Ravens-Bengals predictions

NFL experts are weighing in with their Week 1 picks, and they are nearly unanimous in their belief that the Ravens will take care of the Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium on Monday night.

The Ravens figure to be charged up playing a season-opener on Monday night at home, and now have the added emotion of playing in the wake of Art Modell's death on Thursday.

Seven of eight CBSSports.com experts pick the Ravens to win, with Will Brinson being the renegade on the Bengals.  Also, all 12 ESPN experts have picked the Ravens to win. Then again, that might spell trouble; all 12 ESPN experts also picked the Giants to beat Dallas on Wednesday, and that didn't happen.

Here is how some of the national media see the game Monday night:

Albert Breer, NFL Network: Ravens 23, Bengals 17

"Joe Flacco has been seen as a quarterback whose numbers are depressed by the system he plays in and what he's being asked to do. This year, with Terrell Suggs down and the Ravens going more fast-break on offense, that will change." 

Mike Florio, Pro Football Talk: Ravens 31, Bengals 24

"Cincinnati gets its first chance in 2012 to win a game that it shouldn’t. Though in time those wins will come, the Ravens have too much talent on both sides of the ball."

Peter King, Sports Illustrated:  Baltimore 30, Cincinnati 23

"Black crepe paper over the stadium in Baltimore Monday evening. The man who brought the Ravens to Baltimore, Art Modell, who died Thursday morning, gave that community a team for generations to treasure."

Pete Prisco: Baltimore 28, Cincinnati 24

"The Bengals have a chance here to show right off the bat that 2011 wasn't a fluke. This is not an easy place to play, especially on a Monday night. The Ravens unveiled their no-huddle offense this summer and Joe Flacco looked good running it. I think that carries over here. The Bengals will have some matchup problems. Andy Dalton can't keep up"

Mark Schlereth, ESPN: Ravens (no score given)

"I have serious concerns about that (Ravens) defense without Terrell Suggs, but still, at home, season opener, Ray Rice, a little too much for Cincinnati."

Michael David Smith, Pro Football Talk: Ravens 16, Bengals 13

"The Bengals took a big step forward last year with the emergence of a young offense led by Andy Dalton and A.J. Green. This is an opportunity for them to make a very big statement about reordering the AFC North, but I see the Ravens’ defense making a big statement that they’re not going to let their young rivals get the best of them just yet."