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3 keys for the Ravens to avoid an 0-2 start

Ravens vs. Raiders preview: 3 keys for the Ravens to avoid an 0-2 start

On the, uh anniversary of 911, 23rd anniversary, I believe of 911. Uh, I just wanna thank all the first responders, all the military, uh, the families who were involved with 911 who lost loved ones, uh, that day ends since which is many, many, many, many thousands of people. I wanna let them know we’re thinking about them and we haven’t forgotten them. Uh We expect *** very good football team. It’s *** very physical football team, hard playing team, tough team, lots of speed, uh, you know, *** dominant, dominant, defensive front, uh, four, front, seven, aggressive, fast secondary, uh, who, who could break on the ball and tackle very well. Uh, just *** really good defense and offensively big physical offensive line, uh, talented, receiving cor elite receiving core across the board, tight ends, wide receivers, of course, you know who their guys are and they’re great players. And then we played, uh, we played Garner Mitch you before and he’s beaten us before. So we have all the respect in the world for him as *** quarterback. We know how talented and good he is. So, uh, we’re looking forward to the challenge and it will be quite *** challenge. Our motive. Hot motive, that guy, he, he’s *** great, he’s *** great Russ man. Um My, my hat’s off to uh my hat’s off to him. Um He was hot motive. He was just going at all game. I was like this man here I was laughing, you know, Max, he was, he was like trying to get after me and I was like talking trash back. He was like, but I love your game, Lamar like stuff like that. But he’s *** great edge rusher man. He’s definitely *** great edge rusher. It’s funny like if I call my dad right now and my mom right now, they’re like, oh Nan, how are you, how’s practice going? I’m going good, you know, teams looking good. So that was the name I grew up with since I’ve been *** little kid. And uh you know, in our heritage, uh They give us almost like an American name and *** Nigerian name and we our, our first name like Justin is my birth certificate but my middle name NDI is what I was raised and called. So, you know, I just, and people here call me be I have *** nickname. So I just changed it to Nandi because I just thought in my heart that was just the right thing to do. It’s been on mine for *** while, you know, Cajun, you know, um you know, we have to take advantage of the O line, you know, they wanna run the ball. Um, you know, we, we gotta stop the run and that’s what we’re gonna do and, uh, you know, we’re gonna, uh, stay locked in and, uh, you know, definitely he got away from us last year, but, you know, this year, you know, he’s coming back home and, uh, you know, we’re definitely gonna make *** hard one for sure. You know, mine, he’s pro, he’s definitely *** top receiver of our generation. Um, somebody that I grew up watching, you know, him and Aaron Rodgers always seemed like they were on the same page and he’s, uh, one of the best to do it at his position and, uh, so much respect to him and everything he’s done and, uh, it’s gonna be *** challenge for us going against him and everybody else had to have on the team, got some talented tight ends, uh, played with Mike Mayer in college for *** couple of years. He’s *** great guy, great player and, um, GM is *** great quarterback. He beat us last year at home. So, um, good running back, good run scheme, great receivers as well. And, uh, it’s, it’s kind of funny with this league, there’s never *** quote unquote. We o week off like you play raiding Super Bowl champs and you got *** great team like the Raiders coming in. So it’s *** challenge, but I think we’re gonna be prepared for it. I already made the point that keep up.

