Jets at Ravens
By Judd Hall
The Ravens were able to make it to the AFC Championship Game last season thanks to a defense that gave up just 15.3 points per game and 261.1 yards per game. The mastermind behind that unit was Rex Ryan. Now Ryan will face his old team as the head coach of the Jets as Week 2 of the NFL preseason draws to a close.
Ryan’s first year at the helm of an NFL franchise has already been mired in a quarterback controversy. Kellen Clemmens was the lone holdover from last year’s stable of QBs in New York. The Jets then went out and picked up Mark Sanchez out of Southern Cal in the first round of the draft.
Clemmens was given the starting nod since he had experience in Brian Schottenheimer. Yet he has had a sloppy training camp this summer, which hasn’t helped Clemmens’ cause at all.
Sanchez has shined during camp with his ability to grasp the workload. It also helps that he completed three of his four passes for 88 yards in his debut against the Rams on Aug. 14.
The rookie from USC has done enough to get the starting nod for Monday night. Ryan has made mention that Sanchez could get the majority of the snaps against Baltimore. This game is going to go a big way towards determining who will be No. 1 on the depth chart in the QB race. As Ryan has mentioned, "You're going against a top group. Obviously, you're taking the body of work. It won't be just through one game. But if someone steps up and shines against the best defense in the NFL, then you'd have to weigh it more than you would going against somebody else."
Baltimore doesn’t look like there is much to worry about at the moment. The Ravens took Washington to task on Aug. 13 as three-point home favorites, 23-0. Joe Flacco looked sharp in completing nine of his 15 passes for 103 yards. Troy Smith also appeared to put a stranglehold on the backup job by connecting on 14 of 30 pass attempts for 200 yards and a touchdown.
The Ravens’ defense was solid all night long in surrendering just 196 yards for the night. They were also able to hold the ‘Skins to just one third down conversion on 11 chances in Week 1.
Most betting shops have opted to go with the standard preseason football line here by installing Baltimore as a three-point home “chalk” with the total sitting still at 32 ½.
The Ravens have had little problems over the past few years when the Jets have visited by posting a 4-1 straight up and 3-2 against the spread in the last five games at M&T Bank Stadium.
That information might suggest Baltimore is the play on Monday night. However, you have to remember that John Harbaugh is 1-2 SU and ATS in the three times the Ravens were listed as home faves during the preseason under his tenure.
New York would appear to be the play for this contest as they have gone 6-2 SU and ATS in its last eight preseason games played on the road.
You can catch this contest on ESPN at 8:00 p.m. EDT.
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NFL PRESEASON
N.Y. Jets (0-1 SU and ATS) at Baltimore (1-0 SU and ATS)
Mark Sanchez is set to make his first NFL start and he’ll do so against one of the best defenses in the league as the Jets visit M&T Bank stadium for a preseason clash with the Ravens.
Sanchez came off the bench in last week’s 23-20 home loss to the Rams as a three-point favorite, going 3-for-4 for 88 yards and leading the Jets to a touchdown in his only series. The rookie, who is battling Kellen Clemens for the starting job, gets the start tonight and will get the majority of first-half reps, according to new coach Rex Ryan. Ryan, the former longtime Ravens defensive coordinator, said Clemens will also play in the first half, with rookie Erik Ainge once again getting most of the second-half action. No. 4 QB Chris Pizzotti, re-signed this week, will get one series in the fourth quarter.
The Ravens had possibly the most impressive Week 1 performance, blanking the Redskins 23-0 as a three-point home favorite, outgaining Washington 500-196, including 399-140 through the air. Coach Jim Harbaugh said QB Joe Flacco (9-for-15, 103 yards last week) will start tonight and play into the middle of the second quarter and maybe the entire first half, depending on the number of snaps. Troy Smith will replace Flacco, with John Beck and/or rookie Drew Willy finishing up.
