GTA IV = Digital Crack in a Box

So...remember how I said this game would take over my LIFE? I was right.

I picked it up at GameStop and got home around noon yesterday, and I played for probably TEN HOURS STRAIGHT. The game is literally everything it's been hyped up to be and more.

I'm not even a quarter of the way done yet. And I have yet to discover all of the features of the game. I haven't even tried online multiplayer yet!

THIS is the future of next-gen gaming...

...and probably the reason why someone is bound to think I died or went missing.

Flacco to Baltimore

After a meteoric rise in draft status for Joe Flacco, the University of Delaware QB went from small-school prospect to big-city savior when the Baltimore Ravens selected him 18th-overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

The road to Flacco becoming a first-round draft pick was not easy for neither the QB nor the team that selected him.

Baltimore originally held the 8th-overall selection and began the day looking to trade up to the 2nd-overall pick held by the St. Louis Rams. The Ravens coveted Boston College QB Matt Ryan as much as the Atlanta Falcons, who held the 3rd-overall pick, but the Rams' asking price was too steep.

The Ravens decided to stay put at the 8th spot, but found a suitor in the Jacksonville Jaguars that began a flurry of activity in the first round. Jacksonville, in possession of the 26th pick, desperately needed a young defensive end and swapped picks with Baltimore to get Florida's Derrick Harvey. However, the Ravens, known in the draft for the shrewdness of their GM Ozzie Newsome, would also obtain additional picks in later rounds from the Jaguars.

With the extra ammunition, Newsome and the Ravens would soon maneuver into the 18th-overall pick held by the Houston Texans, swapping first-round picks as well as surrendering one of the selections obtained from the trade with Jacksonville. The move surprised prognosticators and NFL teams alike, but not as much as the player whom the Ravens had traded up to get with that pick: none other than Joe Flacco.

Flacco now becomes the highest-drafted player from Delaware, far surpassing Super Bowl QB Rich Gannon.

The only question for Flacco that remains is whether he can surpass Gannon's legacy, as well.

Gannon, a former-fourth round pick, would not find success until landing in Oakland several years after being drafted. Under the tutelege of then-head coach Jon Gruden, Gannon would develop into a Pro Bowl QB, eventually leading the Raiders to Super Bowl XXXVII after Gruden's departure, only to lose to the Gruden-coached Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Joe Flacco is in a unique situation, however, as his first-round pedigree makes it obvious that the Ravens view the Delaware senior as their QB of the future. Though Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh has publicly stated that there is to be an open competition at the QB position, the selection of Flacco with such a high draft pick only creates the financial pressure to start him sooner than later.

Flacco will square off against interesting prospects in former-first round pick Kyle Boller and former-Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith. Boller, viewed around the league as a failed draft pick, is looking to gain redemption after having struggled for the past five seasons. However, entering the final year of his contract, he does not look to figure into the Ravens' long-term plans. Meanwhile, Smith, a former-fifth round pick, started only two games at the end of a disappointing 5-11 season, but showed enough promise that fans have called for the coaches to give him a shot. However, the knock against Smith has been his small stature and the perceived lack of intangibles in the limited action he saw in 2007.

Regardless, Joe Flacco now has the daunting task of unseating two incumbents for the most difficult position in all of sports. In addition, he must do it in a city starved for a franchise QB to call their own since the days of Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts.

Those are awfully large shoes that the 6'6", 220-lb. QB believes he can fill.

2008 NFL Draft Coverage

The 2008 NFL Draft is upon us!

I'll be covering the draft as best as I can today, with maybe minimal coverage tomorrow if I'm up to it.

Keep it locked here for some tidbits and rapid-fire thoughts on the future of the NFL...

UPDATE (3:07PM): As has been announced four days earlier, the Miami Dolphins have now (officially) selected Jake Long, OT from Michigan with the 1st overall pick. Right now, the St. Louis Rams are still on the clock and expected to draft Chris Long, DE from Virginia (and son of Hall-of-Fame Oakland Raiders DE Howie Long).