Ravens vs. Raiders preview: 3 keys for the Ravens to avoid an 0-2 start

The Baltimore Ravens will host the Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener during the early slate Sunday in a battle of 0-1 teams. However, Baltimore’s 0-1 is much different than Las Vegas’ 0-1 team. “Just being in front of our crowd, in front of our environment, knowing the fans get to experience us in that stadium,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “But I’m looking forward to it, man, and I believe (that) everyone wants to see us, especially at home.”While we won’t focus on what could have been if Isaiah Likely had a smaller shoe size, Baltimore looked like a team that knows what it needs to do in every facet of the game, it just came down to execution — or lack thereof. Las Vegas, on the other hand, traveled to a very Jekyll-and-Hyde team in the Los Angeles Chargers. Both the Raiders and Chargers are viewed as bottom-dwellers this season, but Las Vegas could not find any kind of groove in Week 1. The Raiders’ only touchdown came on a broken pass play to running back Alexander Mattison, and the Chargers dominated their run defense with more than 150 yards on the ground.These strengths and weaknesses highlight the three keys to how Baltimore can defeat Las Vegas on Sunday.1) Don’t make run game predictable Looking at the Week 1 box score, you wouldn’t know the Chargers rushed for 150 of their 176 yards after halftime. But as the game went on (and injuries piled up), Las Vegas’ rush defense crumbled and let a possible season-opening win slip away in a season where wins will likely be hard to come by for the silver and black.Baltimore made its run game plan nearly predictable against Kansas City, something it can’t continue doing if it wants to remain a ground threat.The Ravens elected to give running back Derrick Henry 13 carries in his team debut while encouraging Jackson to run either as an option play or during a broken play. Regardless, Jackson is one of — if not the most — mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, and knowing it was a strong possibility he’d take off and run made it easier for Kansas City’s defense.Sure, Justice Hill is the only active back on the Ravens’ roster from last season also available as of Week 1, but seeing Jackson run 16 times is not something that seemed planned.”I’m going to do whatever it takes to win, and in that type of game (against Kansas City), sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Jackson said after being asked about his number of rushes. “I’m not trying to find out (if rushing this much is sustainable). But we’ve got Derrick Henry, we’ve got Justice Hill – those guys (to help).”Despite personnel injuries in recent seasons, Baltimore has 43 consecutive games reaching the 100-yard rushing plateau. The Ravens likely meet that mark again Sunday, but varying the ball carriers will ensure more yards per carry, making that milestone more attainable. Los Angeles proved it could run the ball down the Raiders’ throats as of the second half with just one back – but Baltimore knows it can do that from the get-go, and with more rushers.”That hidden yardage keeps the ball going keeps getting first downs,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “And then you’ve got guys like…Justice Hill — all these people that are making big plays for us in addition to Lamar doing what Lamar does. That side of the ball just has so many threats and weapons.”2) Ignore spread odds The Ravens are 8.5-point favorites this weekend — the highest spread of the week currently in the NFL. They also are 19-8 at home against AFC West teams under John Harbaugh with a +52 turnover margin since the head coach took over in 2008.But, despite Baltimore being the better team — at least on paper in many previous matchups — seven of the team’s 12 regular season matchups all-time finished as one-score games. The Ravens are the dominant team again in this matchup, but Baltimore must play its game and not come in with the favorite mentality. Baltimore fell victim to playing the Chiefs’ game for part of the season opener and it resulted in a loss. ” was good. a lot to work on. frustrating loss, but it’s good to learn from the mistakes, watch the film and just keep going,” offensive lineman Patrick Mekari said. “When we have mistakes, from Week 1 to Week 2, we grow from it.”Multiple outlets are predicting Baltimore to cover the largest spread this week, winning by double digits, but that doesn’t happen without fine-tuning both sides of the football. It will take discipline and a professional level to fix or own up to any mistakes — like fans saw Kyle Hamilton do after leaving Xavier Worthy wide open — to remain focused on the team’s coverage and game plans. The only true defensive breakdown against Kansas City was on that blown play, and Baltimore has to make sure that opportunity isn’t open again, especially when facing a receiver like Davante Adams.3) Set passing game up for success While the Ravens’ plan of getting Likely more involved was successful last week, the passing game overall had multiple questions. Zay Flowers caught six balls, but only one of them came beyond the line of scrimmage. It was then backup running back Hill with the second-most catches in the game, and veteran tight end Mark Andrews quiet with two receptions.Despite the ups and downs, and seemingly the flip, of who the pass-catchers were going to be in Week 1, Jackson still garnered a 90.7 quarterback rating.That can be built upon against this Raiders team. Ravens offensive coordinator said the game plan was to use the tight ends as much as possible to open up other facets of the game. But only getting your No. 1 receiver one pass beyond the line of scrimmage suggests more tweaking needs to be done. Less run, not to create more passing, but to create a balanced offense.“Did we intend on playing the tight ends a bunch? Yes. Did we anticipate we’d have that amount of snaps? No,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “I think we do a really good job of trying to find ways to distribute the ball, and we’re going to have to continue to do that. We have a number of excellent skill players that deserve to get the ball, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

BALTIMORE —

The Baltimore Ravens will host the Las Vegas Raiders in their home opener during the early slate Sunday in a battle of 0-1 teams. However, Baltimore’s 0-1 is much different than Las Vegas’ 0-1 team.

“Just being in front of our crowd, in front of our environment, knowing the fans get to experience us in that stadium,” Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said. “But I’m looking forward to it, man, and I believe (that) everyone wants to see us, especially at home.”

While we won’t focus on what could have been if Isaiah Likely had a smaller shoe size, Baltimore looked like a team that knows what it needs to do in every facet of the game, it just came down to execution — or lack thereof.