Despite last week’s loss, New York is still 7-3 SU and (5-4-1 ATS) in preseason play since the final game of 2006. That includes three consecutive SU and ATS victories in true road games, all as an underdog. Additionally, the Jets are 4-1-1 ATS since 2004 when coming off a SU loss in exhibition play, but they’ve lost back-to-back Week 2 preseason contests (0-2 ATS).
Baltimore ended a three-game SU and ATS preseason losing skid with last week’s win, but is still just 3-5 SU and ATS in August since 2007, including 2-3 SU and ATS at home and 2-4 ATS as a favorite. Like New York, the Ravens have also dropped consecutive Week 2 preseason games both SU and ATS, both at home.
The under is 12-4 in Baltimore’s last 16 exhibition contests, including 4-1 under Harbaugh.
ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER
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Game of the day: Jets at Ravens
By Steve Merril
New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens (-3, 32.5)
Weather and line movement
Weather will not be a factor tonight. The forecast is calling for 71 degrees and clear skies with just a 20 percent chance of showers and a wind of only 4 mph.
The Ravens opened as a 3-point favorite earlier this week and the oddsmakers have been reluctant to move off the key number. The early action has come in on the underdog Jets and the line has now shifted to Baltimore -3 +100 and New York +3 -120. Surprisingly, the moneyline for the straight-up winner has actually risen with Baltimore going from Pick -145 to -155.
The over/under line (32.5) has held steady all week and remains unchanged as of Monday morning.
Sanchez to start
Rookie Mark Sanchez will make his first start tonight for the Jets after a solid showing in his debut last week. Sanchez completed three of four passes for 88 yards versus the Rams last week, including a 48-yard gain on his first play in relief of Kellen Clemens.
New York head coach Rex Ryan commented, "I think he (Sanchez) earned the reps with the [starters]. It might have been done on paper that way in pencil, but he had to earn it. The guy had to earn his reps, and I think he’s done that. Without question, he’s done that."
While the starting quarterback position is still undecided, Sanchez has reportedly looked strong in camp this week and might be named the full-time starter if he performs well tonight, especially against a Baltimore defense that ranked second in the NFL last season in total defense and shutout the Redskins 23-0 last week.
Ryan, who was the Raves defensive coordinator, knows this Baltimore defense well.
"If you do anything against that bunch, you could move it against anybody," Ryan said. "It would count more than moving it against St. Louis. No disrespect to St. Louis, but they ain’t the Ravens and they’re not Pittsburgh."
Injuries
Sanchez and Clemens will not have their full starting offensive line protecting them. Left guard Alan Faneca had surgery on a broken middle finger on his left hand last week and will be out tonight. Offensive tackle Damien Woody is doubtful with a concussion and center Nick Mangold is questionable with a knee injury. None of them played against the Rams last week.
Because of the offensive line injuries, the Jets might limit the playing time of Sanchez and Clemens tonight, which means extra minutes for Erik Ainge. But Ryan has indicated that he would like to determine the starting quarterback position before next Saturday’s dress rehearsal game against the Giants.
Ravens’ gameplan
Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said the starters will play into the second quarter and perhaps the complete first half tonight versus the Jets. Harbaugh indicated that some starters such as Ray Lewis, Trevor Pryce, and Ed Reed would be on snap count.
“We’ll do it individually like we always do,” Harbaugh said.
Backup quarterback John Beck is out for the season with a shoulder injury, which leaves Troy Smith and Cleo Lemon to follow starter Joe Flacco tonight.
Extra motivation
Don't kid yourself into thinking this preseason game is like any other for the Jets head coach. Ryan told the New York Post last week that he'd love to beat his old team.
"Of course I feel extra about this game," Ryan said. "I'm not going to deny that. And I guarantee you they do, too. I was there for 10 years."
He was just as honest when the Post reporter asked if he wants to prove something to the Ravens.
"The fact that I got passed over for the head coaching job down there, does that mean anything? I think it does."