UPDATE (3:12PM): The St. Louis Rams have announced their pick and selected Chris Long, DE from Virginia with the 2nd overall pick (as expected). The Atlanta Falcons are now on the clock and expected to select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College.

UPDATE (3:18PM): The Atlanta Falcons select Matt Ryan, QB from Boston College with the 3rd overall pick. The Oakland Raiders are now on the clock. (I still want Joe Flacco in Baltimore!)

UPDATE (3:28PM): The Oakland Raiders select Darren McFadden, RB from Arkansas with the 4th overall pick. The Kansas City Chiefs are now on the clock.

UPDATE (3:35PM): The Kansas City Chiefs select Glenn Dorsey, DT from LSU with the 5th overall pick. The New York Jets are now on the clock.

UPDATE (3:44PM): The New York Jets select Vernon Gholston, DE/LB from Ohio State with the 6th overall pick. The New England Patriots are now on the clock.

UPDATE (3:51PM): The New England Patriots have traded their 7th overall pick to the New Orleans Saints. The Saints are now on the clock.

UPDATE (3:53PM): The New Orleans Saints select Sedrick Ellis, DT from USC with the 7th overall pick. The Baltimore Ravens are now on the clock.

UPDATE (3:56PM): The Baltimore Ravens have traded their 8th overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:01PM): The Jacksonville Jaguars select Derrick Harvey, DE from Florida with the 8th overall pick. The Cincinnati Bengals are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:08PM): The Cincinnati Bengals select Keith Rivers, LB from USC with the 9th overall pick. The New England Patriots are now on the clock.

It's also been announced that, as a result of the trade with the Jaguars, the Ravens receive the Jaguars' 1st round pick (26th overall), a whopping TWO 3rd round picks, and a 4th round pick. That raises Baltimore's draft total to potentially 12 picks this year!

UPDATE (4:13PM): The New England Patriots select Jerod Mayo, LB from Tennessee with the 10th overall pick. The Buffalo Bills are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:18PM): The Buffalo Bills select Leodis McKelvin, CB from Troy with the 11th overall pick. The Denver Broncos are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:23PM): The Denver Broncos select Ryan Clady, OT from Boise State with the 12th overall pick. The Carolina Panthers are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:28PM): The Carolina Panthers select Jonathan Stewart, RB from Oregon with the 13th overall pick. The Chicago Bears are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:36PM): The Chicago Bears select Chris Williams, OT from Vanderbilt with the 14th overall pick. The Detroit Lions are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:44PM): The Detroit Lions have traded their 15th overall pick to the Kansas City Chiefs, who select Branden Albert, OG from Virginia. The Arizona Cardinals are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:53PM): The Arizona Cardinals select Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB from Tennessee State with the 16th overall pick. The Detroit Lions are now on the clock.

UPDATE (4:57PM): The Detroit Lions select Gosder Cherilus, OT from Boston College with the 17th overall pick. The Houston Texans are now on the clock.

UPDATE (5:03PM): The Houston Texans have traded their 18th overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens! The Ravens have selected Joe Flacco, QB from Delaware!!!!!!!!!

Well, I think I've stuck around here long enough...I'll be back with more periodic updates and actual THOUGHTS on the draft later...

QB's Get PS3 Love?

Not sure how I missed this one, but shortly before Brett Favre was revealed as the Madden cover athlete (see last post), Boston College QB and soon-to-be-1st-round pick Matt Ryan was announced as the coverboy for the PS3 version of NCAA Football 09.

If you didn't already know, EA Sports is releasing NCAA Football 09 with multiple cover athletes this year, one for each major platform (PS3, XBOX 360, Wii, PS2, and PSP). That's a whopping FIVE athletes they've inked, which should be of no consequence since the gameplay will likely be similar across platforms (save for the Nintendo Wii version, for obvious reasons).

