The NFL Beat

Here's a few thoughts on the Ravens, Tony Banks and a Super Bowl prediction.

1) Quoth the Raven, Nevermore?

The aura of invincibility was shattered by Green Bay and twice by Cleveland, but the Baltimore Ravens still seemed like they were ready to roll. Despite a slew of injuries and a shaky offense they were 8-4 going into the Pittsburgh game last Sunday night. After a week of trash talking it appeared the Ravens were ready to repeat. After all this is the team that last year made a living on talking junk and backing it up.

So what happens? The Steelers pound them. And believe me Ravens fans, it wasn't close. The score may have been 26-21, but the Steelers are without a doubt the better team and that is going to change in the next month. The Steelers dominated time of possession (41:05 to 18:55) and total yards (476 to 207), and Kordell Stewart was simply outstanding (333 yards on 20-for-31 passing).

The Ravens are now 8-5 and the Steelers are 11-2 and AFC Central champions. The Ravens will probably make the playoffs, but do not appear capable of making a dramatic run this year. The defense is good, not great. And Elvis Grbac is just a huge disappointment.

2) Saints go marching in?

The Saints are the single most frustrating team in sports. One minute they look dynamite and the next they look like a XFL team. They were supposed to be a solid playoff team. Instead they are 7-6 and in a dog-fight for a playoff spot. Aaron Brooks is fantastically inconsistent. Kyle Turley is a madman. Albert Connell is a thief (allegedly). Ricky Williams is playing to expectations, but needs more carries. And Head Coach Jim Haslett seems to be as unstable as his players.

The good news is that this is one fun team to watch. If they can line up all of their planets they will be a threat to any team in the playoffs. However, with Tampa Bay, Washington and San Francisco on the horizon, this team could be the biggest bust of the season. Well, next to the Titans and Broncos.

3) Smart move Tony, real smart.

My man, Tony Banks, you gotta love him. His self-confidence should be studied by all of America's youth. Tony doesn't seem to realize that he has one leg out the NFL door. He lucked into the Redskins this year and, with the assistance of defense and Stephen Davis, the Redskins have had an amazing turnaround. So the Redskins offer Tony a contract extension. Fair enough. What does Tony do? He says "no thanks, let's wait till after the season." I get the thought process here: Tony's thinking he'll clean up after he leads them to the playoffs. Problem is, you are Tony Banks, you are not leading anyone to the playoffs.

Now the Skins will have the off-season to wise up and get a good quarterback and Tony will be looking for a new team. I hear Barcelona's interested. If this guy was as good as he thought he was he would be the best quarterback ever.

4) An early Super Bowl prediction.

Chicago Bears vs. Oakland Raiders in New Orleans.

Don't laugh, it's possible.

Conventional wisdom says Rams-Steelers. Well, we know conventional wisdom in the NFL is about as reliable as a Geraldo Rivera news report.

The Rams are not invincible. I repeat, the Rams are not invincible. This year their two losses are at home, so home-field advantage guarantees them nothing. Also, they like to turn the ball over. Against an opportunistic Bears team that could be dangerous. And, please remember two years ago, the Rams barely beat the Bucs, and last year the Saints gunned them down.

The Bears seem to find a way to win and have the feel of a team up to something special. And, despite their record, they are getting no respect. A team not respected in January is a dangerous team. (See Baltimore Ravens last year.)

As for the Raiders. They were a popular pre-season choice and have fallen out of favor of late. Their suspect run defense has people questioning whether they could beat a tough Steelers team on the road. I say they can and they will.

The Raiders remind me of Denver in the 1997 playoffs. In the 1996 playoffs, Jacksonville shocked them 30-27 in Denver. You remember that. Denver was everyone's pick and the Jags knocked them off. The next year the Broncos went away from the pressure of home and won a big championship game on the road in Pittsburgh when no one expected it.

Oakland couldn't handle the pressure last year at home against the Ravens. I mean who could play in front of those convicts they call fans. This year they will go into Pittsburgh as underdogs and win. No pressure equals victory. (Afterwards Jon Gruden will be announced as new head coach at Notre Dame.)

So who wins the Raiders-Bears Super Bowl. If it happens, I'll be happy to let you know.