Ravens Rush vs. Vikings Defense: The Ravens can run the ball, or so I believe. But the Bengals managed to stop them and they’ve chosen not to run against other opponents. Put that against the Williams crew and the only rush defense that can rival the Ravens. Edge: Even

Ravens Pass vs. Vikings Defense: The loss of Jared Gaither might be hurt more than expected, especially with Jared Allen rushing the corner. The Vikings are talented but Joe Cool and the Ravens can win the match-ups if given time. Edge: Even

Vikings Rush vs. Ravens Defense: The Ravens gave up 100 yards to a single back for the first time in nearly 40 games last week. If there’s any back I fear being able to do that again, it’s probably the Vikings Adrian Peterson. But the Ravens can shut him down if they play up to their ability. Edge: Even

Vikings Pass vs. Ravens Defense: Brett Favre has been throwing the ball like a 35 year old recently (sorry, mandatory age joke taken care of). The Vikings still plan to keep the ball out of Favre’s hands as much as possible though. The Ravens D needs a good rush and a pick-me-up game. Edge: Even

Special Teams: The Ravens are still seeking a solid return man (perhaps Ladarius Webb will get more than a pair of returns this week). Ravens punter Sam Koch continues to make a bid for team MVP (like on most Ravens teams). The Vikings are solid all around. Ryan Longwell is a great veteran kicker. Young’n Percy Harvin is making a splash on returns. The Ravens must contain him.  Edge: Even

Micellaneous: The Ravens have lost two straight (about the same time they lost three straight last year, eh?)… Joe Flacco is still Mr. Unshakable on the road… The Vikings have one of the best home field advantages in the league thanks to the dome… The Vikings are one of five unbeatens left in the league… The combined record the Vikings opponents is 7-17. Edge: Vikings (+1)

Official Prediction

This is about as even as two teams are going to match-up in the NFL; they literally go strength-for-strength, player-for-player. A pair of nice defenses, great running games and a great quarterback match-up. In fact, I’m surprised there isn’t more talk about Flacco and Favre. C’mon, both F names, both undervalued coming out of college… right? Ok, stretch. But Flacco is emerging as one of the game’s best and Favre is trying to hold his value.

This is almost too close to call. I want to believe the Ravens will win this game (and they certainly can if they play to their strengths), but it’s hard to pick a team that has faded in the stretch for two straight games. The Ravens will play well, but it won’t be enough. The rebound will have to wait until after the bye. Vikings 23, Ravens 20.

Brett Favre: He’s not even the most important piece on this team, but he has shown several times this season what he’s capable of. The game-winning throw in Week 3 against the 49ers was the manifestation of every fear we need to have about Favre.

Adrian Peterson: Stat for stat, pound for pound, yard for yard: there is no better back in the league right now. The Ravens struggled against the Bengals and Cedric Benson, and Peterson outdoes Benson is just about every way.

Big Receivers: Bernard Berrian is the vet and is 6’1. The rookie Percy Harvin is the leading receiver and is 5’11. But the real threat to the Ravens is the young gun with a few seasons under his belt, Sidney Rice, who comes in at 6’4. All three can burn.

EJ Henderson: The former Terp doesn’t get enough credit for his presence and power in the Vikings defense. He leads the defense in tackles and his impact his felt on every play, just like a certain Raven we know.

Jared Allen: The country wonderboy has 6.5 sacks and last week returned a fumble for a touchdown. Allen is in his prime and can rush with the best of them.

The Williams Brothers: Overlooked so far this season, the big boys in the middle of the Vikings defense stuff the run, put a good push on pass plays and keep the rest of the defense free to do the fun stuff.

All in all… It’s a pretty overwhelming roster to glance at. Some of the names might not be as big as others, but the numbers are all there. I wasn’t buying into the all the hype preseason – and I’m still not sure this is “the best team Favre’s ever been on” – but they have been seriously impressive over the season’s first five games. They boast the only rush defense in the league that can rival the Ravens and pair it with perhaps the league’s best rushing attack. Those two statements alone make them one of the league’s toughest teams.