Frankly, I'm pissed that the version I'm planning to pre-order will have a QB I don't even want on the Ravens. I'm ecstatic that Brett Favre gets the nod for Madden 09, but Matt-freaking-Ryan for NCAA 09?

If Ryan becomes a Raven and SUCCEEDS, then I guess I'll have no complaints. But, my gut feeling is that Ryan's pro career will be decent but not spectacular. But more on that this weekend when I do my half-assed draft coverage...

Favre + Madden = Greatness in 09

I definitely called it. Brett Favre is the cover athlete for EA Sports' Madden NFL 09, and will become the first non-active player to grace the cover of the best-selling (and ONLY) NFL game on the market today. Not that many new features have been announced so far, though.

Well, other than user-controlled touchdown celebrations. Oh, and improved weather effects. Nod to #4, of course.

Oh, and don't forget, NFL Head Coach 09 (yes, it's back) won't be released individually at retail and will instead be bundled with Madden to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the franchise.

Great...another $89.99 I'll be plopping down on the 29th when I go pick up GTA IV. And I'm already reserving NCAA Football 09 even though I have NO IDEA what any of the new features are, let alone the cover athlete.

Either way, this'll be a GREAT summer. :)

Around The League - 4/23/08

Well, time for me to do my best Adam Schefter/NFL Network impersonation:

Henne to Baltimore?

In his latest column, Sports Illustrated's Peter King raises the possibility of the Baltimore Ravens selecting Chad Henne in this weekend's NFL Draft, either after trading down in the first round or with an early second-round pick. Although the Michigan ties to the current Ravens organization are numerous, I don't see Henne in purple-and-black when it's all said and done. Frankly, he has no intangibles that scream "immediate starting QB," and although I think he may have a decent pro career, he's not worth first-round or even second-round money, especially if he loses the open QB competition and has to sit for a year or two.

That same logic applies to my desire to pass on Matt Ryan, should he be available with the 8th overall pick. At the end of the day, the bottom line IS the bottom line; the Ravens simply can't afford to pay a high draft pick at QB to sit on the bench IF this really IS an open competition for the starting job. The risks are too great, both financially and otherwise. Joe Flacco, as a lower-profile name, is the safer bet, as he is a "project" that could yield the greatest long-term gain.

Spygate Finally Unraveled?

In a developing story, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with former New England Patriots videotape assistant Matt Walsh on May 13th to discuss Walsh's employment with the team from 1997-2000, particularly activities that may be the most damning evidence in the Spygate ordeal.

Honestly, I'm sick of the attention this has gotten. Everyone cheats in professional sports these days -- it's almost become a fact of life. It's sad, but there's so many respected athletes in so many sports whose legacies are now tarnished or in question because of things like this. The only thing I'm afraid of is the potential skeletons in OTHER NFL teams' closets that might be revealed. I'm hoping this won't put an even bigger black-eye on the league, and that Walsh's "evidence" is unfounded or irrelevant.

Teams Not Giving In?

Despite the best efforts of the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins, neither the Cardinals nor the Bengals will part with their disgruntled star receivers. The Arizona Cardinals reportedly rejected trade offers for Anquan Boldin, one day after the Cincinnati Bengals had done the same with Chad Johnson.

My take? It's stupid of the clubs to reject either one of the offer(s), mainly because they were willing to give up so much for either one of the Pro Bowl wideouts. I have no knowledge of what the Eagles were willing to offer, but it was likely a package deal that also included disgruntled Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard. The Redskins, meanwhile, were willing to give up first-round picks from this draft and the next, as well as additional early-round picks. I know that, when dealing with spoiled children, a parent must stand firm. Though Johnson and Boldin may be airing their grievances inappropriately, they are far from children. Dollars and cents is the only thing that makes sense here, as this is still a BUSINESS.

Bad business move on the part of both the Cardinals and the Bengals.

More to come later...

