ESPN’s Mike Reiss Shares His Prediction For Patriots Vs. Ravens Matchup

It’s about time that Ben Watson shows his skills on the field. ESPN’s Mike Reiss predicted that Watson will catch a touchdown pass Sunday night in the Patriots’ Week 9 game against the Baltimore Ravens. Watson has caught four passes for 44 yards this season.

“… The Patriots have struggled to run consistently, so the odds are greater that the offense will once again need to rely more on the passing game,” Reiss wrote.

The league suspended Watson for the first four games of the regular season. The Pats didn’t activate him for Week 5, and then released him prior to the Week 6 game and re-signed him next week.

“I’ve played with a lot of guys over the years, and Ben’s a great player,” Brady said of Watson. “He’s been a great player for this team, for other teams. He’s had an incredible career, and hopefully he can keep playing. I know he was looking forward to playing. I miss him. (His locker) was right next to me. And for as great of a player he was, he was 10 times a better person. Just the highest integrity. I can’t say enough good things about Ben, what he’s meant to me and my family and our team. We’re going to miss him.”

Analysts have made a few predictions about the game, and they all agree that New England will win this one.

Tadd Haislop from Sporting News says the Patriots will be 27, and the Ravens 20. “One of two things will happen in this game. Either New England’s league-best defense will contain the NFL’s top rushing offense and force quarterback Lamar Jackson into uncomfortable situations on its way to another win, or Jackson will have his national TV coming out party as one of the league’s best players to anybody who still doubts him. Thanks primarily to their dangerous QB, the Ravens are one of five teams capable of keeping the Pats from going undefeated this season. But Bill Belichick’s teams have won 21 straight games against first- or second-year QBs for a reason.” 

Vinnie Iyer from Sporting News agrees. “The Patriots’ offense isn’t all that explosive at the moment with a limited running game and short on deep threats. The Ravens can be explosive, using the power running of Lamar Jackson and their traditional backs to set up downfield shots off play-action. This feels like a low-scoring defensive struggle as Tom Brady will see the field compressed and Jackson will be contained more in the pocket by Bill Belichick’s coverage and spying schemes. Brady is more adept at getting the ball out quickly in the short-to-intermediate passing game, while Jackson will be hung out to dry more trying to escape the pocket and hit on home runs.”