At 7:30 p.m. tonight the Atlanta Falcons (0-1), who were one half away of reaching the Super Bowl last season will take on the Baltimore Ravens (1-0) in preseason Week 2 action that can be live streamed here. Falcons fans can hear the radio broadcast on 790 The Zone, while Ravens backers can tune in to 98 Rock.
Joe Flacco became the unquestioned face of the Ravens during last season's remarkable playoff run, especially since legendary linebacker Ray Lewis retired after their Super Bowl victory. He entered the season with plenty to prove, and emerged from it with a title and a rich new contract that briefly made him the highest-paid player in NFL history.
Much of the same can be said about Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who finally broke through with a playoff victory of his own last season but has so much talent around him that 2013 could be Super Bowl or bust.
Last year the Falcons surrounded Ryan with devastating threats in the passing game; he had Roddy White, Julio Jones and future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez to throw to. The only criticism of Atlanta's offense was a toothless running game led by the plodding Michael Turner.
The Falcons upgraded there this season as well, picking up Steven Jackson as a free agent. He adds the element of pass-catching out of the backfield to Atlanta's high-powered arsenal, and allows Jacquizz Rodgers to be employed in a small-doses role that could maximize his effectiveness.
Both of these squads are well-established, but one player to watch for Baltimore will be running back Bernard Pierce. He's a quality backup to Ray Rice, and if he shows more of his 2012 form he could steal even more carries from his backfield brethren come the regular season.
The Ravens' passing game will also bear watching; with Anquan Boldin gone and tight end Dennis Pitta out for the season new faces will need to emerge if a return trip to the title game is in the cards.
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