WWE RAW Preview (4/21/08)

TONIGHT on WWE Monday Night RAW:

Yup...WWE actually managed to get Hilary Clinton, John McCain, and Barack Obama to appear on RAW tonight. Granted, they'll only be appearing in special, pre-recorded messages instead of LIVE, but at least the candidates are showing that they have a sense of humor. This'll probably get more of the 18-24 crowd to the polls since WWE is second to only the NFL in that particular demographic. Interesting to see how the crowd reacts to the taped messages...

Meanwhile, the King of the Ring tournament is back, but for one night only. I'm shocked that WWE has managed to keep the participants a secret for this long, as the Internet Wrestling Community normally blows the lid off of any "major" angles, days in advance. Frankly, the tournament is a toss-up, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone like Mr. Kennedy makes his return (*hint hint*) and wins it all. It's pretty obvious that WWE wants to push Kennedy to the main event level, but have no idea how to get him off the mid-card level. If Kennedy DOES prove me right, I foresee a feud with CM Punk with their respective title shots on the line. Eventually, there'll be a non-finish to the angle, and it'll be CM Punk, Mr. Kennedy, and the winner of the Royal Rumble, all facing their respective champions in their respective main events at WrestleMania. Jeff Hardy as the "underdog" to win the Rumble, perhaps?

Anyway, RAW's just started, so off to watch me some wrasslin'...

Aftermath of McNair's Retirement

Obviously, the retirement of Ravens QB Steve McNair has left the team with little security at arguably the most important position in football. I know it's only minicamp, but predictions are running rampant as so-called "experts" try to figure out who Baltimore will have under center come Opening Day.

As of right now, the situation isn't all that encouraging, with Troy Smith and Kyle Boller splitting snaps as of late.

So of these two, who do I think will take the job? Well, if I absolutely HAD to pick between Smith and Boller, advantage goes to the second-year player from Ohio State. Frankly, Boller has failed as a former-first-round selection and it's unlikely that he can improve at this point. Meanwhile, Smith is worth the risk since he's a late-round (i.e. LOW-COST) pick with a lot of upside.

But, to be honest, I'm still rooting for my Delaware boy, Joe Flacco, to get picked up in the second round.

The only knock on him has been his mobility in the pocket and the competition level of the FCS (formerly DIV-IAA). However, I don't buy that DIV-IAA crap one bit (see: Steve McNair, 3rd overall pick from DIV-IAA Alcorn State and Heisman candidate). Anyone that knows football, knows that the only true difference between FBS and FCS is the money poured into the schools. Also, the level of competition is all relative, so frankly, if a kid can play, he can flat-out PLAY.

There's no faking talent. Just ask Kyle Boller.

It's coming...

It's coming...I've already put down my $59.99 for it, and I've intentionally taken off work, JUST for this game.

Only 10 more days until I basically sell my soul and cut myself off from the outside world as I cause the kind of digital mayhem that'd make right-wing politicians cringe.

And I'll be doing it with a smile on my face. :)

ALBUM REVIEW - Ray J - All I Feel (2008)

"Sexy, can I? Just pardon my manners // Girl, how you shake it got a n*gga like (OOH!) // It's a Kodak moment, lemme go and get my camera // All I wanna know is (SEX-Y, CAN I?) // Sexy, can I hit it from the front? // Then I'll hit it from the back -- know you like it like that // Then we take it to the bed, then we take it to the flo' // Then we chill for a second, then we back it at some mo' (SEX-Y, CAN I?) // Sexy, can I? Just pardon my manners // Girl, how you shake it got a n*gga like (OOH!) // It's a Kodak moment, lemme go and get my camera // All I wanna know is..."

The chorus from ALL I FEEL's lead single, "Sexy Can I," is telling of the content on Ray J's fourth studio album. The majority of the album is simply sexual bravado mixed with smooth thuggery and the occasional touching moment (emotionally, that is; there's plenty of the physical kind, though, don't worry). However, despite the shallow lyrical content, ALL I FEEL is a solid pop/R&B album, overall.

