Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Three fearless game-day predictions for Ravens-Falcons

BALTIMORE -- Here are three predictions that I guarantee (well, feel very strongly) will happen Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens (4-2) play host to the Atlanta Falcons (2-4) at M&T Bank Stadium.

 1. Joe Flacco will lead the winning drive in the fourth quarter. This is more of a gut feeling because the game has the makings of being a trap one. The Ravens are coming off a blowout win in Tampa Bay, and they have a big game at the first-place Cincinnati Bengals the following week. The Falcons come to town on a three-game losing streak. That's why this game will be closer than what many think. Matt Ryan led the last-minute drive against the Ravens in the last meeting. Flacco repays the favor here with his first fourth-quarter comeback at home this season.

2. Lardarius Webb gets his first interception of the season. Jimmy Smith got his first pick last Sunday, and Webb will get his chance to do the same against the Falcons. Ryan has thrown four interceptions to the right side of the field this season, which is tied for the fifth-most in the league. That's a favorable stat for Webb, who defends that side. Also, unlike Tampa Bay's Mike Glennon last week, Ryan is smart enough not to test Smith. Most of Ryan's passes will be directed at Webb and the Ravens' No. 3 cornerback (presumably Dominique Franks). Webb hasn't had an interception since last season's finale in Cincinnati.

3. Bernard Pierce scores a couple of touchdowns. The Falcons have given up a league-worst 12 rushing touchdowns this season. How bad is that? No other team has allowed more than seven. In fact, the Falcons have given up 11 rushing touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line. When the Ravens get that close to the end zone, they typically turn to Pierce. While Pierce hasn't been a big part of the Ravens' offense recently, he still tops the team with six carries from inside the 10-yard line. He has more size than Justin Forsett, which likely plays into the Ravens' strategy here.

How did my predictions fare last week?

Prediction: Flacco will throw multiple touchdown passes. Result: Couldn't have been more right on this one. Flacco threw five touchdowns ... in the first 16 minutes, 3 seconds.

Prediction: Jimmy Smith will get the Ravens secondary's first interception of the season. Result: Right again. Smith picked off Glennon's pass on the Buccaneers' opening series.

Prediction: Torrey Smith will have his best game of the season. Result: Smith scored touchdowns on the first two series and finished with a season-high four catches.

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