Bodog Beat

Ray Lewis will continue to play a huge defensive role for the Baltimore Ravens . (AP Images)

In all the hype surrounding Atlanta's Matt Ryan last year, some people overlooked just how solid Joe Flacco also was in his rookie year for Baltimore. Flacco didn't have the statistical numbers than Ryan did, but the Ravens' rookie probably did more with less on offense. And the Delaware product got better as the year went along, throwing 13 touchdowns and just five interceptions in the final 11 regular-season games as Baltimore went 9-2 to finish the regular season at 11-5 and earn a wild-card spot.

Flacco also led his team to two playoff wins and the AFC title game, while Ryan struggled in the Falcons' wild-card loss. The Ravens were the first team to advance to the AFC Championship Game with a rookie head coach and quarterback.

Baltimore in theory returns 19 of 22 starters this year, but the team didn't address a big need at wide receiver. The Ravens ranked 28th in the NFL last year in passing yards – certainly a big part of that was the run-oriented offense (fourth in the NFL), but Flacco had no deep threats. And one has to wonder about Willis McGahee's health after a disappointing 2008, although Ray Rice is there to handle a big load.

The defense should be in the NFL's top five as it usually is, especially since the team re-signed future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis. Although remember that defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is gone, and he took a few defensive starters with him to the Jets.

Here is the Ravens' 2009 schedule, and we'll break it down after:
Sept. 13 vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m.
Sept. 20 at San Diego Chargers, 4:15 p.m.
Sept. 27 vs. Cleveland Browns, 1 p.m.
Oct. 4 at New England Patriots, 1 p.m.
Oct. 11 vs. Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Oct. 18 at Minnesota Vikings, 1 p.m.
Week 7: Bye
Nov. 1 vs. Denver Broncos, 1 p.m.
Nov. 8 at Cincinnati Bengals, 1 p.m.
Nov. 16 at Cleveland Browns, 8:30 p.m.
Nov. 22 vs. Indianapolis Colts, 1 p.m.
Nov. 29 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 p.m.
Dec. 7 at Green Bay Packers, 8:30 p.m.
Dec. 13 vs. Detroit Lions, 1 p.m.
Dec. 20 vs. Chicago Bears, 1 p.m.
Dec. 27 at Pittsburgh Steelers, 1 p.m.
Jan. 3 at Oakland Raiders, 4:15 p.m.

Strength of schedule: 28th (opponents combined to go 111-143-2, .438, in 2008)
Projected record: 10-6
Projected Bodog over/under total: 8 ½
Bodog odds to win AFC: 10/1
Bodog odds to win Super Bowl XLIV: 22/1

One would expect Baltimore to win at least six of its home games considering the Ravens own the second-best home record in the NFL since 2000. They should be decent favorites in their first four home games: Kansas City, Cleveland, Cincinnati all had losing records last year and Denver is rebuilding.

But the Ravens' first three road games are all against Super Bowl contenders, so I think Baltimore backers are looking at a 4-3 start. The good news then comes in the form of back-to-back games against the Bengals and Browns, teams that Baltimore swept last year, although both should be improved in 2009.

The toughest stretch would appear to begin the Sunday before Thanksgiving with home games against AFC powers Indianapolis (with Baltimore coming off a Monday night game) and Pittsburgh. The Colts have beaten Baltimore six of the past seven times, while Pittsburgh got the Ravens three times in 2008. Then comes a game at Green Bay, which no doubt will be frozen tundra by then. I think the Ravens are 7-5 heading into the final quarter of the season.

Baltimore concludes with two games against NFC North teams Detroit and Chicago before  having to see the Steelers again way too soon (Pittsburgh's first prime-time game in Baltimore since 2003) and then at Oakland in the finale, with the Raiders assuredly having nothing to play for. There's no reason the Ravens can't win three of those games to finish at 10-6, which should be enough for another wild-card spot in the loaded AFC.

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