AFC Update – Ravens are Best in the AFC Right Now

I don’t believe that there’s any question that the best team in the AFC right now are the Baltimore Ravens. 

Oh, sure, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat supposedly a good Atlanta team without Ben Roethlisberger at QUARTERBACK and the New England Patriots waxed the Cincinnati Bengals by two touchdowns as 5-point NFL game odds favorites in the sportsbook, but Baltimore beat a team on the road that was supposed to, by their own admission, prove to be the “most awesome” in the NFL.

I made that word up, but let’s be honest, unless you’re a Jets’ fan, you have to love how the Ravens worked over the Jets on a Monday night on their own turf and them and their loud-mouthed coach up.  I know that fans of AZTECA TV are!

[Off topic: by the way, do you want to get a 60% bonus on your first deposit here at BetOnline? If so JOIN NOW.]

Baltimore dominated the Jets and, truth be told, they probably should have beaten New York by at least 14 points.  Baltimore had 20 first downs in the game.  The Jets had 6.  Baltimore QUARTERBACK Joe Flacco threw for 233 passing yards.  Jets’ QUARTERBACK Mark Sanchez threw for 60.  The Jets did have more rushing yards, but that’s because LaDainian Tomlinson broke a couple of long-gainers.  The Jets were only 1 for 11 on 3rd down.  That’s a 9% success rate. 

Yes, the Jets’ offense was horrible during the NFL Preseason, but, man, what they showed on Monday night was…well, there are no words to describe it.  In a contrast, the Ravens were close to 60% on 3rd down when successful 11 out of 19 times. That is yet another reason that the Ravens are #1 in the AFC for now.

AFC Top 5

1. Baltimore Ravens 1-0-0 ATS – - As 1-point NFL against the spread odds underdogs, Baltimore won by a point for a +2 cover.  They beat arguably a Top 5 AFC team on the road with free safety Ed Reed on the sidelines.  Read more above for other reasons why they’re the best. 

2. New England Patriots 1-0-0 ATS – - The Pats dominated the Bengals 38 to 14 as 5-point favorites against the spread.  They did it with their pass defense by picking Carson Palmer off twice and running one back for a TD.  They also did it without WR Randy Moss having a great game meaning that New England might be one of the best teams in the NFL this season. 

3. Tennessee Titans 1-0-0 ATS  – - I will never doubt coach Jeff Fisher or RB Chris Johnson ever again.  I wrote a couple of articles this past spring discussing how I didn’t believe Johnson was as good as advertised.  Yeah…he just rushed for his 12th straight 100-yard game against what I consider a decent Raiders’ D on Sunday.  The Titans D looked very good.  Hey, Tennessee was favored by only 6 ½ points and they beat Oakland 38 to 13.  What’s left to write?

4. Houston Texans 1-0-0 ATS – - Let’s not get to crazed about Arian Foster, okay, people?  I know, 231 yards on the ground is a lot, but the Colts’ rush D is horrid. The key to remember is that Houston has Foster and Steve Slaton and WR Andre Johnson and WR Kevin Walter.  So, Houston has way more than Foster at their disposal.  Their defense did a good “bend but don’t break” job on QUARTERBACK Peyton Manning.  As 1-point home underdogs, Houston also won straight-up 34 to 24.

5. Kansas City 1-0-0 ATS – - They beat the Chargers straight up 21 to 14 as 4-point NFL odds online dogs and they won with their defense.  I had a feeling that the KC D was going to be better this year.  Man, is it ever!  They’re legitimately good.

NFC Bottom 5

1. San Diego Chargers 0-1-0 ATS – - Take your pick with the Colts or Chargers being horrible in Week 1.  The Chargers get the nod because they were favored by 4-points and failed to deliver against a team that they dominated in 2010.  Hey, coach Norv, are you rethinking giving a rookie RB the ball 300 times this season?  RB Ryan Matthews delivered 75 yards on 19 carries and fumbled once.  The Chargers special teams gave up 219 return yards and the Chargers’ D allowed KC running back Jamal Charles to rush for a 56-yard TD.  Pathetic.

2. Indianapolis Colts 0-1-0 ATS – - This is why football fans should pay attention to NFL odds wagering writers and not straight football fans posting their “fave teams list” on the Net.  When money is involved, everything is considered including the fact that the Colts’ D isn’t all that great and that their running game is putrid.  The favorite to win the Super Bowl, and ESPN’s #1 ranked team, yes, over the Saints, to start the season stunk it up on Sunday.  Peyton threw the ball 57 times on Sunday.  57 freakin’ times!  That’s crazy.  I thought I was watching a team from the WAC take on Houston.  Houston gave a blueprint to a lot of teams as to how to beat the Colts this year.

3. Cincinnati Bengals 0-1-0 ATS – - Carson made some mistakes but both Ochocinco and Terrell Owns played well, actually.  The problem is that Cincy’s defense was horrible against the Patriots.  I mean, flat-out embarrassing.   Expect Ravens QUARTERBACK Joe Flacco and WR Anquan Boldin to have a field day against that D this weekend.

4. New York Jets 0-1-0 ATS – - The Jets’ issue is that they love to blitz but CB Darrelle Revis can only play on one side of the field.  CB Kyle Wilson, playing in the nickel packages, has an excuse because he’s an undersized rookie, but CB Antonio Cromartie got worked over with aplomb on Monday night.  The crazy blitz packages only work if Revis and Cromartie can guard their guy one-on-one.  Cromartie obviously can’t guard a top-flight WR like Anquan Boldin.  Too bad Cromarti’s going to face Wes Welker and/or Randy Moss this Sunday.  Bye-bye, Jets.  It was nice knowing you.

5. Cleveland Browns 0-1-0 ATS – - Can I apply for the coaching position in Cleveland?  Seriously. Is there a reason why RB Jerome Harrison received only 9 carries in this game?  9 carries for 52 yards and you don’t keep feeding the man the ball?  You were playing against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers!  Feed Harrison, pick up the first down, and move the chains.  Ridiculous.

Bet 9 ½ point teasers and buy up to 10 points in the sportsbook!

Sources:  sportsillustrated.com, espn.com, nfl.com, covers.com