Preview: Ravens Head North to Battle the Giants
The Baltimore head north to East Rutherford for the second time this year. This time to take on the 4-1 New York Giants. The Ravens currently sit at 3-2, atop the AFC North after defeating the Bengals last Sunday night. Sunday will be the first NFC opponent the Ravens play in 2022. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is currently 12-0 against NFC opponents and 1-0 all time against the Giants.
The Ravens, while much healthier at this point in the year then they were in 2021. They are still suffering from some lingering injuries that will keep several key players out of the lineup on Sunday. Wide Receiver Rashod Bateman (Foot) is listed as out meaning Devin Duvernay will be the Ravens number one wide receiver for the second straight week. Outside linebacker Justin Houston (Groin) has been ruled out for the third straight game. Guard Ben Cleveland (Foot) will also be inactive. Running back Justice Hill (Hamstring) is currently listed as doubtful and will likely miss his second straight game.
Ravens Pass Rush
While Tyus Bowser (Achilles) and rookie David Ojabo (Achilles) returned to the practice field this week for the first time this season, neither one is ready to play this Sunday. The Ravens have been in desperate need to improve their pass rush as they currently rank 17th with 11 total sacks. Justin Houston who has already been ruled out for Sunday leads the team with 2.5 sacks while Justin Madubuike and Patrick Queen are tied second on the team with 1.5 sacks apiece. But while the number of total sacks is low, the Ravens have improved rushing the quarterback, most recently recording five quarterback hits on Joe Burrow last Sunday night.
A lot of the recent success for the Ravens pass rush can be attributed to the newest Raven, Jason Pierre-Paul. In two games Pierre-Paul has one sack, one quarterback hit, and two pass deflections, while continuing to be a consistent presence in opposing offenses backfields. The Giants are currently the eight most sacked team in the NFL, with Daniel Jones being taken down 15 times so far in 2022. The Ravens will need to pressure Jones early and often and take advantage of the lack of weapons for Jones to throw to.
Saquon Barkley
After tearing his ACL in 2020, Barkley looked to return in 2021 and pick up right where he had left off in 2019. But more injuries and not being 100% healed from his ACL injury just a year prior made for another disappointing for the Penn State product. Many experts and fans where quick to label the young running back a bust just just four years into his career. Barkley blocked out the noise and turned his attention to 2022, and thus far through five weeks remains one of the top running backs statistically.
Barkley has rushed for 533 yards good for second only behind Nick Chubb’s 593. Barkley is tied for third with 97 carries and sits tied for fifth with three rushing touchdowns. Barkley is the Giants focal point on offense as he has touched the ball 115 times and leads the Giants in not only all rushing categories, but also leads the Giants in receptions with 18. The Giants offense goes as Saquon Barkley does, and the Ravens must make him a focus as they look to hand the Giants their first lost since week three.
Prediction
There will be come familiarity between the Ravens and Giants as former Ravens defensive coordinator Wink Martindale is now in New York as the Giants defensive coordinator. Martindale knows Lamar Jackson better then any defensive coordinator in the league having spent the last four seasons with Jackson in Baltimore and facing him everyday in practice. While Martindale has the Giants ranked 12th in the NFL in total defense, their is no surprise that the Giants blitz more then any other team so far this season. The key for a successful game for the Ravens offense and Lamar Jackson will be how they attack Martindale’s blitz schemes and adjust accordingly. Look for the Ravens to try and establish the run early and take shots later down the field to Devin Duvernay.
The Ravens defense will look to build off its best performance last Sunday night and stop the number three rushing offense in the NFL. The Ravens currently give up 108 rushing yards per game ranking them 12th overall. The lack of weapons beyond Saquon Barkley, and with receivers Kadarius Tony and Kenny Golladay already ruled out for Sunday. Daniel Jones and the Giants offense will struggle against a Ravens defense that will look to stop the run. The lack of offensive firepower and the inability to consistently stop Jackson and the Ravens offense will prove to be the undoing of the Giants on Sunday. Ravens win 30-17.
Line: Baltimore -5.5
Over/Under: 45
All-Time Record: Baltimore leads series 5-2
Last Meeting: 12/27/2020 Baltimore 27-13
