ExtremeRavens Posted October 10 Posted October 10 The Ravens eked out a 41-38 thriller in Cincinnati. The Commanders blew out the Browns. Who will have the edge when these high-scoring teams meet Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium? Ravens passing game vs. Commanders pass defense The Ravens had to throw to stay within shouting distance of the Bengals after going down 10 in the third quarter. Lamar Jackson and his receivers were up to the task, connecting for 235 yards and three touchdowns in the second half and overtime. Jackson flashed his unique ability to make something out of nothing when he dropped a snap, stiff-armed a would-be tackler, scrambled toward the sideline and threw across his body to tight end Isaiah Likely in the end zone. All of his key targets, from Likely to Mark Andrews (four catches on five targets, 55 yards) to Rashod Bateman (four catches for 58 yards and a touchdown) to Zay Flowers (seven catches for 111 yards), made vital plays to keep the Ravens moving as they rallied for an improbable victory. Jackson had attempted just 33 passes over his previous two games, so the Ravens showed their offense, No. 1 in the league in DVOA and yards per play, could be great in a different way. Their pass protection held up well despite the fact Cincinnati knew they would throw on almost every play. They’re likely to stick with their line configuration from the last two games — rookie Roger Rosengarten at right tackle and Patrick Mekari at left guard — even if original starting guard Andrew Vorhees (ankle) is healthy enough to suit up against Washington. Jackson will go against a Washington defense that ranks 27th in DVOA against the pass but just played its best game of the season in beating the Browns and struggling quarterback Deshaun Watson. The Commanders sacked Watson seven times and held him to 125 yards on 28 attempts. Coordinator Joe Whitt’s defense blitzes on 27.5% of dropbacks and ranks 14th in the league in pressure rate, per Pro Football Reference. Defensive end Dorance Armstrong Jr. (three sacks, nine quarterback hits) is Washington’s top edge rusher, and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen is a threat from inside. But the Commanders are unusual in that inside linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu are just as important to their pass rush as the big guys upfront. The Commanders are vulnerable in the secondary, where cornerbacks Mike Sainristil and Benjamin St-Juste are average at best in coverage. They have not intercepted a pass through five games. EDGE: Ravens Commanders passing game vs. Ravens defense Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels has transformed Washington’s offense into one of the league’s best — first in scoring and third in yards per play. After a relatively ragged start, the Commanders have averaged 38 points over their last three victories. Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2024 draft, is remarkably accurate (77.1% completions) but not at the expense of looking downfield (8.7 yards per attempt). He has thrown an interception in each of his last two games and completed just 14 of 25 passes against a Browns defense that was the toughest he’s faced. Wide receiver Terry McLaurin (23 catches on 36 targets, 303 yards) is easily Daniels’ top playmaker. He also likes to target tight end Zach Ertz and running backs Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler. Washington’s offensive line, led by left tackle Brandon Coleman and center Tyler Biadasz, has given Daniels time to work. The rookie is a threat to extend any play, so the Ravens will have to be disciplined about boxing him in. Coordinator Zach Orr’s defense will try to bounce back from a rough day in Cincinnati, where Burrow (30 of 39 for 392 yards, five touchdowns) had his way after he got into rhythm with wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. All three Bengals stars were at the top of their game, but the Ravens made their lives easier with coverage lapses and poor tackling. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey and defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike stepped up with an interception and a sack, respectively, to help get the game to overtime, but the Ravens will need better performances from Humphrey, cornerback Nate Wiggins, safety Marcus Williams and outside linebacker Odafe Oweh to hold Daniels in check. Oweh and Kyle Van Noy will have to set tough edges, and safety Kyle Hamilton could be Orr’s ace in the hole monitoring the elusive quarterback’s movements around the line of scrimmage. Daniels’ passing efficiency drops against pressure, but he has punished blitzes with his scrambling, so it will be interesting to see how often Orr sends extra rushers. The Ravens will try to find creative ways to use safety Kyle Hamilton to confuse Washington’s rookie quarterback. (Kim Hairston/Staff) EDGE: Commanders Ravens running game vs. Commanders run defense The Bengals smothered the line of scrimmage with eight defenders in hopes of forcing the Ravens to beat them through the air. The strategy worked early as the Ravens averaged just 3.1 yards per carry in the first half while Cincinnati moved out to a 10-point lead. But the