The Ravens will have to win this game by shutting down Adrian Peterson and forcing Brett Favre into his occasionally woeful ways.

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Ravens Rush vs. Bengals Defense

The Bengals rush defense ranks 14th in the league allowing just over 100 yards per game. The Ravens rushing attack is 5th in the league topped 100 yards against the Patriots on just 17 carries. The real question is whether the Ravens will run or not. The Ravens lack of rushing attempts has hurt them several times this season (even in victories). And in limited attempts, stuffing the box on short yardage is that much easier (as the Pats showed). Edge: Ravens +1

Ravens Pass vs. Bengals Defense

The Bengals pass rush has been excellent this year, especially from newly signed Antwaan Odom, who leads the NFL with 8 sacks. As a team, the Bengals have 12 sacks, putting them close to the top of the league. With Jared Gaither unlikely to play for the Ravens, rookie Michael Oher will move to the left side and handle Odom. If the Ravens can contain Odom, they have a good shot. Despite all the pressure, the Bengals have just two interceptions and are 24th in the league in pass defense. Edge: Ravens +1

Bengals Rush vs. Ravens Defense

Cedric Benson has been one of the league’s strongest runners for the last 10 weeks. No, really. Cedric Benson. But even so, Benson is no match for the Ravens top-ranked rush defense, which is showing true signs of greatness (under 60 yards on the ground per game). The Ravens will have to work to contain Benson and the Bengals, but not too hard. Edge: Ravens +1

Bengals Pass vs. Ravens Defense

The Bengals passing attack is not the monster it once was, but it is still a weapon. Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson are a dangerous combination when they get on the same page. Lucky for the Ravens, their defense has shown the ability to shut down a single big receiver when necessary. The Ravens will double Johnson and minimize his impact… they hope. The bigger question is can the Ravens force Palmer into making mistakes? He’s not a mistake-prone kind of guy. Edge: Even

Special Teams

Both units have been pretty sad. The Ravens have improved their kick coverage dramatically and their punt game is fantastic, but their returns have been weak and costly. The Bengals bring one of the league’s worst return defenses to Baltimore, opening up the possibility for some big plays. Edge: Even

Intangibles

The Ravens are great at home… the Bengals have been good at coming from behind and closing out games late, and they’ve done it before against the Ravens… the Ravens are hot after last week’s close loss to the Pats… the Bengals have been winning games they don’t deserve to win… Hmmm Edge: Ravens (+.5)

Prediction

My edge game has the Ravens +3.5… which, using this entirely not scientific or even empirical method, should mean a big win for the Ravens. The Ravens look to be the better team in every facet of their game. That might be purely based on match-ups (maybe the Bengals just match-up better against the Steelers for some reason?) or it might be that the Bengals don’t fit my match-ups mold. I don’t think the Bengals fit anyone’s molds. Their so close to 4-0 and in such crazy ways. That scares me.

Ravens 37, Bengals 13

Baltimore Ravens (2-0). The Ravens offense appears for real. For the second straight week, the unit put up more than 30 points (all by the offense alone) and is now second in the league in points scored. In fact, if not for Drew Brees and the Saints, this team would probably be #1 overall. With the Browns coming to town, another 30 point week doesn’t appear out of the question. The question appears to be when this defense will show signs of the dominant force it once was. The Ravens are a popular pick for number in power polls across the country, but even local fans know there are signs that might not last long. This Week: vs. Browns (0-2).

Pittsburgh Steelers (1-1). The Steelers lost a brutal defensive battle in Chicago to fall to 1-1. The defense was dominant throughout most of the game, but it was the Steelers offense that struggled. For the second straight week (and beginning the second straight season), the Steelers seem to have lost their rush attack. With an embattled offensive line as well, offensive production is falling to Big Ben, whose body can only take so many poundings. The Steelers had many opportunities to win this game, including a pair of Jeff Reed field goal misses, but never closed the door. Unlike last week, this is un-classic Steelers football. This Week: @ Cincinnati (1-1)

