Baltimore, Denver Mayors Bet on NFL Playoffs

If the Baltimore Ravens lose their divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos Saturday, residents will have to deal with an ugly reminder of the loss due to a bet between Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock.

With a Ravens loss, the historic Washington Monument in the Mt. Vernon neighborhood would be bathed in blue and orange light as part of the terms of the bet, according to a news release. Rawlings-Blake will also have to send a platter of J.W. Faidley Seafood’s crab cakes to Hancock should the home team fail to come through.

But if the Ravens pull off the upset—the team is a 10 point underdog heading into the game in Denver—Hancock will have to send a box of dry aged “cowboy cut” rib eye steaks from Lombardi Brother’s Meats to Rawlings-Blake, and he will have to perform linebacker Ray Lewis’ famous pre-game dance.

"For five consecutive years, our Ravens have made the playoffs with an increasingly potent offense and historically dominant defense, led by All-Pro linebacker Ray Lewis. I am excited to watch them win another game on the road to the Super Bowl," Rawlings-Blake said in a news release. "This is, of course, Ray Lewis’ final post-season as a Raven. He and his teammates are playing with a renewed sense of camaraderie and urgency, which the Denver Broncos will be unable to match."

Rawlings-Blake hasn't had the best luck while making bets on football. Last year she had to send a platter of crab cakes to Boston Mayor Thomas Menino after Ravens kicker Billy Cundiff shanked a short game winning field goal. She also wound up recording a YouTube video wearing a Steelers' jersey after the Ravens lost to Pittsburgh during the 2010 playoffs.

But Hancock was also feeling confident, and with good reason. Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning has defeated the Ravens in nine consecutive games dating back to his time with the Indianapolis Colts, including a 34-17 shellacking of the Ravens in Baltimore in December, according to the Huffington Post.       

"Denver is looking forward to an exciting game with the Ravens, and I expect an Orange Wave to come out on top at the end of the fourth quarter," Hancock said in the release. "Behind the high powered offense led by Peyton Manning and shut down defense led by Champ Bailey, Elvis Dumervil and Von Miller, the Broncos are playing at the top of their game. The road to the Super Bowl runs right through Denver, and I can’t think of a better city to host Ray Lewis’ last game of his acclaimed career."