After 9 grueling video games, the Ravens’ bye week and first week again went largely as deliberate.
Just 4 gamers, three of them projected starters, had been listed as questionable on the staff’s harm report for Sunday’s recreation towards the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is predicted to play regardless of lacking observe Friday with an sickness, All-Pro tight finish Mark Andrews practiced totally for the primary time in a month, and working again Gus Edwards could possibly be nearing a return to motion.
Still, the Ravens (6-3) ought to have some margin for error in Baltimore. The Panthers (3-7) are beginning one of many league’s most inaccurate quarterbacks and fighting accidents of their secondary. Here’s what to look at within the groups’ Week 11 matchup.
Offense
1. Quarterbacks Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson’s soccer lives have lengthy been intertwined. Mayfield was a Heisman Trophy finalist when Jackson gained the award in 2016, and Jackson was a finalist when Mayfield was topped in 2017.
Both had been taken within the first spherical of the 2018 NFL draft, with the Browns making Mayfield their prime general choose and the Ravens buying and selling again into the primary spherical to pick out Jackson at No. 32 general.
Both rapidly grew to become fixtures within the AFC North. Mayfield began 13 video games as a rookie for Cleveland in 2018, serving to lead the Browns to their greatest document since 2007. Jackson took over for the injured Joe Flacco and began seven video games for the Ravens, who gained their first AFC North title since 2012.
But lately, their paths have diverged. Jackson was named the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2019 and added a second Pro Bowl honor final season. He’s in line for a profitable contract extension subsequent offseason. Mayfield, in the meantime, was traded to the Panthers after a disappointing 2021 season, a deal facilitated by his determination to take a $3.5 million pay lower.
“I did think Baker would be a Brownie for life, so it will be a little different seeing those colors,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey stated Wednesday. “I thought the Lamar-Baker thing would be a long time.”
Sunday’s could possibly be their final assembly as starters. While Jackson once more finds himself within the MVP dialog, Mayfield is final within the NFL in ESPN’s QBR metric. He’s 1-4 as a starter for Cleveland, finishing simply 56.6% of his passes, and can lead Carolina’s offense into M&T Bank Stadium solely due to an ankle harm to P.J. Walker.
2. Sunday’s recreation could possibly be a get-right recreation for Ravens huge receivers, who’ve mixed for simply 37 catches and 380 yards over the previous 5 video games.
Carolina’s prime nook, 2021 first-round choose Jaycee Horn, is predicted to play however was restricted in observe Wednesday. Fellow beginning cornerback Donte Jackson suffered a season-ending Achilles tendon tear in Week 10. And the Panthers could possibly be with out safeties Jeremy Chinn, Myles Hartsfield and Juston Burris, who’ve mixed for 14 begins this season. Burris (concussion) has already been dominated out, one other blow to an already struggling move protection.
The Ravens will proceed to depend on tight ends of their passing recreation, however they need to be bolstered by the return to well being of Demarcus Robinson, who was a full participant in observe this week. A groin harm hampered the veteran huge receiver forward of the staff’s Week 9 win over the New Orleans Saints.
“I really think our receivers are doing a great job, a lot of unheralded stuff that they’re doing,” offensive coordinator Greg Roman stated Thursday, praising gamers like Robinson. “If you look at, like, last week, for example, against the Saints, I think we completed passes to 10 different players. I’m in heaven when that happens because, A, everyone’s involved, everyone’s contributing, and, B, if you’re the defense, who are you going to stop? I definitely think that mindset’s good for us.”
Defense
3. After three straight 1,100-yard seasons, Carolina huge receiver DJ Moore has fallen wanting expectations this 12 months. The former Maryland star and 2018 first-round choose has 39 catches on 77 targets — a 50.6% catch charge that might be the bottom of his profession — for 3 touchdowns and 478 receiving yards, a median of 12.3 yards per reception that might even be the bottom of his profession.
Moore’s greatest stretch coincided with Mayfield’s absence. Walker has a passer score of 84.5 (19-for-35 for 252 yards, two touchdowns and an interception) when focusing on Moore this season; Mayfield’s score when on the lookout for his prime receiver is simply 51.4 (19-for-41 for 225 yards, a landing and an interception).
“He’s one of the best receivers in football,” coach John Harbaugh stated Wednesday of Moore. “He’s a great route runner; he runs all the routes. He’ll block, he runs the wide screens. He’s kind of ‘Public Enemy No. 1′ outside, along with [wide receiver Laviska] Shenault [Jr.], so he’s doing a great job.”
4. Sunday’s recreation will reunite the Ravens with heart Bradley Bozeman, who began 49 video games over 4 seasons in Baltimore. Bozeman was thought-about one of many higher facilities out there forward of free company this March, however a aggressive market by no means developed. He in the end signed a one-year, $2.8 million cope with Carolina.
After Pat Elflein was named the Panthers’ beginning heart to open the season, Bozeman was restricted to particular groups work. But when a hip harm sidelined Elflein earlier than Carolina’s Week 7 recreation towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bozeman took over. He’s performed each offensive snap over the previous 4 video games and has graded out as one in every of Pro Football Focus’ greatest facilities in that span.
“It’s been fun watching him on tape,” Harbaugh stated Friday. “Playing very well, just like he always plays. Obviously, it’ll be a big challenge for us, but a lot of respect for Brad and very grateful for all the things he did here as a player.”
5. Ravens inside linebacker Roquan Smith didn’t want lengthy to choose up a brand new defensive playbook — simply two days, based on coordinator Mike Macdonald. “It’s a piece of cake for him,” Macdonald stated Thursday. “It’s easy for him.”
Smith performed each defensive snap for the Chicago Bears this season earlier than being dealt on the commerce deadline. With solely per week to study the Ravens’ scheme, the two-time All-Pro performed 39 of the staff’s 51 defensive snaps towards the Saints. The bye week gave Smith much more time to organize for his dwelling opener.
“Just definitely getting more comfortable by the day,” he stated Wednesday. “I’m just excited. Still learning little things here and there, but I’m excited for where I’m going and where we’re going.”
Smith has loads of sources. After observe Thursday, he sat subsequent to inside linebacker Josh Bynes on the veteran’s locker, seemingly going over notes on a handful of papers.
Extra factors
6. Longtime referee Jerome Boger, whose crew is scheduled to officiate Sunday’s recreation, shall be again in Baltimore for the primary time since a controversial Week 4 name.
A roughing-the-passer penalty on defensive again Brandon Stephens late within the Ravens’ loss to the Bills stored Buffalo from dealing with a second-and-15 on the Ravens’ 41-yard line in its eventual game-winning drive. Boger stated afterward that Stephens had made “forcible contact” with the top and neck space of quarterback Josh Allen. Rules analysts like CBS’ Gene Steratore, and most Ravens followers, disagreed.
7. Under Harbaugh, the Ravens are 24-6 at dwelling in November. They’re additionally 11-3 after a bye week and 31-14 with not less than seven days’ relaxation since he took over in 2018.
Week 11
Panthers at Ravens
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Ch. 45
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 13
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Source: www.bostonherald.com