Cincinnati Bengals (1-1). The Bengals offense reappeared in Week 2 against the Packers, who they beat in Lambeau (always impressive). But it wasn’t Carson Palmer and the receivers driving the Bengals offense, it was Cedric Benson and the rush attack. Good for the Bengals that their rushing game seems back on track – bad for the Bengals that their division foes present some of the toughest rush defenses in the league. Good luck bringing that game to Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Antwan Odom finally showed up in the NFL (only six years late). Through two games Odom has seven sacks (including five against the Packers). You can be sure teams will adjust, but Odom has to be licking his chops looking at Big Ben’s sack numbers upcoming. This Week: vs. Pittsburgh (1-1)

Cleveland Browns (0-2). For the second straight week the Browns looked absolutely hapless on both sides of the ball. After a pair of decent first quarter drives that resulted in field goals, the Browns never scored again – or even threatened, really. The run game is defunct, led by an aging Jamal Lewis. The passing game is out of whack as well, Brady Quinn cannot seem to put it all together. Meanwhile, the Broncos ran the ball up and down the field and totaled 180 yards rushing. Combine that with Adrian Peterson’s 180 last week and we may be looking at the worst run defense in NFL history. Not a good time to go into Baltimore and meet the three-headed monster. This Week: @ Baltimore (2-0).

Making Gains:

Antwan Odom: As previously mentioned, 5 sacks (FIVE!) against Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday. Smart coaches will begin to adjust, unlike the Packers.

Willis McGahee: Averaging over 4 yards a carry in San Diego, finding the endzone twice for the second straight week. McGahee is showing signs of the player the Ravens traded for before the 2007 season. Add his success to the mix of Ray Rice and Le’Ron McClain and the Ravens rush attack is downright terrifying.

Braylon Edwards: The Browns receiver is about the only bright spot on an otherwise dismal team and what looks to be a dismal season. Edwards top 90 yards on 6 receptions and is proving to be the Browns only legitimate threat.

Cedric Benson: The Bengals running back had a career day on Sunday, totaling more than 140 yards and approaching 5 yards per carry. If Benson and the Bengals can continue on the ground, the Bengals will be a force again offensively.

Slipping Away:

Jeff Reed: The Steelers kicker had a bad game. One of very few in his career. He’ll likely correct it, but the Steelers signature is mistake-free football, especially on Special Teams. If Reed is missing kicks, the Steelers are in trouble.

Brady Quinn: Quinn’s passer rating is under 70 through two games and there isn’t much sign of hope (except, perhaps, playing the Ravens pass defense). The golden child for the Browns is completing passes, but not any that are worth the effort.

Ravens Secondary: 440 yards in the air to Philip Rivers. The Ravens secondary was confused, out of position and unable to make plays. The only redeeming notes were two interceptions in the second half that saved an otherwise dreadful performance from being historically bad.

Pittsburgh Pass Rush: Where, oh where, has the defensive MVP gone? Through two games the Steelers have just two sacks – one by James Farrior and one by Aaron Smith. Note that names like Harrison, Woodley, Timmons… all missing. The Steelers built their defense on pressure. Without it, what are they?

Three Questions:

Can the Ravens dominate the way they should? Truly good teams beat truly bad teams, and they do so convincingly. The Ravens missed their first opportunity against the Chiefs. With the Browns coming to Baltimore, everything should be in place for a blowout. If the Ravens can’t deliver – be it because the defense is ineffective again or the offense stutters – the Ravens will begin to lose some rep.

Division Debacle: Can the Steelers right themselves? The AFC North faces itself this week – Browns at Ravens and Steelers at Bengals. Steelers-Bengals is clearly the more interesting of the two match-ups. If the Bengals can continue to rush the passer effectively and the Steelers cannot find a running game, it could definitely get interesting. More interesting will be how the Steelers would respond to a 1-2 start and a possible two game deficit to the Ravens.

Is Quinn still the man? The Brady Quinn era has faltered more than once. If Quinn fails to produce against the Ravens, or worse, if he crumbles against them, how long before the cheers for Derek Anderson return? My bet – by Monday.