The Ravens host the Raiders in Week 12, looking to improve to 6-5. What will we see? RSR Staff members predict the action here…
Tony Lombardi
Even as a fan it’s hard not to look past Sunday’s game when the Ravens host the Raiders. The Raiders have mailed it in plus you know they’d much rather be celebrating Thanksgiving weekend in Cali instead of flying east to Baltimore in late November. It’s like a business trip that they’d really like to avoid. Ever have one of those appointments that you know you’ve got to attend but can’t wait until it’s over? It’s tough to bring your A-game during such conditions and the 2018 Raiders don’t even have an A-game.
But then again, since the season opener, the Ravens don’t either.
Perhaps the most intriguing question is, if the Ravens had 18,000 no-shows against the Bengals, how many no-shows will there be on Sunday? How many Raiders fans will be on hand? That’s something that online sports betting should create a play for, right?
Boy, I sure do miss the hey-day years when these questions never existed.
· Lamar Jackson’s production on the ground will be half of what it was against the Bengals but his aerial display will nearly double. Look for 350 yards of production from the Ravens rookie.
· Fresh-legged Gus Edwards will have his second consecutive 100-yard game.
· Michael Crabtree will catch the game’s first pass after the Ravens lose another coin toss. It will be one of 3 catches on the day for Crabtree and he’ll be limited to 40 yards. He will be the beneficiary of a DPI late in the game that helps the Ravens seal the victory.
· The line is 11 ½ but despite the Raiders looking like they’ll roll over and die at the outset, the game will be close throughout and that will pique the interest of Gruden’s squad. A late Gus Edwards TD run clinches the win.
Ravens 26, Raiders 17
Todd Karpovich
— Lamar Jackson will have a better ratio between running and throwing, potentially in the range of 20/20. The Raiders are good team against which to further his development.
— The Ravens will attack with the running game and wear the Raiders down.
— The Ravens will also aggressively attack Derek Carr, who does not have many playmakers at his disposal. Final score:
Ravens 28 Raiders 10
Nick Capecci
In what should be an easy win for Baltimore, the Ravens look for Lamar Jackson to improve during his second career start, versus a very lifeless Oakland Raiders team. With one start under his belt, I expect Jackson to see the game slow down for him a little bit more. He will be able to go through his progressions with more ease, and be able to understand when to run and when to throw.
Gus Edwards will get a bulk of the carries a he is the hot running back in Baltimore, and we should ride him until he cools. Lamar might have a few mistakes and sorry throws, but overall his stat line will hover around 18/25, 200 Yards, one passing touchdown and one on the ground. Edwards will rush for 120 yards and a score.
The Ravens defense should use the confidence they obtained from beating the Bengals last week to their advantage versus a frustrated Derek Carr. Carr will have his fair share of opportunities, but with the Ravens reducing their run game, Carr will hover around a stat line of 25/32, 290 Yards and 2 TDs.
The Ravens will out-physical the Raiders and win an unexciting home game, but will it be enough to restore faith in the team for the rest of the season?
Ravens 24 Raiders 14
Derek Arnold
John & Marty will start out overcompensating with Lamar, going pass-heavy to start the game. After two threes-and-out (and falling behind 3-0), they’ll go back to what works: Lamar and the Gus Bus “thunder & lightning-ing” defenses into submission. LJ will finish the first half 5-of-10 for just 45 yards, but with 10 carries for another 60. Edwards will have 8 carries for 50 at the half, as the Ravens lead 13-3.
The plan that worked in the second quarter will extend into the second half, but with a lead the Ravens will protect their quarterback a bit more this week. Jackson will finish the day 12-of-21 passing for 165 yards and a touchdown pass to Mark Andrews, and 15 carries for 95 yards. Edwards will add 20 carries for 130 yards, and either Alex Collins or Buck Allen will approach 10 carries.
The defense FINALLY gets their hands on another pass completely, as Jimmy Smith intercepts Carr and returns it to the red zone. Terrell Suggs, Matt Judon, and Tyus Bowser all pick up sacks, and C.J. Mosley forces a fumble that Kenny Young recovers.
What it means going forward is anybody’s guess. But this is the Raiders, so Sunday will be a fun one for the good guys at The Bank.
Ravens 26 Raiders 10
Ryan Jones
The Lamar Jackson era appears poised to roll on with Joe Flacco still not practicing. Fortunately, he gets another home game against one of the league’s worst defenses that has to travel from the other side of the country.
Jackson vowed this week that team will be throwing the ball and he has the courage confidence to do so. For all that’s been made of his inability to be a respectable passer, his numbers were respectable last week and his yards per completion were far better than Flacco’s average.
With all that said I expect a similar game plan to last week. Will he run the ball 27 times? Not likely but don’t be surprised to see 15-20 carries.
Jackson throws two touchdown passes and runs for another, one going to Hayden Hurst and the other to Willie Snead.
The Ravens defense frustrates Derek Carr all day and the Raiders score one meaningless late touchdown with the game already decided.
The Ravens officially have a quarterback controversy with Flacco healthy enough to play in Week 13.
Ravens 24 Raiders 13
Brandon Portney
The Raiders might have the least talented roster in the NFL. Their leader in receptions is Jalen Ricard, their 3rd down back, with 51. TE Jared Cook leads in yards with 577 yards. In other words, the Raiders and their 22nd-ranked offense (30th scoring offense) isn’t scaring anyone. It gets worse on the defensive side of things.
It’s actually downright offensive. Oakland’s 26th-ranked defense, not to be outdone by the offense, also ranks 30th in scoring.
But the stat that blows my mind? The Raiders pass rush has a grand total of nine sacks, and three of those sacks are now in Atlanta because the Raiders cut Bruce Irvin. So of their six sacks, Maurice Hurst has four, and two other players have one each. THAT IS IT! I fully expect a blowout this week.
I expect the offense to resemble last week’s attack, with a heavy dose of runs via AC, Gus the Bus, and LJ. Oakland does rank 31st in rushing yards allowed, after all. But I don’t think LJ runs more than 15 times. He won’t have to. The RBs will have success, and he will have plenty of time to throw the ball and show Ravens Flock that he can sling it.
The Ravens run for 180 and throw for. 250 while limiting Oakland to 220 total.
LJ throws for 250 and 2 TDs while completing 65% of his passes, and runs for 80 and 2 TDs.
Ravens win BIG, 31-10
Ken McKusick
The Ravens find a way to win this one. Of that I am sure. Harbaugh teams have not frequently lost at home to bad teams when their playoff fate is in the balance.
This week, the defense steps up and shuts down the Raiders on the ground. Not as impressively as Cincinnati, but they prove they are back.
— The Raiders rush for less than 70 yards as a team.
— The Ravens hold the Raiders to 35% or less on 3rd down.
— The Ravens break the streak with not 1, but 2 turnovers as a pass defensed is finally converted.
— Derek Carr has 200+ yards, but some of that is in garbage time with the game long out of doubt.
— On offense, Jackson runs less than 15 times as the team calls more passes and asks him to give up the ball on more close reads.
— Gus Edwards is again effective with 70+ yards, but the Ravens split carries.
— Willie Snead and Mark Andrews step up among the receivers. Crabtree has just 2 catches against his former team, but 1 is a TD.
Ravens 30, Raiders 13
