran center Matt Birk. Birk looked like an old man when he joined the Ravens and his aches and pain from squatting over the ball and absorbing thunderous hits from defensive linemen over the years has taken its toll on his now-frail body. He may be able to return from his pre-season injury in time for the 2011 regular season, but it will undoubtedly be his final one if he even makes it through to the end.

Breakout Player Candidates

This is a tough one, as there are so many, including the obvious candidate, QB Joe Flacco. Flacco has the receiving threats he needs in all areas, with the sure-handed Anquan Boldin, the speedster Lee Evans and of course, Mr. Everything, Ray Rice. He should have a great season if, and only if, the offensive line can give him the protection he didn’t have last year.

Both second year tight ends, Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta, have looked solid replacing Todd Heap and one of them could separate from the other and have an excellent season. With the addition of Lee Evans as the No. 2 receiver, the possibility of either rookie WR, Torrey Smith or tendon Doss, making a huge impact has lessened. Defensively, there are tow guys who figure to have breakout seasons and two more whose impact should make a difference.

Defensive tackle, Terrence “Mount” Cody is the starter and has made huge strides in both learning the defense and rounding himself into good shape compared to last year.  DE/OLB Paul Kruger has bulked up and seems to finally “get it” as to his role putting pressure on the opposing

QB. OLB Sergio Kindle has recovered from his horrible head injury that kept him out all of last year and has the size and speed to make a difference and rookie CB Jimmy Smith reminds many in Baltimore of former All-Pro CB Chris McAlister, and while he might not start the season at corner, he certainly expects to finish it as the starter.

Best Ravens Player Others Haven’t Heard Of

WR David Reed was a fifth round draft pick last year who couldn’t stay healthy and only recently returned to the practice field this week. However, he is already ahead of the rookie WR’s and proved he can be a solid kick returner as he returned one for a TD last season.  The other guy is punter Sam Koch, who is a linebacker in a punter’s body and booms kicks far and can touch them down near the goal line almost on command, which is a very under rated skill.

Overrated/Underrated/Just Right

RB Ray Rice was a top five fantasy pick last year but under-performed due to losing touches near the goal line and a less than stellar offensive line. This year, the o-line has improved, goal-line back Willis McGahee is gone and the team signed the best blocking fullback in the league in Vonta Leach which together signals a return to fantasy stardom for Rice. Both Anquan Boldin and Lee Evans are sure to see their share of passes.

Tight end Dennis Pitta may be an under-rated goal-line option for those short play-action passes. Do not sleep on grabbing QB Joe Flacco as your second QB, as he has the tools and another year experience and has not missed a start in his NFL career.

I can’t think of any Ravens that is over-rated, as most Ravens have historically not been fantasy stars, and there is no way that ne could label the Ravens defense over-rated once again.

Best Media Personality

Other than me? While not so much a “personality,” the Carroll County Times and National Football Post writer Aaron Wilson appears on many stations as the Ravens expert around town. He usually has the breaking news before anyone else and is well respected plus easy going and friendly. I also like WJZ-TV channel 13′s Stan Saunders and Mark Viviano, both of whom are solid and approachable compared to many of the other established so-called main stream media.

Best Ravens Players To Follow On Twitter

Easily Ray Rice, who is always tweeting funny comments, including the other day about the local earthquake when he said on his Twitter account that he would like to tell us what he said when the quake hit, but it “wasn’t printable!” CB Domonique Foxworth was interesting to follow, as he is a member of the NFLPA’s Executive Committee and played an instrumental role in the CBA negotiations. Former Ravens FB LeRon McClain was a great “tweeter,” but now is with the Kansas City Chiefs so we can no longer count him. 

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The impact of running back Reggie Bush on the Miami offense in 2011 remains to be seen.  But there’s no dispute regarding Bush’s level of desire.

As David Hyde of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel explains it, Bush is working hard.

Very hard.

The effort includes regularly catching two trash cans full of football and running sprints and hitting the blocking sled after a two-hour practice has ended.

“I’m all about respect, about earning respect, and the way you do that is hard work,” Bush said.  “That’s one of the things I wanted to show [teammates] right from the start to make people realize, ‘Oh, he’s not just here for glitz and glamour.  He’s the hardest worker out there.’  That’s what I always try to be.”

He has added motivation, now that he has gone from being a role player/decoy in New Orleans to being by all appearances the lead dog in the Dolphins’ backfield.

“I’ve been told what I can’t do for a while by many people,” Bush said. ” ‘You can’t do this, you can’t do that.’  All that’s done is motivate me.  I want to show what I can do.”

If he wants a little extra motivation, Reggie should listen to Saints play-by-play broadcaster Jim Henderson’s recent comments to 1560 the Game in Houston.

Asked to characterize Bush’s legacy in New Orleans, Henderson said, “Somewhat of a constant tease. . . .  He’s one of the greatest practice-field players I ever saw.  And so often — and I saw every game he ever played for the Saints — he’d get the ball in his hands and you’d go ‘Oooooooh’ and it’d be followed with a ‘Uhhhhhhhhh’.  That’s usually the way that it went.

“Reggie was [a] very scintillating performer, had great star power.  But if you really looked at his numbers, he was not a superstar.  He really not even a star.  He was below average in a lot of them.  But he was a person that had marquee value, and I really expected that some team would overpay for him this year just for that.  And I don’t know whether the Dolphins overpaid for him or not at $5.5 million a year but he was due to make nearly 12 [million] with the Saints this year.”

Of course, there’s a much bigger issue than desire.  It’s durability.  Reggie has had plenty of injuries, something he has blamed on the fact that he played his home games on FieldTurf.

Starting in 16 days, when the Fins host the Pats, we’ll find out if Reggie can stay any healthier on grass and infield.

Until then, there’s no denying the fact that he’s working hard as he awaits the official start of the next phase of his career.  The only question is whether it will matter.

Updated Aug 9, 2011 10:52 PM ET

Twelve-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis said he will retire if the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl this season.

The 36-year-old is about to embark on his 16th NFL season, having joined the Ravens as a first-round pick in 1996.

“My son will be a junior this year. I only play this game for another ring,” Lewis told CBSSports.com.

“If we can win it this year, and I’m being brutally honest with you, if we win it this year, I’m gone to then spend as much time as I can with him. I’m gone to be with my son. And I feel like now we have enough pieces in place to make a good run at the Super Bowl.”

Lewis already won Super Bowl XXXV with the Ravens, and was also named Super Bowl MVP.

Las Vegas has the Ravens at 14-1 to win the title.

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