The New York Giants have been one of many NFL’s most shocking groups, beginning 4-1 beneath first-year coach Brian Daboll. But the Ravens know what awaits them Sunday in MetLife Stadium. And it’s not simply operating again Saquon Barkley.
Giants defensive coordinator Don “Wink” Martindale will take heart stage as he faces his outdated staff for the primary time. Their assembly in East Rutherford, New Jersey, comes lower than 9 months after the Ravens (3-2) parted methods with Martindale, who rapidly discovered a brand new job as Daboll’s defensive coordinator. Now he’ll should cease quarterback Lamar Jackson, whom he confronted each week at Ravens practices. Here’s what to look at within the groups’ Week 6 matchup.
Offense
1. Even with extensive receiver Rashod Bateman (foot) dominated out, the Ravens’ offense shouldn’t have an excessive amount of hassle staying on schedule. Their early-down assault is likely one of the NFL’s greatest, rating second in general effectivity on first down and sixth on second down, in response to Football Outsiders. The Giants’ early-down protection is likely one of the NFL’s worst: final in first-down effectivity and 18th in second-down effectivity.
If Martindale’s going to trigger complications, it’ll in all probability occur on third and fourth down, the place his aggressiveness and unique blitz packages can rattle opposing quarterbacks. When dealing with a Giants blitz on late downs this season, solely the Dallas Cowboys’ Cooper Rush has produced constructive anticipated factors added on move makes an attempt, and even then solely barely, in response to Sports Info Solutions. (EPA is a measure of effectivity that accounts for situational elements resembling down, distance and subject place.).
Jackson and the Ravens’ offense cooked high-pressure appears to begin the season, however his manufacturing has fallen off sharply the previous two video games. He went a mixed 11-for-24 for 103 yards, a landing and an interception towards 5 or extra Buffalo Bills or Cincinnati Bengals move rushers, in response to Pro Football Focus.
“Every week is different,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman stated Thursday. “Every challenge is different. You certainly can’t rest on your laurels.”
2. Ravens operating again J.Ok. Dobbins and Barkley have shared the sphere solely as soon as. Five years in the past, they met in a top-10 matchup at Ohio Stadium. Barkley, a Heisman Trophy contender for Penn State, returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a landing. Dobbins, a freshman sensation for Ohio State, had 13 carries for 88 yards. The Buckeyes gained, 39-38, after a late rally.
On Sunday, they’ll reunite with a brand new bond between them. Barkley has been one of many NFL’s greatest comeback tales, and Dobbins may be part of him by season’s finish. In 2020, Barkley underwent ACL reconstruction and a meniscus restore after an early-season knee damage. After averaging solely 3.7 yards per carry in his return to motion final 12 months, he’s as much as 5.5 yards this season.
When Dobbins tore the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee final 12 months, alongside along with his hamstring, Barkley reached out. The surgeon who operated on Barkley’s knee was the one who repaired Dobbins’. Now, as Barkley’s star rises, Dobbins’ play has, too. He’s coming off his greatest sport of the season, an eight-carry, 44-yard exhibiting towards the Bengals.
“It’s been great to see [Barkley] do his thing, because I know he went through a lot dealing with his injury,” Dobbins stated Thursday. “So I’m just so happy to see him doing that, and I’ll be happy to see him this Sunday.”
Defense
3. The Ravens rank twenty sixth within the NFL in run protection effectivity, in response to Football Outsiders. The Giants, in the meantime, are sixth in run offense effectivity. If Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is intent on bottling up their floor sport, assist would possibly come from an sudden supply: quarterback Daniel Jones’ proper arm.
With accidents ravaging his receiving corps, Jones is averaging simply 169.6 passing yards per sport this season. Wide receiver Sterling Shepard (154 receiving yards) suffered a season-ending knee damage in Week 3, and former big-ticket signing Kenny Golladay (22 yards) was dominated out of Sunday’s sport. Playing behind a shaky offensive line, Jones has struggled on downfield throws. According to Sports Info Solutions, he’s simply 1-for-6 on passes of not less than 20 air yards this season.
That ought to make Macdonald’s job simpler. Against Cincinnati, his protection schemes and the Ravens’ security depth put a lid on quarterback Joe Burrow’s deep-passing choices. Against the Giants, the Ravens can line up nearer to the road of scrimmage and transfer a security into the field, when wanted, for further run help.
4. Jones doesn’t have Jackson’s operating expertise, but when his ankle’s absolutely wholesome, he can run by defenders virtually as rapidly. On an 80-yard run towards the Eagles in 2020, Jones hit a top speed of 21.23 mph, sooner than the 21.01 mph Jackson clocked on his 37-yard landing run towards Philadelphia one week earlier, a private greatest.
The Giants haven’t shied away from utilizing Jones (team-high 5.6 yards per carry) as a runner, both. According to Sports Info Solutions, he has 34 yards on seven designed quarterback runs and 38 yards on 5 read-option keepers this season.
Jones’ improvisational potential is price watching. Buffalo’s Josh Allen scrambled 5 occasions for 48 yards and three first downs towards the Ravens in Week 4, and the New England Patriots’ Mac Jones scrambled 5 occasions for 31 yards, a landing and two first downs in Week 3. Daniel Jones has 22 scrambles for 164 yards (7.5 per carry), two touchdowns and 15 first downs this season.
5. Stopping Barkley means tackling Barkley, and few gamers within the NFL make that tougher. According to Pro Football Focus, Barkley is ninth amongst operating backs in yards after contact per carry (3.81). Barkley has compelled 18 missed tackles this season, tied for seventh most amongst operating backs, and solely the Cleveland Browns’ Nick Chubb and Las Vegas Raiders’ Josh Jacobs have extra yards after contact.
“Strength, balance, change of direction — he’s just a really tough guy to tackle,” Harbaugh stated Monday.
The Ravens can’t afford many whiffs Sunday. According to Pro Football Reference, their protection ranks second within the NFL in missed tackles this season (38), behind solely the Houston Texans (39). Four gamers have not less than three missed tackles: inside linebacker Patrick Queen (5), injured security Marcus Williams (4), defensive lineman Justin Madubuike (4) and rookie cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis (three).
Extra factors
6. Jackson is 12-0 as a starter towards NFC groups. His 12 straight wins tie former Oakland Raiders nice Ken Stabler for the second-longest streak of interconference victories by a quarterback to start his profession in NFL historical past. Former New Orleans Saints quarterback Bobby Hebert holds the report, with 15 straight wins towards the AFC.
In Jackson’s 12 profession begins towards NFC groups, he’s handed for two,167 yards, rushed for 1,115 yards and scored 26 complete touchdowns (20 passing and 6 dashing).
7. The Giants’ roster includes a handful of current Ravens, together with beginning left guard Ben Bredeson, reserve guard Tyre Phillips, reserve defensive finish Jihad Ward, reserve defensive deal with Justin Ellis and reserve security Tony Jefferson. Backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor and beginning kicker Graham Gano additionally began their careers in Baltimore.
8. A begin Sunday could be the two hundredth of Ravens defensive lineman Calais Campbell’s profession, becoming a member of six energetic gamers who’ve reached that mark. (All are offensive gamers: quarterbacks Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan, tackles Duane Brown and Jason Peters and tight finish Marcedes Lewis.) Even at age 36, Campbell stays one of many NFL’s higher inside defenders, rating twenty first general amongst gamers on the place, in response to Pro Football Focus.
Week 6
RAVENS@GIANTS
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Chs. 13, 9
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 6
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Source: www.bostonherald.com