Ravens still ended up outrushing the Bengals 175 yards to 71, with Derrick Henry’s 51-yard run in overtime providing an exclamation point for their comeback. The Ravens easily lead the league in rushing and yards per carry and have outgained opponents by an average of 151 yards per game. Jackson is averaging 6.8 yards per carry, Henry 6.0 and Justice Hill 4.9 for an attack that’s ahead of the historic pace the Ravens set in 2019. They’ll go against a Washington defense that has allowed 130 yards per game (22nd in the league) and 5.1 yards per carry (31st). Will Whitt and Commanders coach Dan Quinn make the same choice the Bengals and load up to counter Baltimore’s ground force? Washington does have an excellent pair of linebackers in the aforementioned Wagner and Luvu, but its defense is softer upfront with tackles Allen and Daron Payne and ends Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell grading as average to poor run defenders, according to Pro Football Focus. EDGE: Ravens Commanders running game vs. Ravens run defense The Ravens have always had an elite running game with Jackson, no matter who’s taking the handoffs, and we’re seeing the same phenomenon with Daniels, whose Commanders rank second in rushing and fourth in yards per attempt. The rookie quarterback, averaging 60 yards per game and 5.3 per attempt, is a threat on designed runs and scrambles. He draws considerable attention, opening the way for Robinson and Ekeler to run with career-best efficiency. Linebacker Roquan Smith, right, and the rest of the Ravens defense has performed well against the run this season. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Washington has rushed for at least 200 yards in three of its four victories and will challenge a Baltimore defense that has limited opponents to 60.4 yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry. The Ravens have imposing run defenders at all three levels, from Travis Jones walling off the interior to Roquan Smith roving the middle to Hamilton coming up from the secondary. Teams have abandoned the run against them, but the Commanders won’t. Their balanced offense will present a new test for Orr’s group. EDGE: Even Ravens special teams vs. Commanders special teams Justin Tucker eased worried minds when he made a 56-yard field goal to push the Bengals game to overtime. Tucker had missed wide left from 53, 56 and 46 in the Ravens’ first three games, but the most accurate kicker in league history was perfect in the clutch in Cincinnati despite breezy conditions. On the flip side, the Ravens made a pair of return mistakes with Tylan Wallace and Chris Collier filling in for injured starter Deonte Harty. Wallace’s error was costly; he failed to field a punt that rolled out at the 2-yard line, and the Bengals dropped Henry for a safety on the next play. Because of such miscues, the Ravens rank an unfamiliar 23rd in special teams DVOA. Justin Tucker’s 56-yard field goal against Cincinnati was the longest made kick of the season for the longtime Ravens kicker. (Andy Lyons/Getty) The Commanders rank 10th in DVOA. Kicker Austin Seibert has made all 12 of his field goal attempts (none from 50 yards or more) since he replaced Cade York after Washington’s opener. Ekeler has averaged an impressive 31.8 yards on six kickoff returns, and Olamide Zaccheaus has averaged been equally good on punts, averaging 18.3 yards. EDGE: Commanders Ravens intangibles vs. Commanders intangibles The Ravens pushed their winning streak to three with that wild win in Cincinnati, and they’ll look to solidify their spot atop the AFC North as they put an 0-2 start behind them. Coach John Harbaugh faced sharp criticism for his clock management at the end of the first half against the Bengals, but he has the team where it was expected to be after a difficult early schedule. Harbaugh’s Ravens have generally overwhelmed rookie quarterbacks who come to M&T Bank Stadium, though Daniels is playing better than most. Jackson has lost just one career start against an NFC team. The Commanders are one of the hottest teams in the league in Quinn’s first season, riding a four-game winning streak marked by offensive explosions. Daniels has brought real hope to a fan base that suffered for decades under previous owner Daniel Snyder. The Ravens will present the greatest test to date for this burgeoning juggernaut. EDGE: Ravens Prediction Surprise! This matchup is one of the most exciting on the calendar, pitting offenses that can blister any opponent on the ground or through the air. The Ravens will have to maintain defensive discipline on the edges and in the secondary to keep Daniels from going off. The Commanders, with one of the league’s weaker defenses, might have to pick their poison between Jackson and Henry running and Jackson looking over the top as he did in Cincinnati. Washington’s potent offense won’t be silenced, but it won’t keep up with Jackson and Henry. This is a significant step up for the Commanders, and it will show in the end. Ravens 34, Commanders 24 Have a news tip? Contact Childs Walker at daviwalker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6893 and x.com/ChildsWalker. View the full article Quote
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