JEFF ALLEN GAME PREVIEW: RAVENS at PATRIOTS
Tonight’s Monday Night Football features a matchup with big AFC playoff implications as the 7-5 Baltimore
Ravens travel to Foxboro to meet the 10-2 New England Patriots. The Ravens have been a different team
since their bye week, going 4-1 and allowing just 13.6 ppg. A Baltimore win would here would give the Ravens
the division lead of the AFC North by virtue of owning the tie-breakers with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Patriots
have a stranglehold over the AFC East but are still battling Kansas City for home field through the playoffs.
The game opened at New England -8 with a total of 44 1/2. Baltimore money has been pouring in forcing books
to cross seven and -6.5 and is now currently Pats -6 across the board. The Over and Under has been as high as
45.5 and has settled in at 45 flat. Weather will not be a factor with the game time temperature in the high 30’s
and light wind.
This is without question a put up or shut up game for the Ravens. Their recent run has come in by winning all
their home games while struggling on the road. The Ravens lone away wins came at Cleveland in a game they
trailed 20-0 and by two points at 2-11 Jacksonville. The losses include at the Jets. Joe Flacco has thrown multiple
touchdowns in just three of 12 games but a new found running attack featuring Terrence West (650, 4.0, 5 TDs)
and big comeback years from veterans Dennis Pita and Mike Wallace has kept the surprising Ravens in the
hunt.
The Patriots are their usual quality selves despite numerous crippling injuries and the four game suspension to
Tom Brady to open the season. On offense, the team is No.6 rushing the football, No.4 passing the football and
checks in at No.4 overall while averaging 29.6 ppg. with Brady calling the shots. The defense was supposed to
be the team’s wink link but through 12 games ranks No.8 against the run, No.13 against the pass and No.9
overall. In a Belichick only type of move, the Pats exiled their best linebacker (Jamie Collins) to the Browns for a
pick. It really is “New Man Up” when you play for the New England Patriots.
The Ravens have a history of playing the Patriots tough. The Pats are 9-3 over the L12 in the series but the number
is 2-2 in the playoffs with both Baltimore wins coming in Foxboro, two of Belichick’s only four home playoff losses.
Joe Flacco is coming off of a season high 386 passing yards versus Miami and he’ll likely need 300+ yards tonight
to keep the Ravens in the hunt. The Pats have had trouble in the red zone and Gronk is done for the season and
Bennett dinged and not 100%. For Jeff Allen’s call on this game, visit his home site of www.vegasscoresandodds.com.