The Ravens’ profitable streak evaporated once they blew one other fourth-quarter lead towards the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Denver Broncos slogged by way of a good worse Week 12 as they fell to the Carolina Panthers and feuded on the sideline. Which pissed off group could have the important thing matchup benefits once they meet Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium?
Ravens passing recreation vs. Broncos move protection
The Ravens haven’t recaptured their aerial mojo since quarterback Lamar Jackson scorched his method by way of the primary three weeks of the season. Jackson misfired on a number of potential landing passes within the loss to Jacksonville, and his receivers let him down with a collection of drops. As a end result, the Ravens stalled within the crimson zone 3 times, and the factors they left on the desk price them when the Jaguars rallied within the fourth quarter. They’ve scored touchdowns on simply 51.2% of their crimson zone possessions this yr, twenty fourth within the league. On the brilliant facet, veteran sprinter DeSean Jackson raced previous the Jacksonville protection to catch a 62-yard move at a vital second within the fourth quarter. If he has just a few extra of these in him, he may assist open up the offense. But Jackson accomplished simply 4 of 9 passes for 40 yards to beginning huge receivers Devin Duvernay and Demarcus Robinson, who haven’t been in a position to stack productive video games. Tight finish Mark Andrews (52 catches on 79 targets, 601 yards, 5 touchdowns) stays choice No. 1, however he has not matched his 2021 All-Pro type as he’s battled by way of knee and shoulder accidents. On one other constructive observe, Patrick Mekari delivered superb move safety as he stuffed in for an injured Ronnie Stanley (ankle) towards the Jaguars.
The Ravens will attempt to get again on observe towards an excellent Broncos move protection led by cornerback Patrick Surtain II and linebacker Alex Singleton. The Broncos traded their greatest edge rusher, Bradley Chubb, however they blitz on 36.3% of drop-backs, the third-highest fee within the league, and excel at masking No. 1 huge receivers and tight ends. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged a paltry 5.1 yards per try towards them.
EDGE: Broncos
Broncos passing recreation vs. Ravens move protection
The Broncos gave up a large haul to usher in quarterback Russell Wilson, considering he would make them a Super Bowl contender. Instead, Wilson has performed poorly, and the offense he leads ranks lifeless final in scoring. The scenario reached a brand new low final weekend when Wilson and pissed off defensive deal with Mike Purcell bickered on the sideline after the Broncos went down 23-3 to the Panthers. Wilson accomplished simply 19 of 35 passes for 142 yards in that loss and ranks thirtieth in ESPN’s QBR stat for all-around quarterback effectivity. Denver ranks twenty seventh in Football Outsiders’ move DVOA regardless of the presence of proficient huge receivers Courtland Sutton and Jerry Jeudy. The Broncos are thirtieth in third-down conversion fee and final in red-zone conversion fee. Wilson has taken 35 sacks in 10 video games.
It’s tough to discover a vivid spot in head coach Nathaniel Hackett’s assault. Jeudy (ankle) has not performed since Week 10 and didn’t apply Wednesday however may return towards the Ravens, who hope this shall be a get-well week for them after Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence accomplished 29 of 37 passes for 321 yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence picked on cornerback Marcus Peters for all three of his touchdowns, and the Ravens additionally missed rookie Kyle Hamilton (knee), who had turn into a key playmaker at nickel again and expects to return towards the Broncos. They sacked Lawrence 4 instances and compelled a turnover for the thirteenth consecutive recreation however couldn’t trouble him sufficiently as he guided the Jaguars down the sector within the final two minutes. That stated, the protection was trending in the proper course earlier than its fourth-quarter letdown and ranks eighth in move DVOA. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey is enjoying at a Pro Bowl degree, whereas veterans Calais Campbell and Justin Houston have excelled as move rushers. The Ravens are tied for fifth within the league with 35 sacks and second with 20 takeaways, numbers they might have liked final season.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens operating recreation vs. Broncos run protection
The Ravens moved the ball constantly towards Jacksonville with 162 speeding yards on 35 carries. Running again Gus Edwards returned after lacking two video games due to a hamstring damage. With 52 yards on 16 carries, he was much less environment friendly than normal however made his presence felt in short-yardage conditions. Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill mixed for simply three carries. Jackson was the group’s key runner as normal, with 89 yards on 14 carries. The Ravens rank second within the league in whole speeding and in rush DVOA, so that they’re nonetheless thriving by measures of quantity and effectivity.
The Broncos aren’t pretty much as good towards the run as they’re towards the move, rating seventeenth in rush DVOA and permitting opponents to common 4.6 yards per carry. The Panthers rumbled for 185 yards towards them. Singleton is their main tackler and grades as a superb run defender, per Pro Football Focus, however the Broncos lack an elite inside run stuffer. Given Denver’s stinginess towards the move, this may very well be a grind-it-out recreation for Jackson and firm.
EDGE: Ravens
Broncos operating recreation vs. Ravens run protection
The Broncos misplaced their most explosive runner in Javonte Williams, so that they’re counting on former Ravens fill-in Latavius Murray, who has given them strong work with 301 yards on 4 yards per carry in six video games. Still, they rank twenty sixth in run DVOA, so Wilson’s subpar efficiency will not be the one downside with this offense.
The Broncos haven’t run for greater than 125 yards in a recreation since Week 2, they usually’ll face a protection that has not allowed greater than 48 yards in a recreation since Week 7. The Ravens have a heap of excellent run defenders, from linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen within the center to Tyus Bowser on the sting, to Campbell, Justin Madubuike and Broderick Washington upfront. Despite a sluggish begin towards the run, they’re permitting opponents simply 3.9 yards per carry, third greatest within the league.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens particular groups vs. Broncos particular groups
The Ravens proceed to steer the league in particular groups DVOA. Justin Tucker’s 67-yard try got here up simply brief on the finish of the Jaguars recreation, however he has made 24 of 27 makes an attempt this season, with all of his misses from 56 yards or past. Duvernay is generally the league’s greatest returner, however he made some uncharacteristically poor choices towards Jacksonville to bury the Ravens close to their very own purpose line.
The Broncos rank final in special-teams DVOA and have carried out poorly in each space. Kicker Brandon McManus has missed six discipline purpose makes an attempt and two further level tries. Primary kickoff and punt returner Montrell Washington has not busted any huge performs.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens intangibles vs. Broncos intangibles
The Broncos have misplaced three in a row and 7 of their final eight. Hackett is on the new seat 11 video games into his first season as head coach. Analysts are debating the place the Wilson commerce ranks among the many worst in league historical past. Compared to those franchise-shaking woes, the Ravens’ incapability to complete off opponents seems like a minor flaw. But they got here out of their loss to the Jaguars a pissed off group, staring on the identical issues that had haunted them early within the season, earlier than a four-game profitable streak moved them to the entrance of the AFC North.
Coach John Harbaugh by no means appears to lose his deal with on a season, however he’s going through a tough stretch as Jackson and offensive coordinator Greg Roman attempt to iron out their crimson zone woes with the Cincinnati Bengals approaching robust in divisional competitors.
EDGE: Ravens
Prediction
The Ravens don’t need to ponder the place they’ll be in the event that they lose to the drain-circling Broncos at dwelling. Lamar Jackson most likely gained’t go off towards an excellent Denver move protection, however it’s arduous to think about the Broncos scoring sufficient factors to maintain up with the Ravens’ still-reliable floor assault. Just don’t count on any of this one to be fairly. Ravens 20, Broncos 10
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com