The production isn't exactly top-notch, but still sonically-pleasing compared to other pop/R&B endeavors (Chris Brown, anyone?). In addition, though Ray J seems to be stuck on the same notes at times, he still showcases his range on occasion. If anything, however, this album feels almost as if it's meant to ride on the coattails of the Kim Kardashian sextape co-starring (who else?) Ray J himself. After all, the original video for "Sexy Can I," as well as the Kodak reference, almost seems as if he's poking fun at the "embarassment" that the tape caused Ms. Kardashian and her family (who managed to get a reality show shortly after the tape was released...y'know, coincidentally).

Regardless, the album isn't exactly late-night fare befitting the sextape, but still has its moments. After all, Brandy's little brother is still charismatic in his own right, even if he'll probably be known more for his older sister and his on-camera sexcapades (not a combination of the two, of course) than his singing ability.

Then again, "Sexy Can I" was a successful single on the Billboard charts, and he's been fortunate enough to have had at least one hit single on each album thus far. Perhaps the public is ready to care how Ray J feels after all. And NOT just how he feels in his pants, neither; ask Ms. Kardashian.

Recommended tracks:
"Sexy Can I" (ft. Yung Berg)
"Jump Off"
"All I Feel"
"It's Up to You"

Article - "A Fan's Voice - Harbaugh's Hiring"

[Here's the feature article I wrote for BaltimoreRavens.com, published 1/22/08]

"Welcome Coach Harbaugh" - three words splashed across the header of BaltimoreRavens.com that invoked an expletive, followed by stunned silence.

Silence, however, is not always a bad thing. In this case, silence was the only appropriate response to the hiring of a coach whose resume is relatively unknown. But days later, after researching his background, "coach Harbaugh" is starting to have a nice ring to it.

To summarize John Harbaugh's career here would be a waste, as several sources have already done so, including BaltimoreRavens.com. Rather, I have been asked to give my honest opinion on the hiring of John Harbaugh without a single head coaching decision made. In my mind, the question that every fan must ask is, how does anyone know that this is the right man for the job if he has never done it before?

That is not an indictment of Harbaugh's lack of experience as a coordinator or head coach in this league. Despite his lack of visibility, his prior credentials provide more peace of mind than Dallas offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, whose coaching experience is extremely limited. Instead, as fans, we are left to support Coach Harbaugh out of love for this team. Respect for what he has accomplished in his 20-plus years as a coach is unquestioned. The praise that has been heaped upon him by former players and coaches with whom he has worked speaks volumes about his character.

Character, it seems, is the operative word at 1 Winning Drive. Behind the closed doors of the Castle, decisions are made in the draft and in free agency on players who possess the qualities of a Baltimore Raven. A similar process was undoubtedly employed in finding only the third head coach in Ravens history, albeit with much more deliberation. At the end of the day, as the Ravens' philosophy entails, winning off the field is equally important as winning on the field. Frankly, John Harbaugh has all of the qualities of a winner.

From his press conference and interviews, Coach Harbaugh comes across as a charismatic individual with strong convictions. Through his words and mannerisms, Harbaugh spews personality and gives off an energetic aura that is refreshing after a disappointing season. A video feature in the Baltimore Ravens Media Player, however, revealed a side of the man under the headset that was genuinely human. The manner in which he spoke to the legendary Art Modell was touching, as his hushed tone exuded awe and respect for the man responsible for the Ravens.

Though he has yet to roam the sidelines as a head coach, Harbaugh's enthusiasm thus far makes it hard to imagine success not being in his future. As Modell pointed out, the locker room is filled with loyalty and passion. That passion should not be difficult to translate into wins on the field, as the desire to win is usually all that stands between victory and defeat at the final whistle.

