The Ravens misplaced, 17-10, to the Pittsburgh Steelers in a symphony of dropped passes, turnovers and blown probabilities. The Tennessee Titans gave up 193 speeding yards in a 23-16 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Which crew can have the benefit Sunday in London?
Ravens passing recreation vs. Titans move protection
The loss to Pittsburgh featured one of many strangest Ravens offensive performances in current reminiscence. Lamar Jackson was Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded quarterback for the week however completed with a 65.2 passer ranking and no landing throws as his crew scored 10 factors, none on its final 9 drives. How does that occur? Jackson’s receivers let him all the way down to an absurd diploma, dropping wherever from six to eight passes, relying on which analyst was charting. These weren’t inconsequential drops. Two had been in the long run zone and one other two may have gone for touchdowns or put the Ravens on the cusp of the aim line. Wide receivers Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers and Nelson Agholor and tight finish Mark Andrews shared blame for this catastrophe. Jackson then tossed his worst move of the day, an underthrown fade to Odell Beckham Jr., for an interception in the mean time when he may have secured victory with a landing. His move safety additionally faltered after Patrick Mekari, filling in for an injured Morgan Moses at proper sort out, left early with a chest harm. Steelers outdoors linebacker Alex Highsmith beat left sort out Ronnie Stanley for a strip sack, Jackson’s league-leading seventh fumble of the season, to finish the Ravens’ final actual scoring probability. The excellent news for the Ravens is that Jackson is throwing in addition to he ever has, all of his high targets appear more likely to play in opposition to Tennessee, and Moses, Mekari and Stanley all practiced Wednesday.
They will face a struggling Tennessee move protection that has allowed quarterbacks to common 6.8 yards per try. The Titans have crowded the road of scrimmage in opposition to Jackson in earlier conferences however have blitzed on simply 23.4% of dropbacks this season and rank twenty eighth in pressures per dropback. They do have one of many league’s high inside move rushers in Jeffery Simmons, so the Ravens will want a robust recreation from middle Tyler Linderbaum. Tennessee’s edge rushers, however, will current much less of a problem to the Ravens’ tackles than Pittsburgh’s duo of Highsmith and T.J. Watt. In the secondary, cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting has performed effectively with three passes defended and two pressured fumbles whereas his companion, Kristian Fulton, has struggled in protection.
EDGE: Ravens
Titans passing recreation vs. Ravens move protection
Quarterback Ryan Tannehill is off to a poor begin with simply two landing passes and 5 interceptions by means of 5 video games. The Titans rank thirtieth in move makes an attempt, in order that they’re not trying to air it out. At age 31, DeAndre Hopkins (26 catches on 42 targets, 356 yards) stays one of many league’s high 20 large receivers, however Tennessee doesn’t have a lot pass-catching expertise to enhance him. Tight finish and former Maryland standout Chigoziem Okonkwo ranks subsequent within the pecking order in terms of targets however has averaged simply 6.9 yards per catch. Wide receiver Treylon Burks, the crew’s 2022 first-round choose, will miss the sport due to a knee harm.
The Ravens have exceeded expectations, rating fourth in move DVOA regardless of myriad accidents to their defensive backs and out of doors linebackers. Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey performed his first recreation of the season in opposition to the Steelers, tackling effectively however giving up the go-ahead landing catch to George Pickens. On a extra regarding observe, security Marcus Williams struggled as he tried to play by means of the pectoral harm that had saved him out of the earlier three video games. Geno Stone has performed effectively as a fill-in for Williams, so it is going to be fascinating to see how coordinator Mike Macdonald balances their roles. In the absence of a dominant edge rusher, Macdonald has schemed up a move rush through the use of linebackers Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith and nearly all his defensive backs in artistic combos. The Steelers did exploit a type of blitzes on Pickett’s 41-yard landing, so there’s a danger in taking part in this manner. Outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney, Kyle Van Noy and Malik Harrison have performed effectively; they’re simply not more likely to pile up sacks.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens working recreation vs. Titans run protection
The Ravens rank fourth in speeding however had been unable to make use of their floor recreation to grind on Pittsburgh within the second half. Jackson (5.6 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns) is their high risk, however his working capacity was a curious non-factor at vital phases of shut losses to the Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts. Running again Justice Hill was on his method to a terrific recreation in Pittsburgh earlier than his fumble at midfield minimize quick a promising drive. Gus Edwards has not been as environment friendly in coordinator Todd Monken’s offense as he was underneath Greg Roman, averaging a career-low 4.3 yards per carry.
