James Clapper's "Lock of the Week" Baltimore at Washington

Hello. football fans, it's National Intelligence Director James Clapper back after a one-week absence (or was it two?) to give you my...,.


Lock of the Week.

I was off last week picking the winners and losers in the Egyptian League. (Well, actually, I just forgot to make my pick last week. Happens a lot you know as we grow older.) But now I am back, and get out your pencils, credit cards and cell phones because this one is solid gold.

Baltimore Ravens at Washington All-Stars (Can't call them Redskins, you know.)

I am going with the All-Stars in this one for a simple reason. Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco just doesn't play well on the road. I don't know whether its the jet lag or the hotels or the staying out late at night when he's away from home, but "Jet Lag" Joe just isn't the same quarterback when he's not playing in Maryland. Let's just say that the long hours of travel have a negative effect on Joe and the rest of the Ravens. In fact, that supposedly ferocious Ravens defense is just plain moderate when on the road. I figure by the time the Ravens get to the stadium after all those hours on the jammed Beltway, they will be in no shape for a game of football.

Plus the Ravens figure to be once again without their big gun linebacker, Terrell Suggs, who hurt his arm against the Steelers last week. Even if he manages to play, Suggs will be forced to play without his own big guns (no pun intended). He can always borrow one of Ray Lewis' knives, I guess since Ray is also on the sidelines and won't be needing them.

And finally, my intelligence sources tell me that every year since 1919  that a Democrat wins the presidential election, the All-Stars beat the Ravens. History doesn't lie.

All-Stars 45
Ravens 6