With that said, I am comfortable with John Harbaugh as the new head coach of the Ravens. Though I cannot fully stand behind him until he puts his stamp on this team, patience is a virtue, even in this "what-have-you-done-for-me-lately" league. I still anticipate growing pains in this first season of the Harbaugh Era, the Ravens' losing record in 2007 notwithstanding.

To paraphrase a famous quote, "things can only get worse before they can get better." The fall from 13-3 to 5-11 is a harsh reminder of parity in the NFL. Harbaugh has been entrusted with reversing the Ravens' fortunes, and in doing so, must weather the storm of criticism that is sure to come his way once he experiences his first bump in the road. Despite whatever rough seas he may travel, coach Harbaugh now bleeds purple and black. And blood is always thicker than water.

Undoubtedly, when Ray Lewis asks, "WHAT TIME IS IT?!?," at the start of the season, Coach Harbaugh will know it's game time.

Original link here.

Video - QB Steve McNair retires

I know that he was a Baltimore Raven for only two seasons, but I'll miss watching Steve McNair on Sundays, period. He was a true warrior, and it's sad that he had to end his career on such a low note, having had such a horrible season last year.

I only wish that he could've finally gotten his Super Bowl ring when he joined the Ravens in 2006. That miraculous 13-3 season was one of many personal highlights for myself that year, and watching Steve McNair experience a career resurgence (of sorts) was one of my many reasons to smile.

I still haven't come to grips with his retirement, as it doesn't seem right that the final game of his career was a 20-7 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he was pulled from the game after committing a number of turnovers that cost the team.

I'll look back fondly on Steve McNair's career and I only wish that more players in this league had his toughness, determination, and class.

Thanks for the memories, Steve...

ALBUM REVIEW - Flo Rida - Mail on Sunday (2008)

Say what you will about this choice for my first album review -- you can't deny that Flo Rida is riding (no pun intended) a huge wave of success right now. His first single, "Low," was a HUGE Billboard hit, thanks in part to a catchy hook by T-Pain (who I absolutely HATE, by the way). His second single, "Elevator," was what really caught my attention, however. This collaboration with super-producer Timbaland is indicative of how a relative unknown like Tramar Dillard got his stage name to begin with. Flo Rida's layered vocals and rapidfire delivery perfectly complement the beat and he neither dominates nor is dominated by the music.

In fact, the majority of the album is such, where beat-riding and delivery carries each song rather than lyrical prowess. Admittedly, Flo Rida isn't exactly the best lyricist out; in fact, he's not even at the point of being average. But, it can't be denied that his album is just plain ENTERTAINING.

I'm tired of getting on the soapbox and preaching about how hip-hop is dead and whatnot. To me, that catchphrase has BEEN played-out for over a year now, and it's every "smart" hip-hop head's excuse for why the music industry at-large has been slacking lately. Blaming it on Southern rappers is simply generalizing (and irresponsible, at that), and blaming it on an artist like Flo Rida that has immense pop appeal is like putting a bulls-eye on the easiest kill there is.

Frankly, unlike the post office, Flo Rida's MAIL ON SUNDAY just-plain delivers. OK, I'll stop with the puns now, even though that last one WAS intended.

Recommended tracks:
"Elevator" (ft. Timbaland)
"Me & U"
"Freaky Deaky" (ft. Trey Songz)
"Ms. Hangover"
"Make a Wish" [Bonus Track]
"Gotta Eat" [Bonus Track]

PlayStation 3 = WHOA

So, this thing has pretty much dominated my life for the past week or so. This "thing" I'm referring to is, of course, the Sony PlayStation 3, a/k/a the single greatest piece of technology out right now that's powerful enough to bring nerds and casual gamers to their knees.

OK, so it might not be as powerful as the most advanced computer available. It might not be as simple and intuitive to use as the Nintendo Wii. It probably won't impress hardcore Xbox 360 users. But, I LOVE IT.

