Next up for our 5-3 Ravens, the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. Here are four big things to think about for the battle in the Superdome. Let’s call it four downs and go for it. That seems appropriate for talking about a John Harbaugh-coached team.
First Down
Don’t Take them Lightly
The Ravens have no excuse to take the Saints lightly. They’re coming off their most complete team win of the season, a 24-0 shellacking of the Las Vegas Raiders. Alvin Kamara made a statement that he’s still an elite playmaker with three explosive plays for touchdowns. On top of that, the Saints have a quarterback with whom the Ravens are very familiar – and vice versa.
It’s better for your mental health if I don’t bring up Andy Dalton’s record against Baltimore? Even in last year’s loss to them as a member of the Bears, Dalton produced a late go-ahead touchdown. If it weren’t for an impressive game-winning drive by Tyler Huntley, Dalton would have notched another win against Baltimore. While he isn’t a great quarterback by any stretch of the imagination, he’s given the Ravens problems throughout his career, no matter what jersey he is wearing.
The fact that the Saints are 3-5 shouldn’t matter to the Ravens. For all the talk about how the Ravens could be undefeated, they could easily have a worse record. Just about every game has gone down to the wire. The Ravens don’t have a habit of making things easy for themselves. This isn’t a Ravens team that has been blowing lesser teams out of the water.
While this is a game the Ravens should win, if they don’t bring their A-game, it could be a problem.
One thing we’ve learned is that the Ravens can get in their own way, so no game should be taken for granted.
Second Down
Welcome, Roquan
There couldn’t be a better game to introduce Roquan Smith to the defense. Smith leads the league in tackles, and this could be another game where he racks up 10-12. Kamara is second on the team in receptions, and Juwan Johnson is no slouch at tight end. The biggest thing Smith gives this defense is a linebacker who can cover, and as such could be used to neutralize the quick passing game over the middle of the field. He’s one of the few linebackers who is athletic enough to keep up with Kamara.
Smith and Patrick Queen could be a great combination. Queen just became a very solid Robin while Smith takes the role of Batman. The Ravens have a surplus of athleticism in the middle of the defense. Having a veteran linebacker who can do it all will allow Queen to have fewer responsibilities, which may in turn increase what the Ravens get out of him.
The only concern is that the Ravens have to get all their ducks in a row. Smith is going into a new defense. Roles will change, and the dynamic in the front seven will be different. Smith has a very high football IQ, and he’s a proven player in his fifth year.
All systems go.
Third Down
Spread the Ball Around
There’s no excuse for Isaiah Likely to vanish from the game plan. He just stormed onto the scene with a six-reception game after being underutilized all season. Now that he showed up in a big game against the Buccaneers, the Ravens have to keep feeding him the football. With Mark Andrews still dealing with his injury, if the Ravens can get through this game without leaning on him, he can heal up even more during the bye week. Even if Andrews is capable of having a monster game, that shouldn’t take away chances from Likely. The two need to be able to succeed simultaneously.
Many Ravens fans wanted the team to get another weapon before the NFL trade deadline. This team needs every weapon it can get, but Likely could be the new receiving threat the offense has been lacking. Don’t get bogged down in the idea that he’s a tight end, as he’s essentially a big wide receiver. That was what everyone was buzzing about during the preseason. What happened to that? Where did that energy go?
Devin Duvernay is essentially the number one receiver in this offense with Rashod Bateman sidelined. Demarcus Robinson got more involved against the Buccaneers. That’s a lot of speed on the outside, the Ravens just have to utilize it. Will this be the first time we see Desean Jackson? That’s even more speed. Andrews may be the best player on the offense not named Lamar Jackson, but last week we learned the importance of getting everyone else involved.
If the Ravens keep throwing the ball to Likely, his star will continue to rise. If they continue to throw to their receivers on the outside, the offense will be faster and harder to defend. The Ravens have to be able to stretch their comfort zone. When they actually use their weapons, the Ravens have enough firepower.
Remembering that is the key to beating the Saints.
Fourth Down
Win.
This game is pivotal for the Ravens. If they win, they will march into the bye week with a 6-3 record, and a firm command of first place, even if the Bengals beat the Panthers and go to 5-4. The Bengals have three division losses, including one to the Ravens. Baltimore is still undefeated in competition against the AFC North.
If the Ravens win this game they will have a three-game winning streak. After the bye week, they play the Panthers, Jaguars, and Broncos. A strong showing against the Saints would suggest that the Ravens have finally found some consistency. With very winnable games on the horizon, a 6-3 mark at the bye would give the season a hopeful spark. A win against the Buccaneers put the Ravens in business. Everything the Ravens want is right there in front of them. A convincing win over the Saints would keep the good times rolling.
If the Ravens lose on Monday night, the bye week will make an unbearable wait to get back on the right path. If they lose it will be another reason to second-guess them.
Baltimore has no excuse, they must win the AFC North.
Going into the bye without confidence would be a hard pill to swallow.
That makes the stakes in this game feel very real.