Las Vegas, on the other hand, traveled to a very Jekyll-and-Hyde team in the Los Angeles Chargers. Both the Raiders and Chargers are viewed as bottom-dwellers this season, but Las Vegas could not find any kind of groove in Week 1. The Raiders’ only touchdown came on a broken pass play to running back Alexander Mattison, and the Chargers dominated their run defense with more than 150 yards on the ground.

These strengths and weaknesses highlight the three keys to how Baltimore can defeat Las Vegas on Sunday.

Don’t make run game predictable

Looking at the Week 1 box score, you wouldn’t know the Chargers rushed for 150 of their 176 yards after halftime. But as the game went on (and injuries piled up), Las Vegas’ rush defense crumbled and let a possible season-opening win slip away in a season where wins will likely be hard to come by for the silver and black.

Baltimore made its run game plan nearly predictable against Kansas City, something it can’t continue doing if it wants to remain a ground threat.

The Ravens elected to give running back Derrick Henry 13 carries in his team debut while encouraging Jackson to run either as an option play or during a broken play. Regardless, Jackson is one of — if not the most — mobile quarterbacks in the NFL, and knowing it was a strong possibility he’d take off and run made it easier for Kansas City’s defense.

Sure, Justice Hill is the only active back on the Ravens’ roster from last season also available as of Week 1, but seeing Jackson run 16 times is not something that seemed planned.

“I’m going to do whatever it takes to win, and in that type of game (against Kansas City), sometimes you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do,” Jackson said after being asked about his number of rushes. “I’m not trying to find out (if rushing this much is sustainable). But we’ve got Derrick Henry, we’ve got Justice Hill – those guys (to help).”

Despite personnel injuries in recent seasons, Baltimore has 43 consecutive games reaching the 100-yard rushing plateau. The Ravens likely meet that mark again Sunday, but varying the ball carriers will ensure more yards per carry, making that milestone more attainable. Los Angeles proved it could run the ball down the Raiders’ throats as of the second half with just one back – but Baltimore knows it can do that from the get-go, and with more rushers.

“That hidden yardage keeps the ball going [and] keeps getting first downs,” safety Kyle Hamilton said. “And then you’ve got guys like…Justice Hill — all these people that are making big plays for us in addition to Lamar doing what Lamar does. That side of the ball just has so many threats and weapons.”

Ignore spread odds

The Ravens are 8.5-point favorites this weekend — the highest spread of the week currently in the NFL. They also are 19-8 at home against AFC West teams under John Harbaugh with a +52 turnover margin since the head coach took over in 2008.

But, despite Baltimore being the better team — at least on paper in many previous matchups — seven of the team’s 12 regular season matchups all-time finished as one-score games. The Ravens are the dominant team again in this matchup, but Baltimore must play its game and not come in with the favorite mentality.

Baltimore fell victim to playing the Chiefs’ game for part of the season opener and it resulted in a loss.

“[Thursday] was good. [There is] a lot to work on. [It was a] frustrating loss, but it’s good to learn from the mistakes, watch the film and just keep going,” offensive lineman Patrick Mekari said. “When we have mistakes, from Week 1 to Week 2, we grow from it.”

Multiple outlets are predicting Baltimore to cover the largest spread this week, winning by double digits, but that doesn’t happen without fine-tuning both sides of the football.

It will take discipline and a professional level to fix or own up to any mistakes — like fans saw Kyle Hamilton do after leaving Xavier Worthy wide open — to remain focused on the team’s coverage and game plans. The only true defensive breakdown against Kansas City was on that blown play, and Baltimore has to make sure that opportunity isn’t open again, especially when facing a receiver like Davante Adams.

Set passing game up for success

While the Ravens’ plan of getting Likely more involved was successful last week, the passing game overall had multiple questions.

Zay Flowers caught six balls, but only one of them came beyond the line of scrimmage. It was then backup running back Hill with the second-most catches in the game, and veteran tight end Mark Andrews quiet with two receptions.

Despite the ups and downs, and seemingly the flip, of who the pass-catchers were going to be in Week 1, Jackson still garnered a 90.7 quarterback rating.

That can be built upon against this Raiders team. Ravens offensive coordinator said the game plan was to use the tight ends as much as possible to open up other facets of the game. But only getting your No. 1 receiver one pass beyond the line of scrimmage suggests more tweaking needs to be done. Less run, not to create more passing, but to create a balanced offense.

“Did we intend on playing the tight ends a bunch? Yes. Did we anticipate we’d have that amount of snaps? No,” offensive coordinator Todd Monken said. “I think we do a really good job of trying to find ways to distribute the ball, and we’re going to have to continue to do that. We have a number of excellent skill players that deserve to get the ball, and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

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