Broncos at Ravens

[tsylvester]

Okay, let's get the bad taste of the loss to the Browns out of our minds, time to Broncos.

If this Ravens team has showed us anything it is that they tend to play to their opponent. If said opponent is supposed to be bad, the Ravens will play flat. Good, they will play great. With that in mind, who are the Denver Broncos?

Their defense is for real, 3rd in the league in total defense, allowing just 282 yards per game, 176 via the pass, 106.4 on the ground., just 15 points per game.

Getting after the qb is where they shine, 2nd in the league with 30 sacks.

Offensively, though, they are 25th in the league with rookie Bo Nix at the helm, 307 yards per game, 185 through the air, 121.4 on the ground.

Nix is completing 63% of his passes and is 2nd on the team in rushing with 259 yards and 4 tds.

J Williams leads them in rushing with 345 yards & 2 tds. Nix has been sacked 11 times and has 8 tds, with 5 picks.

As a team, they are even in the turnover battle, coughing the ball up 12 times (5 picks, 7 fumbles) and getting their opponents to do the same, only with 7 picks and 5 forced fumbles.

Their opponents are in question as to truly how good Denver is, but one thing is for sure, the Ravens have to take them seriously.

Rush lanes have to be maintained as to not let Nix hurt them with his legs. Pass rush has to get home, he will cough the ball up when frassled.

Offensively this line will be tested once again, Denver has a very good pass rush, which has helped to cover up a lack of overall talent in their secondary.

There is no mistaking this, this is a must win game for many reasons. 1 major one, to keep this playing together. A loss might have this team fall apart..

Who ya got?

[deeshopper]

*sigh* I don't know. It's a sad day in Baltimore when the fans worry about the defense, not the offense. 

 

[tsylvester]

It is quite weird aint it, kinda like being back in 1996 all over again.... Fitting that it is Halloween

[GrubberRaven]

Tennessee has the #1 D in the NFL...their D coordinator was our DB coach last year.  Has a history of getting the very best out of DBs.  Looks like we kept the wrong guy...

https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/2024/10/28/24281761/the-loss-of-dennard-wilson-is-what-is-hurting-the-ravens-defense-most-pass-defense-rankings

[tsylvester]

The interesting part Grub is that guys who were outstanding, now all of a sudden can't play any more?

I could understand if it was simply blown coverage after blown coverage, but these guys are completely out of position, some playing catch and run, the later is a coaching issue.

Granted, they lead the league or are close, in dropped picks, catch a few of them and the defense is much better stat wise, at least one game, the Browns, is a win.

But Roquan knows how to cover in zone, now he can't?

I will say, these qbs and receivers are making incredible plays, the Ravens lead the league in tight coverage, it is just getting best by perfect passes and catches on many occasions

[tsylvester]

Lamar out of practice today, at least the media portion. All others, including the new receiver, were practicing. No sense working with the new guy now, huh? Speculation is a groin issue

According to espn

Coach John Harbaugh moved to cool concerns at his Wednesday press conference, saying Jackson was resting: 'He's been playing great and we have a lot of football in front of us.' 

[oldno82]

The Ravens will beat the Broncos but the defense will still look out of joint.

 Appears now the coaches on D need a real kick in the ass because things are not improving.

And it ain’t the players.

We may need to hire a new DC if this continues sooner rather than later.

[krf82]

But can they win without Lamar?  (back/knees)

 

[tsylvester]

51 minutes ago, krf82 said:

But can they win without Lamar?  (back/knees)

 

Nope, missed today's practice as well..mmmmmmm

[oldno82]

They won’t win without Lamar.

[GrubberRaven]

He's back today

[tsylvester]

"Welcome back
Your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back
To that same old place that you laughed about"

[tsylvester]

Agent 0 and Hamilton have said the right things this week. How embarrassed and angry they and the rest of the defense is by what has been said of them, how they have played.

So, either they come out and dominate this Sunday, or they fall apart completely.

With the Ravens front office looking at possible defensive help via trade for an edge rusher, possibly, though not likely a secondary help, what teams do this weekend will help decide for them, which players will be available before the trade deadline on Tuesday.

[tsylvester]

Can't  help thinking about the season Peyton won his first Super Bowl. The Colts run defense was ranked near the bottom of the league. Teams were getting them on the ground. Yet Manning would bail them out.

Then the playoffs started and the Colts run defense that was soft as tissue paper, turned it around, shutting down some of the best run offenses, the Ravens included, and went on to win it all.

I'm not saying the Ravens pass defense will turn things around, nor that even if they do, the Ravens will win it all. Just pointing out that it is possible.

May today be the start..

[papasmurfbell]

Peyton had a sub par yr that season.  They had very reliable running taking much off his plate.  That’s what got them there.

[deeshopper]

OK, who ya got?

[tsylvester]

I'm on a delay, wanted to get warm in the sun, it's chilly in da house!

[tsylvester]

After the touchback

From their 30, Williams beams in to make a stop on the pitch sweep for a gain of one. Naked boot pass gets tipped thanks to VanNoy and Washington catches it!

[tsylvester]

I formation, play fake, roll right Lamar hits Bateman for a gain of one.

Single back, under center, Henry to the left for a gain of 4

3rd and 5

Shot gun, Lamar waits, but has little time, is swarmed for a loss of 11, off of a rush of 3, Rosegarden best like a drum.

40 yard punt is downed at the 2

[tsylvester]

From their 2

Run up the middle for a gain of 2

Pass to the flat for a gain of 4

3rd and 4

Pass in the left flat, very low, gets his hands under it and a 1st down

Blitz off of the edge gets picked up, pass in the left flat for 6

Run up the middle easily gets 5

From their 25

Screen is sniffed out, Nix is forced to scramble and throw it away, flag down.  offensive pass interference backs them up 10

1st and 20

Run off of the left side for 6

Haven't heard hut 1, 2, 3 since grade school

Pass deep right side, Stephens loses his footing for a gain of 25

Run up the middle for a gain of 3

Pass over the middle for a gain of 6

3rd and 1

Qb sneak is short? Timeout to measure

6:24

 

[tsylvester]

4th and inches they are going for it

Sweep is covered well, but broken tackles allows him to just make it?

Challenge flag is out, knee was down but no way to know where the ball is when the knee was down. Early for a challenge on such a play

[tsylvester]

Oh wow, over turned! I stand corrected. That is like another turnover

From their 43

Henry up the middle no where to go, no movement on the line, no gain

Gonna have to pass to set up the run

Screen to Hill gets 15, flag down though holding on Mekari, backs up 10

Oy

2nd and 10, apot foul

Lamar all day to throw, lofts one to Algholar for a gain of 30

[tsylvester]

From their 30

Henry up the middle, no gain once again

Lamar throws a dart to Batemen for 15

Henry on a sweep right gain of 8 (I thought he could have scorded)

Henry up the middle like a pinball, scores! Touchdown Ravens!

[tsylvester]

2:18 left in the 1st quarter

Speakingnof pinball, Tucker bounces the extra point in off of the right up right

7-0 Ravens

[tsylvester]

Ball kicked into the endzone, returned to the 23

Run up the middle for 3

Wide receiver screen broken up by Hamilton batting the pass away

3rd and 7

Blitz is picked up initially then Nix scrambles, throws across his body to a wide open receiver for 30

Nix up the middle for no gain

Run to the left for 2

3rd down  8

Blitz, delayed, chases Nix who dumps it down to the runningback for a gain of 5

They are going for it, 4th and 4

Pass deep into the endzone, Muelet beat on a 0 blitz, video issues, overthrown