Week 3: Browns @ Ravens (9/21/08)
Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2008 4:01 pm
Gametime - Sunday, September 21st / 4:15pm (EST)
TV Outlet - CBS/WJZ-TV / Direct TV channel 704
Radio Outlet - 98 Rock (Baltimore)
Location - M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore (MD)
NFL.com Preview
With Hurricane Ike postponing their first road game of the season, the Baltimore Ravens got an unexpected early bye week after their season-opening win.
The Cleveland Browns look like they could use a week off to regroup.
The Ravens will look for their second division victory while trying to put the Browns in an early 0-3 hole when the AFC North rivals square off Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.
Baltimore (1-0) lost nine of its final 10 games last season and was breaking in a rookie quarterback to start 2008. Joe Flacco, though, had a respectable NFL debut as he went 15-for-29 for 129 yards with no interceptions while running for a 38-yard touchdown, and the Ravens defense led the way to a 17-10 win over Cincinnati on Sept. 7.
Injuries played a major factor in Baltimore's 5-11 finish last season, with defensive standouts Samari Rolle, Chris McAllister and Ray Lewis all missing time and All-Pro safety Ed Reed playing injured for much of the season. All four were on the field against the Bengals, helping hold Cincinnati to 154 yards of offense and no touchdowns.
"It was a team game," first-year coach John Harbaugh told the Ravens' official Web site. "Through some adversity in the game, through some tough times (and) having each other's backs (we persevered). Defense supporting and picking up the offense, offense supporting and picking up the defense, and special teams kind of undergirding the whole thing."
Baltimore dealt with some unplanned adversity last week. The Ravens were set to play at Houston last Sunday, but with Hurricane Ike bearing down on the city, the game was moved to Monday night before eventually being rescheduled for Nov. 9 -- Baltimore's original bye week.
That means starting with this game, the Ravens will play 15 straight weeks without rest.
"I don't think it changes anything right now, but when those weeks come up we'll come up with a plan to account for the fact that we don't have a bye week," Harbaugh said. "It's going to be a challenge. It's the one that's been presented to us."
The Browns (0-2), who figured their 10-win season in 2007 was the prelude to a playoff appearance in 2008, have a different challenge. Since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978, 234 teams have started a season with two losses, and only 27 have gone on to the playoffs.
Since 1990, three teams made the playoffs after starting 0-3, none since Buffalo in 1998.
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Non-Ravens Games on Sunday/Monday
Sunday, Sept. 21
» Kansas City at Atlanta, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Carolina at Minnesota, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
» Oakland at Buffalo, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Tampa Bay at Chicago, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
» Houston at Tennessee, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Cincinnati at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Miami at New England, 1 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Arizona at Washington, 1 p.m. ET (FOX)
» New Orleans at Denver, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
» St. Louis at Seattle, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
» Detroit at San Francisco, 4:05 p.m. ET (FOX)
» Cleveland at Baltimore, 4:15 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Pittsburgh at Phiadelphia, 4:15 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Jacksonville at Indianapolis, 4:15 p.m. ET (CBS)
» Dallas at Green Bay, 8:15 p.m. ET (NBC)
Monday, Sept. 22
» N.Y. Jets at San Diego, 8:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
Injury Report
Demetrius Williams Questionable Hamstring
Todd Heap Probable Back
Ed Reed Probable Neck
Jared Gaither Probable Ankle
Le'Ron McClain Probable Ankle
Derrick Martin Doubtful Shoulder
Fabian Washington Out Neck
Yamon Figurs Questionable Hamstring
Brendon Ayanbadejo Questionable Fibula
Lorenzo Neal Probable Illness
Chris McAlister Probable Knee
Corey Ivy Probable Ankle
Kelly Gregg Doubtful Knee
Jason Brown Probable Ankle
Willis McGahee Probable Knee
Trevor Pryce Probable Back
Troy Smith Out Illness
Injury Report
Kamerion Wimbley Probable Groin
Rex Hadnot Questionable Knee
Sean Jones Out Knee
Ryan Tucker Doubtful Hip
Joshua Cribbs Questionable Ankle
Kris Griffin Probable Elbow
Brodney Pool Questionable Concussion
Donte' Stallworth Doubtful Quadricep
Martin Rucker Out Knee
Weather Report
High: 78°F
Precip: 20%
Wind: ENE 5 mph
Max. Humidity: 53%
UV Index: 6 High
Sunrise: 6:54 AM ET
Avg. High: 79°F
Record High: 96°F (1895)
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