Despite poor effectivity within the purple zone, the Ravens beat the Tennessee Titans, 24-16, in London to regain first place within the AFC North. The Lions dealt with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 20-6, to maneuver to 5-1. Who can have the benefit Sunday?
Ravens passing sport vs. Lions move protection
Lamar Jackson began scorching towards the Titans, and Pro Football Focus grades him the fourth greatest passer within the league regardless of his unremarkable uncooked totals. He’s a extra pedestrian thirteenth in ESPN’s QBR, however he has thrown nicely, and his receivers didn’t repeat their drop woes from the earlier week in Pittsburgh towards Tennessee. Rookie Zay Flowers has been Jackson’s most frequent goal with 35 catches for 367 yards, and he scored his first profession landing towards the Titans. Tight finish Mark Andrews stays the primary possibility in a decent spot, and his 38-yard catch within the second half was one of the essential performs Sunday. The Ravens’ offensive line, that includes all 5 starters for the primary time because the season opener, gave Jackson a cushty pocket. On the opposite hand, the Ravens have been far much less environment friendly and productive within the second halves of latest video games, they usually’ve gone chilly within the purple zone, the place they had been so efficient over the primary 4 weeks. They’ve scored one landing over their previous seven quarters.
They will attempt to end higher towards a Detroit protection that has excelled nearly in every single place however within the purple zone. The Lions rank fifth in DVOA towards the move, having allowed opponents simply 5.4 yards per try. Edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson, the second choose within the 2022 draft, is the headliner with 4 1/2 sacks and eight quarterback hits, however the Lions have good gamers throughout, from cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Brian Branch to inside linebacker Alex Anzalone to defensive sort out Alim McNeill. They’re tied for fourth in strain charge regardless of blitzing on simply 20% of dropbacks, in accordance with Pro-Football-Reference. Only Seattle quarterback Geno Smith actually damage them and that was, not coincidentally, the Lions’ solely loss.
EDGE: Lions
Lions passing sport vs. Ravens move protection
Quarterback Jared Goff is off to a terrific begin in coordinator Ben Johnson’s offense, finishing 69.5% of his passes and averaging 8 yards per try with 11 touchdowns towards simply three interceptions. By the numbers if not by repute, he’s top-of-the-line within the league. Amon-Ra St. Brown is Goff’s prime goal (38 catches, 455 yards, three touchdowns) and one of many league’s best huge receivers, however rookie tight finish Sam LaPorta, a second-round pick of Iowa, has been the revelation with 29 catches for 325 yards and three touchdowns. Josh Reynolds averages 17.9 yards per catch, Kalif Raymond is likely one of the NFL’s best No. 3 huge receivers, and 2022 first-round choose Jameson Williams caught a 45-yard landing Sunday. The offensive line, led by proper sort out Penei Sewell, proper guard Graham Glasgow and heart Frank Ragnow, does a wonderful job defending Goff.
This would be the most troublesome take a look at so far for a Ravens protection that has wildly exceeded expectations, rating third in DVOA towards the move. The Ravens will in all probability be with out security Marcus Williams, who damage his hamstring towards the Titans, however they’ve coated for key absences all yr, and Williams’ stand-in, Geno Stone, made a game-turning interception (his league-leading third of the yr) towards Tennessee. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey remains to be working his approach again to peak type coming off foot surgical procedure, however Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin have coated nicely in spelling him. The Ravens lead the league with 24 sacks, a startling complete given how little their younger edge rushers, Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo, have performed. Outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is coming off his greatest sport — two sacks and 9 pressures — with the Ravens. Fellow late addition Kyle Van Noy has additionally juiced the move rush. But opponents have to fret a minimum of as a lot concerning the inside, the place coordinator Mike Macdonald employs intelligent stunts and simulated pressures to unleash defensive sort out Justin Madubuike (4 1/2 sacks, eight quarterback hits) and linebacker Patrick Queen (3 1/2 sacks).
