Last Updated on December 9, 2010 4:29 am by Anthony Rome
Ravens vs. Texans Preview
HOUSTON, TX (AP) – Baltimore receiver Derrick Mason believes that given the talent on the Ravens offense, they should be much better than they’ve demonstrated the last two weeks.
After falling out of first place in the AFC North last weekend, the Ravens could have an easier time Monday night when they travel to face the Houston Texans.
According to latest NFL odds, oddsmakers from online sports book Sportsbook.com have made the Ravens 3-point spread favorites for Monday’s game against Texans. Current NFL Public Betting Information shows that 83% of more than 6,609 bets for this game have been placed on the Ravens -3.
Baltimore (8-4) lost control of its own fate in the division after a 13-10 loss to rival Pittsburgh last Sunday.
“It’s disappointing because it was such an opportunity for us that we probably have lost in terms of putting ourselves in position to control our destiny for that seed,” coach John Harbaugh said. “But we still have an opportunity to achieve everything from a division championship to the wild card.”
The defense did its part, holding the Steelers to 288 yards, even if it was a costly game for some. Linebacker Jameel McClain was fined $40,000 and defensive tackle Haloti Ngata $15,000 for hits on Heath Miller and Ben Roethlisberger, respectively.
However, the offense faltered again. The Ravens were driving late in the fourth quarter when Joe Flacco was sacked and fumbled the ball, setting up the Steelers’ go-ahead touchdown. A week after a 17-10 win over Tampa Bay, Baltimore finished with 269 yards – its second-lowest total this season.
“I”ll get crucified for this one, but all the people that we’ve got on offense, we’re not a good offense at times, we’re really not,” Mason told the Ravens’ official website. “You just call it how you see it. … If we were a good offense, we’d be moving the ball up and down the field, especially with the people that we have and the quarterback we have. I have a lot of confidence in our personnel, but we’re just not a good offense at times.”
Baltimore has totaled 27 points over the last two games after averaging 28.7 the previous six. Mason stood by his comments this week.
“Everybody on this team is on the plane, everybody’s thinking the same,” he said. “We just want to go out there and score a lot of points and get this thing correct.”
Improving the running game would help. The Ravens ran for a season-low 43 yards against the Steelers after recording 92 against the Buccaneers, marking the first time this season they’ve been held to fewer than 100 yards rushing in back-to-back games.
Baltimore’s offense could be aided by the return of fullback Le’Ron McClain (sprained ankle), who has started nine games and may help provide more protection for Flacco, who was sacked four times Sunday and completed 51.5 percent of his passes – his second-worst percentage of the season.
Despite his struggles at times last Sunday, Flacco, who began the week with the fifth-best passer rating in the NFL since November (105.4), has the chance to put up big numbers against the struggling Texans (5-7).
Houston has lost five of six with its only win coming against a Tennessee team that is falling apart.
The Texans are coming off a 34-27 loss at Philadelphia last Thursday. Houston, which led 24-20 going into the fourth quarter, allowed 416 yards in the game, including 301 passing.
Despite a struggling defense, which has given up more than 400 yards in three of the last four games and ranks 29th in overall yards per game (388.8), the Texans are still in the playoff race in the AFC South, and has games still remaining against division rivals Tennessee and Jacksonville.
“You want to finish strong,” cornerback Glover Quin said. “You get to the point where you just want to win, by any means necessary, to where you don’t leave any regrets heading into the offseason.”
Everyone acknowledges, however, that the defense needs to improve if the Texans are to make another late-season run in hopes of reaching the playoffs for the first time. Houston’s last four losses have been by an average of 6.5 points and all came after the team entered the fourth quarter with a lead.
“Once you get it done, win a close game, it’ll become a repetition,” cornerback Brice McCain said. “The next game will be the same, and the next game and the next game. We’ll find a way to win, instead of finding ways to lose. It only takes one time. You’ll feel it, and everybody will get used to it.”
Baltimore has won all three meetings against Houston, including 41-13 in 2008.
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