New York Jets vs. Baltimore Ravens: Sunday NFL Weather report

Nov 17, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice (27) is defended by Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers (90) during the first half at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

It’s week 12 folks and the 5-5 New York Jets fly into Baltimore for a showdown with New Rochelle’s own Ray Rice and the reigning Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens.

With most of the major networks calling for an arctic blast, here’s what the National Weather Service is calling for when the game begins at 1 p.m. at M&T Stadium:

“Mostly sunny, with a high near 34. Breezy.”

There’s that word… BREEZY.

It’s the word that the Jets didn’t want to hear last week in Buffalo. The wind swirled like no one’s business in Orchard Park. How will it be in Baltimore? Looking at picture on Google Maps, M&T Stadium is not near the water so the wind won’t be that bad. But, the game is really going to be brick cold.

Who does the weather favor?

Other than the weather being cold and breezy, it’s going to be sunny out so the real question is, who’s going to deal with the cold and breeze better?

Oct 13, 2013; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets center Nick Mangold (74) gets set against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at MetLife Stadium. The Steelers won the game 19-6. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

If you watched the disaster of last week, you know that Gang Green didn’t handle the breeze well at all. So, how do prepare for the wind? Outside of playing and practicing in it, if you are Geno Smith, what you need to do is make sure that when you throw the ball, it has to be as perfect of a spiral as you can get and you need to have that EVERY SINGLE TIME you throw. And if you are a wide receiver/tight end/running back, you have got to be ready on a dime to bail out on the route and come back to the ball. See Santonio Holmes last week.

This game in my eyes is going to come down to what the offensive line does. This unit needs to do a much better job at getting the push at the point of attack, and protect the quarterback. You get the push upfront, you open up the running game for Chris Ivory and Bilal Powell. That’s how you take the pressure off of a young quarterback. You get the push upfront and guys like Terrell Suggs, former Giant Chris Canty, former Jet James Ihedigbo and the rest of the Ravens defense from smothering Smith. You get the push upfront, you give your defense a chance to catch their breath.

So, how do I see this game fairing? The Ravens need this game to save the season; the Jets need this game to almost guarantee themselves the driver’s seat for the second wildcard spot. If the Jets offense does what they are capable of, yes the will continue the up/down season but they will win the game.

My actual prediction: Baltimore wins close (I hate to do it but my predictions usually are wrong so if I do this, it might guarantee the win for the Jets).