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Ravens Look to Shine on Monday Night

The entrace of M&T Bank Stadium at night with Ravens fans streaming in.
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There is something about prime time games that brings out the best in the Baltimore Ravens.

The Ravens are 11-1 under the lights since John Harbaugh took over the team in 2008, which is the best mark in the NFL. Baltimore is also riding a nine-game winning streak in primetime games, also the longest streak in the league.

Despite the success, M&T Bank Stadium has not hosted a Monday Night Football game since 2012 against the Cincinnati Bengals. Since then, though, the Ravens have been forced to play their last five Monday night games on the road.

In the past, coach John Harbaugh questioned why his team was not given another opportunity to host the signature game. Now, his only concern is beating the Houston Texans and maintaining the current spot in the AFC playoff race.

“I’m excited, but I’m kind of past all of that,” Harbaugh said this week. “I’m excited for the fans – big time. I’m really excited for the fans. Monday Night Football is a lot of fun, and we’ve been in a lot of stadiums – as you’re alluding to – with the opposing crowd rocking. I’m looking forward to seeing our crowd in there shaking the place up a little bit. It should be fun.”

For the second consecutive week, the Ravens get to face a backup quarterback. In the previous game, Baltimore kept Packers quarterback Brett Hundley on his heels and forced five turnovers — three interceptions and two fumbles. The Ravens will have the same game plan against Texans’ backup Tom Savage, who will need to do a better job protecting the football.

The Texans had another setback in last week’s 31-21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals when promising rookie running back D’Onta Foreman went down with a season-ending torn Achilles. As a result, Lamar Miller will carry the load for Houston. Miller is 10th in the NFL with 604 yards with two touchdowns.

A key of emphasis for the Texans will be protecting the football. The Ravens lead the NFL with 16 interceptions.

“I think they have forced 23 turnovers, if I’m not mistaken,” Houston coach Bill O’Brien said this week about the Ravens defense. “I think one of the main emphases – and it really is a point of emphasis every week – is ball security. That is something that against the Ravens, you better make sure you take care of the football. Whoever is carrying the ball, obviously throwing the ball, everything [is important]. That is one of the biggest stats in our game today – that turnover takeaway ratio. We have to do a great job in that area.”

Baltimore’s secondary has been one of the most dominant units in the league. That group faces another big challenge this week against Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who leads the NFL with nine touchdown receptions.

Jimmy Smith will likely be tasked to contain Hopkins. However, he has battled a sore Achilles for much of the season. As a result, rookie Marlon Humphrey has thrived in a bigger role. Humphrey played more snaps than starter Brandon Carr last week against Green Bay and could match up against Hopkins.

“It’s just the way it worked out,” Harbaugh said about the playing time. “All three of those guys [Smith, Carr and Humphrey] are considered starters, and they’re all going to play probably different amounts, different games, [depending on] how they’re feeling [and] what’s going on. Sometimes, it might just be happenstance; I don’t think there’s anything to read into it.”

On offense, the Ravens desperately need left tackle Ronnie Stanley back in the lineup after he missed the previous game with a concussion. Baltimore struggled to contain the Packers’ pass rush without him and quarterback Joe Flacco was sacked three times.

If Stanley can play, look for the Ravens to take more shots downfield, which has been a point of emphasis for the team. The Texans have the league’s 26th-ranked pass defense.

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