Blu-ray player, DVD player, CD player, two USB drives, 40GB HDD, wireless internet capability, quiet fan, wireless controller, PS1 backwards-compatibility, free online play on the PlayStation Network, exclusive FULL game downloads from the PlayStation Store (including a couple of high-profile titles the night before they hit stores, such as Gran Turismo 5: Prologue!), HDMI-capable output...do I need to go on?

If it weren't for the fact that I'm already Asian, I'd say this thing's definitely brought out the Asian in me...

Oh, oh, oh, wait, I forgot to mention the games coming out for it!

In addition to the just-released Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, there's Grand Theft Auto IV; Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriot; NCAA Football 09; Madden NFL 09; Tekken 6; Street Fighter IV; WWE SmackDown! vs. RAW 2009; Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe (yes, it's real!); Alpha Protocol; Soulcalibur IV; Saints Row 2; Midnight Club: Los Angeles; SOCOM: Confrontation; Final Fantasy XIII; Super Street Fighter II Turbo HD Remix; WipEout HD; and soooo much more!

*gasps for air*

OK, y'all can go back to doing what y'all were doing now. I'M gonna go play my PS3. :)

Baltimore Ravens 2008 Schedule

PRESEASON
Week 1 (Thurs. 8/7) - @ New England Patriots (7:30PM)
Week 2 (Sat. 8/16) - vs. Minnesota Vikings (7:30PM)
Week 3 (Sat. 8/23) - @ St. Louis Rams (8PM)
Week 4 (Thurs. 8/28) - vs. Atlanta Falcons (7:30PM)

REGULAR SEASON
Week 1 (Sun. 9/7) - vs. Cincinnati Bengals (1PM)
Week 2 (Sun. 9/14) - @ Houston Texans (4:15PM)
Week 3 (Sun. 9 /21) - vs. Cleveland Browns (4:15PM)
Week 4 (Mon. 9/29) - @ Pittsburgh Steelers (8:30PM, ESPN)
Week 5 (Sun. 10/5) - vs. Tennessee Titans (1PM)
Week 6 (Sun. 10/12) - @ Indianapolis Colts (1PM)
Week 7 (Sun. 10/19) - @ Miami Dolphins (1PM)
Week 8 (Sun. 10/26) - vs. Oakland Raiders (1PM)
Week 9 (Sun. 11/2) - @ Cleveland Browns (1PM)
Week 10 - BYE WEEK
Week 11 (Sun. 11/16) - @ New York Giants (1PM)*
Week 12 (Sun. 11/23) - vs. Philadelphia Eagles (1PM)*
Week 13 (Sun. 11/30) - @ Cincinnati Bengals (1PM)*
Week 14 (Sun. 12/7) - vs. Washington Redskins (1PM)*
Week 15 (Sun. 12/14) - vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (1PM)*
Week 16 (Sat. 12/20) - @ Dallas Cowboys (8:15PM, NFL NETWORK)
Week 17 (Sun. 12/28) - vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (1PM)*

*denotes game subject to NFL flex-scheduling

According to many analysts, the Ravens have the fifth-toughest schedule in the league this upcoming season. Because of scheduling procedures, it was already known that Baltimore would have to face the NFC East and the AFC South. Coincidentally, both divisions have THREE playoff teams apiece from last season, as well as a respective fourth that finished 8-8 (Houston and Philadelphia).

This upcoming schedule includes FOUR road games in a six-week span, and THREE divisional games in the first month alone.

Despite last year's disappointing 5-11 finish, the league still thought enough of the Ravens to give them two guaranteed primetime games. However, both are on the road and against the defending AFC North and NFC East champions.

There are honestly no real soft spots in the schedule, even with last-place teams like the Dolphins and the Raiders on there -- remember why Miami went 1-15 last season instead of 0-16?

It'll be tough, but the fans need to have faith in new head coach John Harbaugh as the team goes through a serious rebuilding period.

Open For Business

theFRANCHISE is now OPEN FOR BUSINESS...



(Be on the lookout for a LOT of back-to-back speed blogging right now)