The Baltimore Ravens will get a taste of their own medicine next week when they take on the Tennessee Titans in the AFC divisional round playoffs.
Baltimore’s prolific rushing attack has been predicated on power running from players like Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards, wearing opposing defenses down while opening up throwing lanes. The Ravens also leaned on quarterback Lamar Jackson to pick up yards in key situations as a change of pace in rushing style, forcing defenses into picking their poison.
In similar fashion, the Titans have relied on league-leading rusher Derrick Henry to carry them through the season. And with a mid-season change at quarterback from Marcus Mariota to Ryan Tannehill, the rest of the offense has finally begun to flourish as well. Tannehill’s 4.3 rushing-attempts-per-start ranked 7th among NFL quarterbacks (minimum eight starts), pointing to Tennessee’s offense also utilizing their quarterback in a less traditional role.
In order for Baltimore to secure a win in this game, their defense will have to remain stout for all 60 minutes and shut down the run primarily. That ultimately means wrapping up and bringing down the ball carrier and not allowing them to pick up extra yards. Though the Ravens have the fifth-fewest missed tackles this season, according to Pro Football Reference, when they’ve struggled to tackle, things have gotten bad for them.
Granted it was before many of their defensive roster changes, but take a look at Week 4 for a prime example of how poor tackling has killed Baltimore just this season. Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb routinely ran through and around Baltimore’s defenders en route to 165 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns on just 20 attempts. The Browns would beat the Ravens 40-25 and it would be one of just three games this season where Baltimore didn’t own the edge in time-of-possession.
For the Titans, Henry is no slouch when it comes to punishing defenders and picking up extra yards. Henry’s 29 broken tackles are tied for third-most this season among running backs. His 3.2 yards-per-carry average after contact is the second-most this season among running backs.
Against the Patriots, Henry chewed up the clock and New England’s defenders. Tennessee ran Henry to the outside most often where he ran over and carried defenders for extra yards. This is just a single highlight but was the overwhelming picture for the entire game:
PUNISH HIM đź‘‘@KingHenry_2 | #TENvsNE pic.twitter.com/Aih0v7N8fH
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 5, 2020
And with some speed to his powerful frame, Henry was able to outrun defenders as well, practically daring them to get in his way to get trucked. According to Next Gen Stats, Henry gained 167 rushing yards with a defender within a yard of him.
Following the game, Henry pointed to that physicality as exactly the way he likes to play.
“We want it gritty. We want it dirty. That’s the mentality we got to have.”
That sounds like something we’d hear from Baltimore. You can practically hear Ingram saying that after a game while at the podium. And in a pass-happy league, it’ll be one of a very few instances the Ravens have to go up against that type of mentality this season.
Those stats and talk make it clear that perfect tackling technique and gang tackling will be needed to slow Henry down every time he touches the ball. If the Ravens can do that on every down, they’ll have the biggest edge in this game and should be able to coast to victory. But that’s a tough ask of any defense in the league.
[vertical-gallery id=40253]