Ravens don't want to win?

[Dan Kelly]

Just now, on the NFL Network, Michael Lombardi suggested that Baltimores starters will not be in the game in the 2nd quarter because the road to the Super Bowl is much easier for them if they lose today and take the 4th seed. He laid out a very plausible case for this. He convinced me to take Cincy-2.5

BOL

[2daBank]

who's to say cincy wants to win? they the 6 seed no matter what, not even sure how balt would get the 3 seed? but again he may be right and taylor in at qb before long but who to say that cincy gonna play the gm str8 up?

[Dan Kelly]

Balt has reasons to lose. Cincy's reason to win is the same as one of Balts reasons to lose - they don't want to face each other in the 1st round.
The most important factor to consider here is John Harbaugh - he is a chess player.

[NicAtNight]

Just now, on the NFL Network, Michael Lombardi suggested that Baltimores starters will not be in the game in the 2nd quarter because the road to the Super Bowl is much easier for them if they lose today and take the 4th seed. He laid out a very plausible case for this. He convinced me to take Cincy-2.5

BOL

Anyone who takes "expert" advice or picks from pregame shows is begging for an ass kicking. Those guys are like 30%

[PAULYPOKER]

This game is a bad bet because both teams are capable of a lay down..................

[suicidekings]

who's to say cincy wants to win? they the 6 seed no matter what, not even sure how balt would get the 3 seed? but again he may be right and taylor in at qb before long but who to say that cincy gonna play the gm str8 up?

The Week 1 result is a pretty big motivation, as is their WC weekend loss from last year. I think that with how they've been playing to close out the year, they're unlikely to take a week off.

[2daBank]

The Week 1 result is a pretty big motivation, as is their WC weekend loss from last year. I think that with how they've been playing to close out the year, they're unlikely to take a week off.

fair enough,,just dont like gms where i see very little reason for either side to show much..

[Dan Kelly]

Ray Rice is taking the day off and you can't get -2.5 anymore. info and the best line, that's how you do it.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000118608/article/ray-rice-reportedly-to-rest-for-baltimore-ravens

Like I said earlier, Harbaugh playing chess.

[TheAccountant]

If you loved it at -2.5, good chance you still like it at -3 if Baltimore's going to lay down..

That being said, this is one of those games that feels pointless to bet..the motivation level is screwed up for both teams and who knows who will actually play

[easyliving]

Ray Rice is taking the day off and you can't get -2.5 anymore. info and the best line, that's how you do it.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...ltimore-ravens

this is huge. big play on cincy ML if alll there starters will play entire game

[Slimpickens]

Just now, on the NFL Network, Michael Lombardi suggested that Baltimores starters will not be in the game in the 2nd quarter because the road to the Super Bowl is much easier for them if they lose today and take the 4th seed. He laid out a very plausible case for this. He convinced me to take Cincy-2.5

BOL

This is correct 4 seed is the prefered seed no doubt about it.

[BMoreBird]

all i know is that if baltimore wins, im putting 2 units on miami ML cause the pats will lay down to dolphins so they can play colts in wild card round instead of cincy

[BMoreBird]

but that's interesting because friday i read news on ravens website and they said they were "playing to win" ... maybe they changed their minds after learning new england will probably dump to miami if the ravens win.

[Big Bear]

they want to win. losing is never fun

[Dan Kelly]

they want to win. losing is never fun

You are correct - the title of this thread should be, They don't want to win today because they want to win the Super Bowl.

[Mercersux]

Baltimore is likely only playing Flacco a series or two before he's being pulled. Boldin is inactive now too. Looks like Baltimore is laying down on this one.

[pattymayo]

Under ..... both teams will be happy to just end the game as quickly as possible with no injuries

[pattymayo]

#Ravens inactives: Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Anquan Boldin, Marshal Yanda, Bernard Pollard, Tandon Doss

With a loss, the Ravens are guaranteed a first-round matchup against the Colts, which is exactly what they want.

[pattymayo]

Joe Flacco is active for Week 17 against the Bengals but will only play a series or two before joining the rest of the Baltimore starters on the sideline.

Flacco, Ray Rice, and Torrey Smith will get in a few snaps just to stay sharp and get the competitive juices flowing. Tyrod Taylor will then come in and handle quarterback duties for the rest of the day. Flacco will wrap up a less-than-stellar regular season, but he can earn himself some money by performing well in the playoffs.

[Slimpickens]

all i know is that if baltimore wins, im putting 2 units on miami ML cause the pats will lay down to dolphins so they can play colts in wild card round instead of cincy

The Pats would lay down not because they want to play the Bengals its because they dont want Denver until the AFC title game.

[Dan Kelly]

Cincy-4, -205 ML Now - NFL Network just reported Ray Rice starting today??

[easyliving]

Bengals are the ones that don't wanna win. Their stopping themselves with multiple penalties