Are the Baltimore Ravens just bullies?

This year, they have run up the score against the Cleveland Browns on opening day, 38-6, and trampled the Houston Texans by 17 points the next week. John Harbaugh’s squad downed the Washington Redskins by two touchdowns the week before they drilled the Cincinnati Bengals 27-3 in fourth and fifth week action.

But, in a fair fight, they got slammed on their home field by two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs and this week host the undefeated Pittsburgh Steelers.

And, like they were against Patrick Mahomes and his Chiefs, the Ravens are favored at home against Ben Roethlisbterger and company.

Take the Steelers with the points and laugh all the way to the bank?

Well, before you jump at that opportunity, know this; the Steelers have run their unbeaten string just about as far as that band can stretch before it snaps with a loss. In fact, the Steelers quarterback seemed to have thought that winning streak was going to end last Sunday when Pittsburgh nearly surrendered a 17 point halftime lead and allowed the Tennessee Titans a shot at a tying field goal on the Titans final offensive play..

But, alas, the newly acquired kicker for the Titans, who has left more points on the field this season than the number of eggs lost when the display on aisle six is knocked over by a five-year-old, missed another kick. The Titans acquired Stephen Gostkowski after he played his first 15 pro seasons in Foxboro with the New England Patriots. You would think that a kicker who was counted on by Bill Belichick and a member of three Super Bowl winning teams would be reliable.

But, seems, picking up Gostkowski on the eve of the start of this season, looks a lot like buying a 16 year old Volkswagen. It may have been good to go when new, but is not nearly as reliable 16 years later. In the Titans season opening game in Denver, Kowkoski left ten points on the field while missing three field goals and an extra point. The Titans survived that lapse in performance, but couldn’t compensate for his wide right attempt last Sunday against Pittsburgh.

On the sidelines, you could see Roethlisberger in disbelief as the kick sailed off target, seemingly wondering how his Steelers survived after the quarterback had tossed three interceptions. You know how often an NFL team wins when they lose the turnover battle by three? Something like the odds on lightning striking the same Volkswagen twice.

Okay, the Steelers survived last week, and now stay on the road in an attempt to extend their winning streak to seven games. If they did that, they would also widen their lead in the AFC North Division over the Ravens to 2½ games.

Know the chances of that happening? Volkswagen take two.

So, are the Ravens bullies?

Yeah.

Are they still going to win this week?

Yeah.

Qoxhi Picks: Baltimore Ravens (-4) over Pittsburgh Steelers