The Titans defend the run higher than the move, permitting simply 3.6 yards per carry, however they didn’t maintain up in opposition to the Colts, letting Zack Moss run wild for 165 yards on 23 carries. Linebackers Azeez Al-Shaair and Jack Gibbens are stable in opposition to the run as are Tennessee’s safeties, however Simmons has been curiously ineffective on the inside. Will the Titans load the field to negate Jackson’s runs as they’ve up to now, or will they present extra respect for his capacity to beat them excessive?
EDGE: Even
Titans working recreation vs. Ravens run protection
The Titans used to rank with the Ravens among the many league’s most dedicated working groups, however they’ve backed off the final two years, although Derrick Henry stays formidable at age 29. He’s nonetheless the workhorse, averaging 17 carries a recreation along with his yards per try at a career-low 3.8. Rookie third-round choose Tyjae Spears is an efficient counterpoint, averaging 5.8 yards per carry.
The Titans like to bounce their backs outdoors, so the Ravens might want to keep away from lapses in edge setting, which harm them early within the season. Clowney’s power in opposition to the run might be an necessary counter to Henry. They’ve been stable general, limiting opponents to three.6 yards per carry and rating sixth in rush DVOA. Michael Pierce and Travis Jones have clogged inside working lanes, whereas Smith grades because the league’s high inside linebacker, in keeping with Pro Football Focus.
EDGE: Ravens
Ravens particular groups vs. Titans particular groups
The Ravens rank twenty sixth in particular groups DVOA and dedicated one other essential error in Pittsburgh, permitting a blocked punt that resulted in a security. Jordan Stout was good in any other case, dropping three of his 4 punts contained in the Steelers’ 20-yard line. Justin Tucker hasn’t kicked a lot this 12 months, making 5 of seven subject aim makes an attempt, along with his misses coming from 59 and 61 yards.
The Titans rank fifth in particular groups DVOA because of glorious work from kicker Nick Folk, who has made all 13 of his subject aim makes an attempt, three from past 50 yards. They’ve averaged a stable 10 yards on punt returns.
EDGE: Titans
Ravens intangibles vs. Titans intangibles
The Ravens knew they gave away a recreation they may have received by two touchdowns in Pittsburgh, squandering an opportunity to construct a significant lead within the AFC North within the course of. Now they’re in London, the place they performed one in every of their worst video games in coach John Harbaugh’s 16-year tenure again in 2017. They’re spending your entire week abroad this time and appear unlikely to miss the Titans after their failure in Pittsburgh. Jackson hasn’t misplaced two begins in a row since 2021.
Tennessee remains to be making an attempt to win with a part of the veteran core that gave the Ravens a lot hassle in 2019 and 2020. Coach Mike Vrabel is among the league’s greatest, with only one dropping season — 7-10 final 12 months — on his file, however his crew has delivered some stinkers this 12 months, together with the loss to Indianapolis and a 27-3 bludgeoning by the hands of the Cleveland Browns.
EDGE: Ravens
Prediction
The Titans might be harmful so long as Vrabel is their coach and veteran stars comparable to Henry and Hopkins are round to make performs. But they haven’t carried out effectively offensively or defensively, and the Ravens are unlikely to undercut themselves as badly as they did in Pittsburgh. Jackson would be the greatest participant on the sphere in his London debut, and that might be sufficient. Ravens 27, Titans 17
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Source: www.bostonherald.com