THE GAME: Baltimore Ravens (1-0) @ Houston Texans (0-1)
ODDS: Houston (-4 1/2)
VENUE: Reliant Stadium, Houston, TX
DATE: Monday, September 15, 2008
TIME: 8:30 pm
TELEVISION: WJZ-TV (CBS)
The Ravens next game against the Houston Texans has been tentatively delayed until Monday might, but looking at what the city of Houston faces in a few hours, the routine pigskin pounding seems small and insignificant compared to the pounding Hurricane Ike is about to unleash on Houston, and even worse, the coastal areas between the city and the Gulf of Mexico. With the game moved to 8:30 pm Monday night, one has to wonder if Reliant Stadium will even be in any condition to host an NFL game? A dramatic test of the stadium’s 21st century architecture and opening roof lies ahead, but further, what kind of shape will the city and its resources be in should there be widespread damage. What kind of disruption could a football game even if the stadium and its surroundings are in good shape?
The Ravens should win this game. Houston is still in “prove it” mode as far as the improvements they’ve supposedly made. If the Ravens play their typical brand of defense and keep Houston locked in its own territory, a little bit of ball control on offense and a couple of Matt Stover field goals should have the Ravens sitting pretty as they get ready for much more formidable competition, the Cleveland Browns, who are a thorn in the Ravens’ side even when the Ravens are much stronger and the Browns were just little guys.
Meanwhile, the folks in Houston are being dispersed through out a variety of destinations as the nation’s 4th largest city faces a storm that could surpass the power of Katrina just three years ago. Somehow the fate of the Texans or the surging Houston Astros taking on the Chicago Cubs, huge games in the final pennant stretch, don’t seem to matter. When the big question is, “Will my family be safe?” what difference does “What’s the score?” make?
No comments:
Post a Comment