Ravens-Browns preview and prediction

I watched The Departed for the third time last night, and it gets better each time you watch it. Anyway, today is my last day of vacation, and what better way to spend it than watching the Ravens square off against the Cleveland Clowns. Tomorrow it is back to California.

Jamal Lewis said that he knows and will exploit the weaknesses in Baltimore's defense. Terrell Suggs and Ray Lewis have invited him to bring it on, be my guest, we have no weaknesses, yada yada yada.

Both sides are wrong.

Jamal: You won't be able to exploit Baltimore's weaknesses. The Ravens are nasty against the run, and you know this. Baltimore's run D is the best in the biz. That won't change today.

Ray Ray and Sizzles: Sorry, guys, but the defense does have weaknesses. It's called the secondary. And without Trevor Pryce there to provide a pass rush -- Dwan Edwards in relief ain't going to cut it -- the shaky secondary is further exposed.

Also, Samari Rolle is out with an undisclosed illness but I'm not sure whether that's a good or bad thing. Rolle's play has been spotty over the past two seasons, and Corey Ivy has played well in his absence.

The Internets are ablaze with rumors as to what Rolle's illness is (STD? vertigo?) but does it really matter? The only thing that matters is that he's not going to play. Get well soon, Samari.

So will Baltimore pull off the road win today?

To quote Mark Wahlberg's character in The Departed: "maybe, maybe no, maybe f*ck yourself." Cleveland is a tough place to play, and the Browns always play the Ravens close.

Baltimore's defense may once again bend, but Cleveland should be easier to break. Willis McGahee gets at least 125 yards on the ground.

Baltimore 31, Cleveland 16