Ravens-Bengals Madden 15 GIFERATOR
Who doesn't love themselves a good GIF – especially when it allows fans to taunt their opponent?
The folks over at Madden understand the Internet craze, and have created an NFL "GIFERATOR" to capitalize. It gives fans a canvas to combine in-game animations with witty smack talk. They supply pre-generated movements and backgrounds, you supply the taunts.
And you can do it real time during a game.
"The Madden GIFerator is a highly sophisticated NFL GIF engine. Our aggressive, bleeding edge technology fuses live NFL data with Madden NFL 15 footage to kick out real-time GIF highlights for every game, all season long," EA Sports said. "The result is an ever-growing arsenal of customizable GIFs football fans can hurl in the face of their rivals."
I visited the Bengals-Ravens Week 1 matchup page, and there are already dozens of awesome GIFs that fans have created in preparation for the AFC North showdown.
I've highlighted some of the Ravens re-looping animations below, but if you want to see the Cincy trash talk, you'll have to visit the page. (Mobile users tap "View in browser" to see.)
Ravens Don't Feel They're In Dalton's Head
Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton hasn't had his best games against the Ravens.
He's thrown 11 career interceptions to six touchdowns, completing just 53.9 percent of his passes against the Ravens for a low 62.9 passer rating.
In ESPN's Jamison Hensley's words, the Ravens defense has "owned" Dalton in the red zone, on third down and in the fourth quarter.
The Cincy quarterback has a 2-4 record against Baltimore, but the Bengals won the most recent matchup and that's why the Ravens defense isn't getting cocky.
"This is the NFL. The good ones don't allow you to get in their head," outside linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "We've had some success against a lot of quarterbacks in this league, and somehow, someway, they still manage to find a way to beat us sometimes. The good ones never really let you get in their head, and I don't think we’re even close to doing that with this kid."
Steve Smith Already Showing Signs Of Intensity For Bengals
Newest wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. is heading into his first regular-season game as a Raven, and based on reports coming out of the locker room, the 14-year veteran is laser focused on the task at hand.
"Standing in front of his locker Thursday, Ravens veteran wide receiver Steve Smith was already displaying signs of intensity and his trademark no-nonsense attitude," wrote The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson. "Smith wasn't in a chatty mood and was starting his focus days before his first regular-season game with the Ravens on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium."
Smith didn't talk for long, per Wilson.
After a brief interview, the five-time Pro Bowler simply said: "I don't have anything to prove."
Pierce Responds To 'Injury-Prone' Label
Ravens running back Bernard Pierce has only been in the league for two full seasons, and during those two seasons some have already put the "injury prone" label on him, says CSNBaltimore.com's Bo Smolka.
It's an unfair label, considering Pierce has never missed one of his 32 NFL games. But the reputation comes from being a frequent name on the injury reports. This offseason, he had shoulder surgery, which he feels 100 percent recovered from, but he landed on the injury list again this week after suffering a concussion against the Redskins in the third preseason game.
How does Pierce feel about the label?
"Everybody is entitled to their own opinion," Pierce said after practice on Wednesday. "I tore my labrum and my rotator cuff. I would say that's a pretty significant injury. And I caught a helmet-to-helmet, so I would say that you can't prevent that.
"Everybody is entitled to their opinion, but I think ... no, I know I'm pretty durable."
Why Ravens Gave Lewis A Statue
Nobody inside of Baltimore would ever need an explanation for why the Ravens erected a Ray Lewis statue outside M&T Bank Stadium yesterday.
But for those outside of Charm City who may be questioning it, Hensley makes it simple for them:
"Lewis is arguably the best middle linebacker ever to play the game. He was the leader of what many consider to be the best defense in NFL history. It's difficult to think of the Ravens without picturing Lewis, much like the Packers and Vince Lombardi. And there is a statue of him in front of Lambeau Field.
