The Baltimore Ravens—correction, the 1st place Baltimore Ravens—beat the Cardinals Sunday to improve to 6-2 this season and claim a share of the AFC’s top seed.
While mostly in control, Baltimore did struggle to put Arizona away. The Cardinals did their best to come from behind, but their best wasn’t enough. The Ravens are now 4-1 on the road and, thankfully, they return home to Baltimore for a 3-game homestand, starting this Sunday against the Seahawks.
Yesterday, the Ravens gained the 2nd-fewest yards in a game they’ve played all year, but it was just the second game this season in which they did not turn the ball over. They also kept their streak alive, as they’ve now gained 100-plus yards rushing in 25-consecutive games (playoffs included).
If we’ve learned one thing about Todd Monken by now, it’s that he will identify a strength for his team and find multiple ways to amplify that strength, regardless if it yields an impressive box score or not.
The Week 8 hero was Gus Edwards, who scored three rushing touchdowns (1, 7, 1) and gained 80 yards on 19 carries—the most carries Monken has given any player this season.
The Seahawks earned a closely contested win of their own in Week 8, beating the Browns, 24-20. After Seattle jumped out to a 17-7 1st quarter lead, the Browns fought back to gain a 20-17 advantage heading into the 4th quarter. It wasn’t until the Seahawks’ Geno Smith found Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown with under one minute left that Seattle regained the lead for good.
Linebackers Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner both recorded 10+ tackles and running backs Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III both tallied over 60 total yards. The Seahawks are a well-coached, balanced team. Can the Ravens play conservatively enough to avoid mistakes but aggressively enough to create distance between them and the Seahawks? That will be the big question this Sunday.
Here are three specific matchups that should be influential in determining the outcome of this contest.
Gus Edwards vs. Bobby Wagner
- In games that feature two 1st place teams, it’s reasonable to think that 1st downs and points will be hard to come by. Judging by recent trends, Edwards for the Ravens and Wagner for the Seahawks will be frequently relied on to help move their respective teams forward.
- In his last two games, Edwards has scored four touchdowns and has averaged 6.6 yards per touch. Wagner has had a solid run of form himself, making 22 tackles and 1 tackle for loss in his team’s last two contests. Virtually the same size, this will truly be a battle of “best vs. best.”
Lamar Jackson vs. Geno Smith
- Start fast. The best way to set the tone is to score a touchdown on your opening drive and open up as big a lead as possible in the first quarter. Fortunately for their fan bases, these teams excel at doing so. The Ravens rank 2nd in first quarter scoring (7.8 ppg) but the Seahawks are right behind them in 3rd place (7.3). Both offenses can strike fast so if you’re into betting, I may look at taking the over in 1st quarter points (currently at +106 for over 7.5 points).
- Jackson’s home QB rating: 109.8. Smith’s road QB rating: 93.8. Especially considering how well Baltimore’s defensive backfield is playing at the moment, you have to think the Ravens have a good shot to end the first quarter of Sunday’s game with at least a 7-point advantage. That said, Smith is fully capable of overcoming a double-digit deficit. Smith has made three 4th-quarter comebacks in his last 13 games and was voted the 2022 Comeback Player of the Year. Never count him out.
- The Seahawks are 5-0 this season when scoring at least 20 points. It’s quite conceivable to think Seattle will be in that range if Smith can throw at least one touchdown. If he can throw two—which wouldn’t necessarily mean the Ravens defense had a bad day—the numbers say Seattle will have a solid chance to win.
Arthur Maulet vs. Jaxon Smith-Njigba
- Maulet has made nine tackles, three passes defensed, and two sacks in just five games this season. He has been a breath of fresh air for a Ravens secondary that was ravaged by injury earlier this year. As the team’s starting nickel corner, Maulet is likely to draw Smith-Njigba on Sunday afternoon.
- Smith-Njigba was the 20th overall selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and has not disappointed. He’s scored in two consecutive games and has recorded nine yards or more per target in his last three games. When the ball comes their way, it will be telling how each reacts in the moment.
I’m predicting a 27-20 Ravens win, and the following fantasy football outputs from these key players:
Lamar Jackson: 22/31, 320 yards, 2 TD; 6 carries 41 yards, TD (40.9 fantasy points)
Mark Andrews: 7 receptions, 66 yards, TD (12.6 fantasy points)
Geno Smith: 26/35, 244 yards, TD, 2 INT; 3 carries 19 yards, TD (19.7 fantasy points)
D.K. Metcalf: 8 receptions, 75 yards, TD (13.5 fantasy points)
Born in Baltimore, Mike had long been drawn to sports of all kinds. Growing up watching Cal Ripken play ever day gave him a great example for which to attack every endeavor he undertakes.
When the Ravens came to town, though, that’s when Mike found his passion. Since that time, he’s tried to gain every bit of knowledge he could. Now as a high school coach, Mike is able to take his film study and appreciation of the game to a new level.
To engage with Mike on social media, follow him on Twitter @MikeFastNFL.