EDGE: Even
Ravens operating sport vs. Lions run protection
The Ravens rank fifth in dashing however twelfth in yards per try, they usually haven’t been in a position to depend on energy runs to place away video games within the second half. Running again Gus Edwards is averaging a career-low 3.9 yards per carry and isn’t gaining yards after the primary hit like he did in earlier seasons. He wants extra assist from guards Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson. Center Tyler Linderbaum and proper sort out Morgan Moses additionally delivered subpar run blocking towards Tennessee. The Ravens have damaged greater positive aspects operating outdoors with Justice Hill, and Jackson (5.5 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns) stays their most suitable choice in a pinch.
The Lions have eaten runners alive this yr, permitting simply 3.3 yards per carry because of wonderful work from McNeill on the inside and linebackers Anzalone, Derrick Barnes and rookie Jack Campbell within the center. They have held all six opponents beneath 100 dashing yards, three of them beneath 50. They haven’t confronted a quarterback operating menace on par with Jackson, so he shall be a brand new take a look at.
EDGE: Lions
Lions operating sport vs. Ravens run protection
Detroit is predicted to be with out its prime operating again, David Montgomery (385 yards, six touchdowns), who’s coping with a rib harm. In his absence, dynamic rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, a first-round pick of Alabama, might take heart stage. Gibbs, who missed the previous two video games with a hamstring harm, averages 4.6 yards per carry and is a extra prolific move catcher than Montgomery, however maybe the Lions, who rank eighth in dashing, will pound the ball much less with out their starter.
The Ravens stay stable towards the run, rating seventh in DVOA and permitting 4 yards per try. Tennessee celebrity Derrick Henry did bust them for a 63-yard achieve off a direct snap, highlighting their occasional weak point at setting the perimeters, however they held him to 34 yards on 11 different carries. Linebackers Queen and Roquan Smith have chased down ball carriers everywhere in the area, each grading as top-15 run defenders at their place, in accordance with Pro Football Focus. Nose sort out Michael Pierce has performed nicely on the inside, whereas Clowney and Malik Harrison have stood out on the perimeters.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens particular groups vs. Lions particular groups
The Ravens lastly had an excellent week on particular groups because of a 70-yard punt return by Devin Duvernay and 6 area targets by Justin Tucker. Their DVOA rating jumped from twenty sixth to sixteenth in a single week, although their punt protection has been an issue. Duvernay has appeared tentative at instances, however his huge return bumped his common to fifteen.2 yards, which might be the best of his profession.
This is one space the place the Lions haven’t been so scorching, although they don’t have a obvious weak point. Riley Patterson has made 7 of 8 area purpose makes an attempt however missed his solely attempt past 40 yards. Raymond has averaged 9.6 yards on punt returns, whereas the Lions have returned simply 4 kickoffs all season.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens intangibles vs. Lions intangibles
The Ravens averted catastrophe in London after coach John Harbaugh revamped their strategy to enjoying abroad. Now, they face the problem of making ready for a wonderful opponent coming off that lengthy journey. Harbaugh acknowledged will probably be troublesome. The Ravens are the healthiest they’ve been because the season opener, however they’re nonetheless preventing an inclination to squander leads that seem snug.
The Lions are rampaging as they put together for his or her hardest take a look at since they traveled to Kansas City to defeat the Chiefs of their season opener. They’re 3-0 on the street, so don’t anticipate them to be daunted by the journey. Coach Dan Campbell misplaced 13 video games in his first yr with the Lions however has gone 14-9 since. Johnson is taken into account one of many brightest younger coordinators within the league. With one other spectacular win, Detroit would cement itself as a reputable Super Bowl contender.
EDGE: Lions
Prediction
All logic factors to the Lions. The Ravens haven’t performed an offense almost this potent, and it’s not like they’ll rely on pounding Detroit’s protection. There’s additionally a attainable London hangover to think about. That mentioned, this appears like an event for Jackson to place it collectively after every week of analysts fawning over the Lions. Ravens 24, Lions 20
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Source: www.bostonherald.com