Four key matchups to watch for in Ravens v Indianapolis

The Baltimore Ravens are hitting the road this week after dropping a close game with their archrival Pittsburgh Steelers to face another rival in the Indianapolis Professional Football Team. This game will feature two great defenses and a pair of offenses that are averaging nearly 30 points a game.

The battle between the current and former Baltimore professional football franchise could come down to one or several pivotal matchups between individual players or whole units on the opposing side of the ball.

Here are four key matchups that could determine the outcome of this game:

Ravens pass rush v Indianapolis offensive line

Even though they only brought down Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger for a sack just twice late Sunday, the Ravens pass has continued to apply pressure at a much higher and efficient rate after struggling to do so early on in the year.

Despite his incredibly quick release, they still registered five quarterback hits and pressured him into several errant and hurried throws.

As tough as a test as Pittsburgh posed with their formidable offensive line and seasoned veteran quarterback that doesn’t hold the ball very long, Baltimore’s front seven will face perhaps their stiffest challenge of the season when they square off with Indianapolis’ superb pass protecting line and veteran quarterback Philip Rivers who gets the ball out of his hands just as quick.

Indianapolis has allowed the fewest sacks in the league this season with just eight in seven games. The Ravens are ranked fifth in the league in sacks with 24 and are tied for third in pressures with 80 over that same span.

The most exciting battle in the trenches watch for in this game will be when Ravens four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Calais Campbell faces off with two-time First-Team All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson.

Indianapolis offensive tackles Anthony Castonzo and Braden Smith will have their hands full on the perimeter with a host of diverse and versatile edge defenders that can set the edge in the run game as well generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

The Ravens’ ability to rush the passer and disrupt the timing and rhythm of the passing game will be imperative in this game because their secondary is down their best player with Marlon Humphrey out and both the cornerback and safety depth chart razor thin.

If Rivers is afforded the time to survey the field and find and deliver the ball to open receivers, this could turn into a shootout.

“He [Philip Rivers] does a great job of ID-ing the defense and moving the ball around to where it needs to go – and they have a good offensive line to pass protect,” said Head Coach John Harbaugh. “So, of course, they’re going to be a very good passing team. We’re gearing up for that, and hopefully, we can slow those guys down.”

Ravens offensive line v Indianapolis defensive line

The battle of the trenches on the opposite side of the ball for both teams will be pivotal in dictating the pace of this game and who will ultimately win as well.

The Ravens lost their starting left tackle and right guard in the first half of their game against the Steelers last week yet their reshuffled offensive line was able to impose their will on a top-ranked Pittsburgh defense and produce their best rushing performance of the season.

Baltimore’s 265 yards on the ground were not only the most they recorded in a game to date this year; it was the most rushing yards a Steelers defense has allowed in 27 years.

The fact that the Ravens were able to achieve such a feat down two starters up front bodes well for their chances to move the ball and put up points on another top-five defense when they travel to Indianapolis in Week Nine.

Baltimore will face another formidable defensive front this week with Pro Bowl defensive linemen Deforest Buckner and Justin Houston. Fourth-year nose tackle Grover Stewart was on the Ravens’ radar during the 2017 draft and has been a force on the interior of Indianapolis’ defensive line this year as well.

If the Ravens can repeat or come close to their dominant performance on offense from last week and take care of the ball better, their chances of moving to 4-0 on the road this season will be in their favor.

“We’re doing an outstanding job at times,” Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman said. “We’d just like to be a little more consistent. That’s what everyone’s working toward. Last week’s game was a great example. We controlled the entire game, we just had some plays where we just gave them the ball. I think things are trending in the right direction.”

Ravens secondary v QB Philip Rivers

The seemingly annual decimation of the Ravens secondary is upon us once again and even though Humphrey’s absence from the lineup this week is likely just for this game after contracting the coronavirus, it still leaves them shorthanded heading into a matchup against a savvy veteran signal-caller in Rivers.

Baltimore will still have veterans Jimmy Smith and Marcus Peters available to start on the perimeter but where their pass defense might be a little more susceptible is over the middle of the field and in the slot to be specific.

Since Humphrey became the default nickelback for the second year in a row following yet another season-ending injury to Tavon Young, the Ravens will now turn to undrafted rookie Khalil Dorsey and former undrafted free agent Terrell Bonds to man the slot.

Rivers will most certainly look their way and target them in coverage early and often when he drops back to pass on Sunday.

Both players have predominantly played special teams in the games they have been active for this season but will get their most extensive action on defense going forward starting this week.

Bonds played 17 defensive snaps against the Steelers last week and was targeted three times by Roethlisberger in single coverage and some key conversion situations and gave up three catches for 24 yards.

Dorsey has only played four snaps on defense in five career games with his most memorable play being a tackle he made after giving up a 39-yard catch in Week Four against the Washington Football Team.

The Ravens coaching staff have expressed their utmost confidence in their ability to step up to the plate and perform well dating back to the bye week.

The fact that they let the trade deadline come and go without making a move and have yet to add any additional depth via free agency means that the front office believes in them as well.

Both players will need to be on their ‘A’ game this week in order to give the Ravens’ pass rush more time to generate pressure and bring Rivers down for sacks.

“I think they’ve earned our trust,” Defensive Coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale said. “T.B. (Bonds) has executed the defense well. I thought he played well. He was playing good coverage there. With both he and Khalil [Dorsey], they just need experience with playing on Sunday. What a better chance for them to do it than this Sunday?”

QB Lamar Jackson v LB Darius Leonard

This will be the top individual matchup to watch for when these two teams take the field on Sunday. These two First-Team All-Pros were picked four selections apart in the 2018 NFL Draft, are two of the most dynamic players at their respective positions, and will be facing off for the first time in the regular season.

Jackson is the ultimate dual-threat quarterback in the game with his ability to make and extend plays with his legs in both the running and passing game.

Leonard is one of the league’s most complete linebackers with his ability to fly from sideline to sideline, tackle in space, cover, rush the passer on blitzes, make game changing stops and come up with turnovers.

The reigning league MVP has the utmost respect for the playmaking ability that Indianapolis’ leader on defense presents and will be keenly aware of where he is at all times. He’ll be looking to rebound from his four-turnover game against Pittsburgh and come away with a win.

“He’s one of the best in the game right now. Their defensive line is great. I feel like our guys will do a pretty good job,” said Jackson. “We just have to go out there, have fun and play football – play great Ravens football. I feel we’ll be fine.”