Football had high praise as well as some bold predictions

Look out Authentic Marlon Humphrey Jersey , the national media has started to buy in on the Ravens Following a 20-19 win over Indianapolis in Week 2 of the preseason, the crew of NFL Network’s Good Morning the 2018 Ravens.“I like Baltimore a lot,” said Good Morning Football’s Kyle Brandt. “I think their defense is gonna blow people away. I think they have really good veteran receivers now. I like Brown, I like Crabtree, I like those guys and I just like Joe Flacco. . . Of all the quarterbacks who have taken the field in the preseason of the NFL, he’s the highest rated.”Flacco has received glowing reviews all throughout training camp. That success has translated to the preseason so far, with Flacco throwing for 143 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions on 16 pass attempts throughout the first two weeks. Flacco has exhibited more comfort and mobility in the pocket this preseason than seemingly all of last year. Aside from the shiny new weapons he has at the wide receiver and tight end positions, the biggest factor to Flacco’s improved play is his health. For the first time since 2015, Flacco has been healthy during training camp and the preseason so far. This is important for Flacco as he has an all-new receiving corps to work with this year in Michael Crabtree Youth Lamar Jackson Jersey , John Brown and Willie Snead IV.“I think the Baltimore Ravens are a top AFC team. I love them this year,” said Brandt. Brandt is clearly high on Baltimore for the 2018 season, but what about the rest of the Good Morning Football crew?“I think this is the best defense in the AFC. I put them right up there with the Jaguars. They are so loaded on defense,” said Fox Sport’s Peter Shrager. “I think this team could compete for the AFC Championship this year.”The Ravens indeed have a tremendous amount of depth on the defensive side of the ball, but will that equate to the best defense in the AFC? Baltimore has missed the playoffs the last three years, so to say they could compete for the AFC Championship is a bold prediction. The Ravens under Head Coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Joe Flacco are no stranger to that stage, however. Since Harbaugh and Flacco came in together in 2008, Baltimore has been to three AFC Championship games.“I think they can challenge the Patriots in the AFC. That’s how much I feel about this Ravens team. They look great,” said Shrager.Fox Sport’s Colin Cowherd also had high praise for Baltimore during his show The Herd.“Baltimore’s been the most impressive team,” said Cowherd. “When I watch their one’s and I watch the speed on the perimeter ... When I watch their line play and Flacco looks motivated ... I gotta tell ya http://www.ravensauthorizedshops.com/authentic-willie-snead-iv-jersey , they look good.”Cowherd previously predicted the Ravens to finish with a losing record of 7-9. After two weeks of the preseason, however, his tune seems to have changed.“Here’s what I see, Baltimore’s as good as Joe Flacco lets them be,” Cowherd said. “I watch them right now, Baltimore, I had them as a losing record. I think they’re gonna vie for a number two seed behind the Steelers in the AFC.”Of course all of this hype means nothing until the actual season begins, but it is worth mentioning. Several people believe Baltimore could be a special team this season, while just as many, if not more Alex Collins Jersey , believe they will finish as a .500 team and miss the playoffs. It’s hard to buy in to a team that has missed the playoffs for the past three years, but there is no denying that the Ravens have a roster filled with potential. The Bengals have their offense revving in high gear.Cincinnati has put up 34 points in back-to-back games to open the season, although quarterback Andy Dalton said they haven't played a perfect game."We left some stuff out there," Dalton said. "We can definitely improve and get better. (But) if we're saying that and scoring 34 points, that's a good thing."Dalton and the Bengals will look to fix those "little things" and start 3-0 for the fifth time in coach Marvin Lewis' 16 seasons when they visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday.The Panthers are coming off an uncharacteristically poor defensive performance in a 31-24 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, prompting coach Ron Rivera to say he wouldn't tolerate laziness on defense .The big change from last year's 0-3 start for the Bengals has been up front.The offensive line was a mess last season, the main reason they finished last in the league in offense.Coordinator Bill Lazor was given freedom to redesign the offense. He overhauled the line, and the Bengals have new starters at four positions. So far that line has meshed well together, allowing just two sacks 鈥?none in a 34-23 win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sept. 13."Anytime you have time back there you can step into your throws, and you can put the ball where you want it Authentic Patrick Onwuasor Jersey ," Dalton said of the protection in the team's 2-0 start .Another adjustment has been lining up wide receiver A.J. Green in different spots on offense. Green caught three first-half touchdown passes from the slot against the Ravens. Cornerback James Bradberry will cover Green most of the time, but there will be occasions Green could face nickel back Captain Munnerlyn in the slot, where he'll have a significant height advantage."The reason they are moving him around is to try to create opportunities for him. You just got to have a package that can counter it," Rivera said of Green.Things to watch in the Bengals-Panthers game:HISTORY OF 3-0The Bengals also started 3-0 in 2005, 2006, 2014 and 2015, making the playoffs in three of those years before losing in the first round each time.McCAFFREY'S CATCHESPanthers running back Christian McCaffrey only carried the ball seven times against the Falcons, but he had twice that many receptions. His 14 catches (for 102 yards) tied a franchise record and showed Cam Newton is willing to be patient and use check-downs to move the chains. Newton is completing a career-best 69 percent of his passes in his first year playing in coordinator Norv Turner's offense.Rivera said he anticipates more things will open up down the field once teams begin to honor McCaffrey coming out of the backfield."They (wide receivers) understand too that now all of a sudden those linebackers might not be dropping 12 to 15 yards deep anymore," Rivera said."They may be right at about 8 (yards). Those digs are going to start opening up, those post routes Youth Michael Crabtree Jersey , those bang-eights across the middle 鈥?they are going to start flashing a little more."GIO'S TIMEThe Bengals will lean heavily on Giovani Bernard , their only healthy running back with experience in the system. Starter Joe Mixon tore cartilage in his right knee during the win over Baltimore and is out for a few weeks. Running back Tra Carson pulled a hamstring in practice on Monday, so the Bengals signed free agent Thomas Rawls. Bernard has three 100-yard rushing games in his career."It doesn't change for me," Bernard said. "I feel like people are freaking out, but my goodness, it's football."MORE MOOREPanthers rookie wide receiver D.J. Moore is expected to see more playing time this week after a 51-yard touchdown catch against the Falcons.The team's first-round draft pick played 17 snaps on offense, but Rivera said earlier this week that "it's time to put more on his plate." He also said he's noticed a swagger about Moore this week in practice.CLUTCH TURNOVERSThe Bengals' young defense has given up a lot of yards, but forced game-clinching turnovers in each of their wins. Third-year safety Clayton Fejedelem forced a fumble and returned it for a touchdown with 24 seconds left as Andrew Luck was driving the Colts for what could have been a winning touchdown in the season opener. Last week safety Shawn Williams hit Joe Flacco and forced a fumble as the Ravens were trying to drive for a tying TD late. Luck threw for 319 yards and the Colts piled up 380 overall. Flacco threw for 376 and the Ravens had 425 in all.AP Sports Writer Joe Kay in Cincinnati contributed to this report.