Storylines to Watch As Ravens Make Playoff Push
After a grueling 13 consecutive weeks of video games, the Ravens have returned from their bye week rejuvenated and targeted on taking part in their finest soccer as they make their playoff push.
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer recognized the highest Ravens storylines for the ultimate month of the common season. Here’s a take a look at three:
Can Lamar Jackson shore up his accuracy?
“Over the season’s first 10 weeks, Lamar Jackson threw one of many NFL’s most receiver-friendly balls. According to Sports Info Solutions, amongst quarterbacks with not less than 100 makes an attempt, Jackson ranked first within the league in catchable-pass price (89.6%). Harassed or unbothered, Jackson gave his teammates a very good likelihood on virtually each drop-back. … But over the previous three video games, his accuracy has suffered. Pass safety woes have been an element within the Ravens’ passing sport, and so has Jackson’s deeper goal vary, however even in clear pockets, he is been inconsistent.
“A break might do Jackson some good. He’s handled minor again and knee accidents this season, and he was visibly annoyed after the Ravens’ Week 13 loss to the Eagles. Despite going 23-for-36 for 237 yards and two touchdowns towards Philadelphia, Jackson missed a few open receivers on drives that ended with punts.”
Can the protection pressure extra turnovers?
“The Ravens ought to have greater than their seven interceptions this season. Quarterbacks have tried 23 “turnover-worthy” passes towards them this season, in keeping with PFF, however lower than a 3rd (30.4%) have been became picks. The Minnesota Vikings, by comparability, have an NFL-high 20 interceptions on 30 turnover-worthy cross performs (66.7%). Overall, a yr after main the league in takeaways (31), the Ravens have slumped to the underside third (11).
“Assistant Head Coach and Pass Game Coordinator Chris Hewitt stated the Ravens have ‘simplified’ their schemes in latest weeks, which has helped their protection maintain 4 of their previous 5 opponents to 202 yards passing or fewer. But the Ravens’ extra standard play calls may be a double-edged sword, limiting massive performs for each groups. Since Week 9, the Ravens have simply two interceptions and have pressured simply 5 turnover-worthy passes.”
How dedicated are the Ravens to the run?
“Over his eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, operating again Derrick Henry was by no means a simple matchup. The finest a protection might hope for was to get him early on its schedule, not late. In September, in keeping with TruMedia, Henry averaged simply 3.9 yards per carry and had a 38.2% success price (the share of performs with constructive anticipated factors added); in December and January, 5.2 yards per carry and a 42.1% success price.
“Henry’s manufacturing derived partly from his heavy utilization; Tennessee deployed him as a battering ram, and was hardly ever content material with a handful of knocks. In every of his three most efficient seasons with the Titans (2019, 2020 and 2022), Henry completed first within the NFL in second-half carries. Entering Week 14 this season, Henry is third within the NFL in carries (240) and third in second-half carries (131). But operating backs coach Willie Taggart stated final week that the 30-year-old hasn’t had “quite a lot of put on and tear on him this yr.”