"And, if the Ravens are going to have a statue of Johnny Unitas at M&T Bank Stadium, there needs to be one of Lewis. Unitas defined the Colts era in Baltimore, and Lewis does the same for the Ravens. In Baltimore, Lewis will long be remembered for passion, leadership and championships. The statue celebrates his legacy in this city's football history."
Week 1 Picks: Bengals vs. Ravens
As noted earlier this week, the national media is sleeping on the Ravens, and that shows up again in the Week 1 predictions below. Most national pundits believe the Bengals will upset the Ravens at home.
But the local media seem to be believers …
**Baltimore Sun**: 6 of 7 pick Ravens
Jeff Zrebiec (Ravens 27, Bengals 23): "The debut of Gary Kubiak's offense is a success and the Ravens' defense holds the Bengals to field goals on some key drives. I think the Bengals will be the better team by season's end, but the Ravens, in front of their home crowd, will be better this Sunday."
Jon Meoli (Bengals 34, Ravens 31): "The Ravens have a tough opener. Their front seven will be tested by Giovani Bernard, and the secondary won't have much time to get used to game action after missing the whole preseason. I think Joe Flacco and Co. will score points, but not enough to top the Bengals here."
**ESPN.com**: 9 of 13 pick the Bengals
**Yahoo! Sports**: 2 of 2 pick Bengals
**NFL.com**(Elliot Harrison): Bengals 27, Ravens 23
"Close contest in Baltimore, unlike the Ravens' blowout that resulted from this same matchup in Week 1 of the 2012 season. Whether Joe Flacco has a chance to again bomb the Bengals into submission (21-for-29 passing for 299 yards and two scores on that night two years ago) depends largely on how much time he gets. The Baltimore offensive line has been a topic of conversation; after all, you can't blame all of 2013's running woes (the Ravens had the 30th-ranked rushing attack) on Ray Rice and Bernard Pierce. Meanwhile, talk all you want about Andy Dalton, but Cincy's Giovani Bernard-Jeremy Hill Express could very well decide who starts the year one game down in the AFC North."
**CBSSports.com**: 5 of 8 pick Bengals
Pete Prisco: Bengals 21, Ravens 20
"It's hard to win a road division game, but I think this Bengals team has a chance to be really good. Both defenses should be good, which will make it tough going for both quarterbacks. I think the Bengals will find a way in the fourth quarter."
**ProFootballTalk.com**: 1 of 2 pick Bengals
Mike Florio: Ravens 20, Bengals 17
"Cincinnati is breaking in a pair of new offensive coordinators. Baltimore is breaking in a new offense. Steve Smith may break someone's jaw. Advantage home team."
**SportingNews.com**(Vinnie Iyer): Ravens 23, Bengals 20
"Two more teams, two more new-look offenses with focus on more efficiency. The Bengals will go big and try to pound away with Giovani Bernard and Jeremy Hill, while the Ravens will unleash a little more pop with Joe Flacco, Torrey Smith, Steve Smith and Dennis Pitta. Either way, it's your typical physical, nip-and-tuck AFC North game; Baltimore is just tough to beat at home this time of year."
**FoxSports.com**(Peter Schrager): Bengals 27, Ravens 23
"The AFC North should come down to these two teams down the stretch and I can assure you that Baltimore still has a bitter taste in its mouth for the way its season ended Week 17 in Cincinnati a season ago. The Achilles' heel for this Ravens team will be its safety play and I can see the Bengals exploiting that early and often. Baltimore's expecting big things out of rookie safety Terrence Brooks, but the youngster out of FSU probably isn't ready to step into that role just yet. Second-year man Matt Elam needs to be better, and Darian Stewart, the expected starter at free safety, is a giant question mark. Andy Dalton, A.J. Green and offensive coordinator Hue Jackson know all this. Look for a few deep balls -- early on -- to do Baltimore in on Sunday."
Quick Hits
- Ha! Tyrod Taylor's new mouthpiece is a trip! … @tytaylor2: Thanks @wrightguard for the mouthpiece. Go check him out! [Instagram]
