While the Ravens (6-3) are having fun with their bye, there’s a lot to study from the NFL’s Week 10 schedule about how the remainder of Baltimore’s season would possibly play out. Here are 5 video games for Ravens followers to look at:
Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers (Thursday, 8:15 p.m.)
We know that is the sport the gamers and coaches will likely be watching, because the Ravens host the Panthers in Week 11 and face the Falcons (4-5) on Christmas Eve. The large query will likely be what occurs at quarterback for Carolina (2-6).
After struggling within the first half and getting changed by Baker Mayfield in Sunday’s 42-21 loss to the Bengals, PJ Walker will stay the starter Thursday night time. Before going 3-for-10 for 9 yards towards Cincinnati, Walker had his finest recreation of the season towards the Falcons, finishing 19 of 36 makes an attempt for 316 yards, together with a game-tying 62-yard landing go to former Maryland star DJ Moore with 12 seconds left in regulation.
“I could bench everybody if we go off bad games,” interim coach Steve Wilks, who has gone 1-3 since Matt Rhule was fired Oct. 10, instructed reporters this week. “We’re going to rally behind PJ and definitely give him the things he needs from a game plan standpoint so he can execute.”
Adding additional intrigue is the return of Sam Darnold, who was activated to the 53-man roster after struggling a excessive left ankle sprain within the preseason finale. Darnold struggled in his first season because the full-time starter after being acquired from the New York Jets, however he may probably begin towards the Ravens if each Walker and Mayfield stumble. The offense seems to be very totally different since Darnold final threw a go in a Panthers uniform, as broad receiver Robbie Anderson and operating again Christian McCaffrey have been traded for draft picks midseason.
No matter who strains up underneath middle, subsequent week’s recreation at M&T Bank Stadium will likely be yet one more reminder of what may have been for the 2018 draft class. Mayfield, the No. 1 general decide by the Cleveland Browns, and Darnold, chosen No. 2 by the Jets, have been among the many 4 quarterbacks drafted forward of Ravens star Lamar Jackson.
Minnesota Vikings at Buffalo Bills (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
If the Ravens hope to say the highest seed within the AFC and a first-round bye, they’ll must have a greater report than Buffalo (6-2), which owns the tiebreaker due to its 23-20 comeback victory over Baltimore in Week 4. That regarded like an uphill battle heading into Week 9, however the Bills’ 20-17 loss to the Jets coupled with an damage to star quarterback Josh Allen opened the door for the Ravens to climb into that high spot.
Allen is everyday with a proper elbow damage, in accordance with coach Sean McDermott, which implies the Most Valuable Player candidate may miss Sunday’s recreation and probably much more time. He missed 4 video games throughout his rookie season with an damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow, and ESPN reported that it’s the identical UCL — and associated nerves — that’s inflicting discomfort this time. Case Keenum, whom the Bills acquired in a commerce with the Browns within the offseason, is the backup.
Keenum would face his outdated staff that he led to a shocking berth within the NFC championship recreation within the 2017 season. That playoff run included the Minneapolis Miracle, a 61-yard landing go to Stefon Diggs — the previous Terps and present Bills star — on the ultimate play of a 29-24 divisional-round win over the Saints.
The Vikings have been one of many largest surprises of the 2022 season, beginning 7-1 underneath first-year coach Kevin O’Connell, however Sunday’s recreation will likely be simply their third towards a staff that has a profitable report getting into Week 10.
Cleveland Browns at Miami Dolphins (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
The Dolphins (6-3) might be one of many groups the Ravens are battling for the highest seed within the AFC, whereas the Browns (3-5) might be on the verge of turning their season round.
Miami is 5-1 in video games quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has began this season, together with three straight wins. Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, acquired from the Chiefs within the offseason in a blockbuster commerce, is on tempo to smash the NFL single-season receiving yards report with 1,104 in simply 9 video games. The Dolphins clearly imagine of their means to make a deep postseason run underneath first-year coach Mike McDaniel, buying and selling for Denver Broncos star go rusher Bradley Chubb earlier than the Nov. 1 deadline.
The Browns, in the meantime, breathed some life into their playoff hopes with a 32-13 win over the Bengals in Week 8, ending a four-game shedding streak. Cleveland faces the ninth-toughest remaining schedule, in accordance with Football Outsiders’ DVOA, however they’ve a robust offensive line, the league’s finest operating again in Nick Chubb and maybe the Defensive Player of the Year in defensive finish Myles Garrett. Quarterback Deshaun Watson may even return from his 11-game suspension subsequent month.
Denver Broncos at Tennessee Titans (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
After a probably season-altering win over the Jaguars in London in Week 8, the Broncos (3-5) might be way more formidable by the point they face the Ravens in Week 13. Sunday’s recreation would be the first likelihood to see if Russell Wilson and firm can construct on that momentum.
After buying and selling an enormous bundle of picks and gamers for Wilson and giving him a five-year deal value $245 million within the offseason, the veteran quarterback has failed to fulfill expectations. The Broncos’ offense ranks twenty seventh in effectivity, in accordance with Football Outsiders’ DVOA, whereas Wilson ranks twenty eighth in QBR, an all-encompassing stat that takes dashing into consideration. The offense, led by Wilson and first-year coach Nathaniel Hackett, was supposed to hold this staff. Instead, it’s the protection, which ranks second in DVOA and seventh in strain charge (25%).
The Titans’ protection has needed to carry a lot of the load, too, particularly in Sunday night time’s extra time loss to the Chiefs. Quarterback Ryan Tannehill stays restricted by an ankle damage and will miss a 3rd straight recreation, which might thrust rookie Malik Willis again into the beginning lineup after he accomplished simply 5 of 16 passes for 80 yards towards Kansas City. Tennessee (5-3) can also be coping with accidents to beginning linebackers Zach Cunningham and Bud Dupree, defensive sort out Jeffrey Simmons and security Amani Hooker, making it troublesome to check a repeat efficiency.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
The Ravens keep away from the Chiefs (6-2) this yr, however they journey to Jacksonville for the primary time since 2016 in Week 12. The groups have modified dramatically since, with Ravens left sort out Ronnie Stanley, kicker Justin Tucker and defensive lineman Brent Urban the one holdovers on either side.
While the Ravens constructed a perennial contender round Jackson after buying and selling up for him within the 2018 draft, the Jaguars (3-6) want to do the identical after choosing quarterback Trevor Lawrence first general in 2021. The former Clemson star skilled a rocky rookie season, however numerous that may be blamed on the dysfunction created by former coach Urban Meyer and his employees. Now underneath the tutelage of coach Doug Pederson and offensive coordinator Press Taylor, Lawrence is beginning to flash the expertise that made him an elite prospect, rating ninth within the league in passing yards (2,075) whereas throwing 11 landing passes to 6 interceptions. He’s been helped by the addition of free-agent receivers Christian Kirk and Zay Jones and the emergence of former Clemson teammate Travis Etienne, who ranks fifth within the league in dashing yards (680), practically half of which (379) have come up to now three video games.
While Jacksonville’s report isn’t fairly, they’ve been very unfortunate, with all six losses coming by eight factors or fewer. According to Pythagorean calculations, which supplies an anticipated profitable proportion utilizing the ratio of a staff’s wins and losses associated to the variety of factors scored and allowed, Jacksonville has performed nicely sufficient to earn 5 wins. Their plus-21 level differential is by far the perfect within the AFC South and higher or equal to the Jets, Giants and Seahawks, all of whom have at the least six wins. Sunday’s matchup towards the Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes — an early favourite for MVP after his masterful begin to the season — is a perfect alternative for Jacksonville to show it’s higher than its report.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com