For a short time within the late 2000s and early 2010s, the rivalry between the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens was one of many fiercest in all of soccer. However, within the years since each groups have modified dramatically and their conferences each within the common season and the playoffs have develop into scarce.
On Sunday evening, we are going to get to see one other such assembly. To discover out extra about the Patriots’ Week 16 opponent, we spoke with Nikhil Mehta of Pats Pulpit’s sister web site Baltimore Beatdown, the SB Nation neighborhood for all issues Ravens.
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Here is what he instructed us about the upcoming sport and opponent.
1. Lamar Jackson has battled a number of lower-body accidents this season. Have these affected his play or the best way he’s been deployed?
Jackson’s a number of accidents have vastly affected his play this season. He has began to look extra like his ordinary self up to now few video games, however for a big portion of the season, Jackson has been a shell of the participant we’ve develop into accustomed to watching. His mobility took a significant hit, which has lead extra sacks since he has been unable to keep away from defenders and lengthen performs like regular, in addition to far fewer designed runs in comparison with earlier seasons. Jackson is at present set to complete with by far the least speeding yards he has had in a season.
2. Has anybody managed to decelerate the Ravens’ run sport with Jackson and Derrick Henry within the backfield? If so, how can the Patriots replicate that system?
As talked about above, the Ravens haven’t used as many designed quarterback runs, which has lowered the specter of Jackson’s legs. As a end result, opposing defenses can deal with Henry, particularly with bottom defenders crashing down the road of scrimmage to sluggish him up. The Browns, Lions, and Texans all did this successfully by taking part in aggressive, downhill soccer. That solely works if, as has been the case for a lot of the season, the Ravens’ passing offense will not be on level. Offensive coordinator Todd Monken has additionally pivoted away from the run sport a number of occasions this season regardless of favorable matchups. In the previous few weeks, he’s been prepared to keep it up properly into the second half whatever the rating. While early success in opposition to the Ravens would possibly scale back their run price, the Patriots might want to dangle powerful within the second half when punishing runs from Henry can damage much more.
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Ultimately, it’s all about successful early downs. If the Patriots can power incompletions and brief positive aspects on first and second down, the Ravens will likely be pressured into extra pure dropback conditions that turns their dynamic offense right into a one-dimensional one. That will enable the Patriots’ move rushers to tee off in opposition to an offensive line that has faltered in move safety many occasions this season, and it would additionally take away probably the most constant a part of Baltimore’s offense.
3. What’s contributed to the Ravens’ spectacular defensive turnaround? How will they exchange CB Chidobe Awuzie?
Multiple components have contributed to Baltimore’s defensive turnaround this season. The greatest change has been the deployment of Kyle Hamilton nearer to the road of scrimmage, whether or not that be as a slot defender or as a dimeback. The Ravens buying and selling for security Alohi Gilman from the Chargers gave the protection the personnel wanted to permit Hamilton to maneuver round whereas sustaining high quality play on the backend of the protection alongside rookie Malaki Starks. Trading for Dre’Mont Jones has been one other main issue for the protection because the veteran has supplied a pleasant increase to what was a desperately missing move rush.
4. Who’s one under-the-radar Ravens participant Patriots followers ought to know on each side of the ball?
I’m not certain if Keaton Mitchell qualifies as ‘under-the-radar’ anymore; in that case, he’s the one to look at. Otherwise, I’d have a look at second-year operating again Rasheen Ali, who has largely taken over Justice Hill’s function because the Ravens’ third-down again. Ali has been strong in move safety and flashed as a receiver with dependable fingers and explosive burst to rapidly get upfield. Jackson appears to belief him, too; he modified a play on the line of scrimmage in opposition to the Bengals that resulted in a 30-yard catch-and-run rating for Ali and discovered him on a number of different events as an outlet beneath.
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On protection, second-year cornerback T.J. Tampa may step into a giant function with Chidobe Awuzie out. Tampa was pegged as a possible starter coming into the offseason however was rapidly bumped down the depth chart by the signings of Awuzie and Jaire Alexander. Alexander’s damage points and eventual departure saved Tampa because the third exterior cornerback for a lot of the yr, and he has held up properly when requested to play. He can have a tricky activity in opposition to Drake Maye on Sunday, however his consciousness and expertise on the catch level might be an element.
5. What are three fast keys to the Patriots pulling off a street upset and avoiding their second straight loss?
1. Be opportunistic. The Ravens have a horrible behavior of committing turnovers on the worst moments, usually due to dangerous ball safety. The Patriots should reap the benefits of these alternatives on each side of the ball: on protection by forcing turnovers and on offense by changing them into constant factors. Baltimore’s protection has largely stood agency within the purple zone after turnovers, however they’ve struggled to carry up for a complete sport with out assist from their offense.
2. Protect the ball. In that very same vein, the Ravens post-bye success has come on the again of their protection, and particularly, their well timed takeaways. If the Patriots can power the Ravens offense to generate their yardage/factors with out assist from turnovers and discipline place, they’ll have a a lot simpler time containing Jackson and Co.
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3. Play more durable, for longer. This is a basic Mike Vrabel ethos, and it’s one which applies greatest to the Ravens. Baltimore has constantly been on the flawed aspect of time-of-possession and play-count disparities, and although that didn’t damage them final week, it has in a number of different video games. In the second half, the Patriots want to keep up their physicality and hold bringing the combat to what’s going to most likely be a drained Ravens protection.