Ryan was under consideration for Baltimore's head coach after Brian Billick was fired.
"I always thought it was BS; I always thought I was the right man for the job," Ryan said.
NFLX - MNF
By SportsPic
It's be Ravens and Jets closing out week two of preseason in the second such outing for both teams. Ravens will be trying to build off a 23-0 spanking of Washington Redskins, a game that saw the squad notch 500 total yards while limiting Skins' to just 196. The win / cover snapped a three game preseason drought for the Ravens who enter the contest 3-6 both SU & ATS the past two+ years of practice sessions recording 2 'Over' 7 'Under' over the span. QB Joe Flacco a smart 9-of-15 for 103 yards in two series vs RedSkins is expected to see more extensive time Monday. Meanwhile, Jets off a 23-20 home loss to the St. Louis Rams are now 6-3 (5-3-1 ATS) their last nine in August recording 5 'Over', 4 'Under'. It is well to note Jets are a perfect 4-0 SU & ATS on the highway over the mentioned nine contests and have lost B-2-B preseason games only once the past nine years. According to published reports rookie QB Mark Sanchez out of USC completing 3-of-4 passes for 88 yards in a relief role last week is expected to start this time around. Jets have lost three consecutive regular season clashes with Ravens but were on the winning end of a 34-16 preseason encounter back in 2002. Trends of interest: Jets are 10-4 ATS as road dogs of three or less, 9-1 ATS away with the total set between 32.5 and 35. Ravens 1-3 ATS as home favorites of three or less, 3-7 ATS home with the total set between 32.5 and 35. Betting on the NFL in August is a completely different exercise than betting on the same sport a month later.
Tips and Trends
New York Jets at Baltimore Ravens
Jets: The two big storylines for the Jets are the return to Baltimore of new Jets head coach Rex Ryan and the starting quarterback battle between rookie Mark Sanchez and Kellen Clemens. Ryan was an assistant coach for 10 years at Baltimore, including being the Ravens’ defensive coordinator the past four seasons. The Ravens had one of the top defenses last season surrendering just 15.3 points per game and 261.1 yards per contest. Sanchez gets the start versus Baltimore. The former USC star and No. 5 overall draft pick completed 3-of-4 passes for 88 yards last week while coming off the bench. Clemens, last week’s starter in the 23-20 loss to St. Louis, was 4-for-4 for 28 yards. The Jets’ first-string offensive line finally practiced together for the first time since camp started, but guard Alan Faneca (finger) and tackle Damien Woody (concussion) are questionable.
The Jets are 6-2 straight-up and ATS in their last eight preseason road games.
Key Injuries - Cornerback Darrelle Revis (hamstring) and guard Alan Faneca (finger) are questionable.
PROJECTED SCORE: 14
Ravens (-3, O/U 32.5): Baltimore’s stingy defense looked in mid-season form shutting out Washington, 23-0, in its Week 1 preseason opener last week. The Ravens out-gained the Redskins by a staggering, 500-196. Second-year quarterback Joe Flacco was 9-for-15 for 103 yards while playing two series, with each of his series resulting in a field goal. Flacco is expected to play more in this matchup. Troy Smith will follow Flacco. Smith was 14-for-30 for 200 yards and one touchdown last week. Recently signed journeyman Cleo Lemon could see action as the No. 3 quarterback as John Beck was injured last week. The quarterbacks should get good ground support from Ray Rice and Willis McGahee. Each running back has looked good in camp. The Ravens have one of the deepest talent position pools at defensive line and linebacker. Baltimore held Washington to one third down conversion in 11 tries, and 2.9 yards per rush attempt.
The Ravens have beaten the Jets 4 of the past five times they have hosted them.
Key Injuries - Wide receiver Mark Clayton (hamstring) and linebacker Terrell Suggs (heel) are both doubtful.
PROJECTED SCORE: 17 (UNDER - Total of the Day)