With three consecutive losses, the Ravens desperately need a win to keep pace with the division-leading Bengals and Steelers, who are 5-2. A win over the Broncos will keep Baltimore hot on their tails. However, a loss means Baltimore falls below .500 for the first time this year, a scenario Ray Lewis would like to avoid.

“3-4?” quoth the Raven. “3-4? We don’t want to go there. I think even the great Edgar Allan Poe would agree that that would probably result in a ‘Premature Burial’ of our playoff plans.”

“If nothing else, though, we’re playing for pride. Defensively, we’re not playing up to our capabilities. We’re lacking passion and fire. In keeping with the Poe theme, who was known to have a drinking problem, we’re suffering from an ‘absinthe’ of malice.”

Josh McDaniels has brought youthful exuberance to the head coaching position in Denver, and the players have quickly bought into his system. The Broncos are 6-0 and boast a three-game lead in the AFC West.

“I wear my emotions on my sleeve,” says McDaniels, “whereas Mike Shanahan wore his on his face. It’s no wonder Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall were ‘seeing red’ when I got here — they had been conditioned to do so.”

“I’ll put my defense up against the Ravens any day. ‘The Raven’ may be big in Baltimore, but ‘The Hawk,’ Brian Dawkins is hot in Denver. I’d like to say this is a contest between two great defenses, but I can’t. Because the Ravens are playing.”

Broncos win, 19-17

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