Tag: 2020 Baltimore Ravens

Ravens’ Week 14 snap counts vs Browns: Getting the gang back together

As the season comes to a close, the Baltimore Ravens are still tinkering with their starting lineups and who gets the most snaps.

The Baltimore Ravens improved to 8-5 on the season with a dramatic, frenetic, and thrilling victory over the Cleveland Browns on “Monday Night Football.” The victory keeps them alive in the race for the playoffs and gives them a handy tiebreaker over the Browns, which could come in useful in the season’s final weeks.

The game was not without incident from a personnel point of view, with conspiracy theories abounding regarding the reason for Lamar Jackson’s “break” during the game not least among them. But with the season winding down, the snap counts point to a still-evolving team.

Let’s dive into the Ravens’ offensive and defensive snap counts from Week 14.

Browns scouting report: Scouting Cleveland’s offense and defense for Week 14

There has been a ton of time since the Baltimore Ravens crushed the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. Where do the Browns stand in Week 14?

This is, without a doubt, the biggest clash between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cleveland Browns in the recent history of the rivalry. Both teams are still alive in the AFC playoff hunt, but for a change, it is Cleveland who holds the box seat at present.

A lot has changed since these teams met in Baltimore in Week 1. The 9-3 Browns are second in the AFC North and if the season ended today they would be in the playoffs for the first time in 2002 as the 5th seed. The 7-5 Ravens would miss the postseason given their present record, as they trail all seven playoff teams and the Las Vegas Raiders. There really is an awful lot to play for in Cleveland on Monday night.

Let’s take a closer look at what the Ravens can expect to see from the Browns this week.

Ravens’ Week 13 snap counts vs Cowboys: Back to the backfield merry go round

See which Baltimore Ravens players got the most time on the field against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13.

The Baltimore Ravens got back to winning ways on Tuesday night as they eased past the Dallas Cowboys 34-17. The victory improves the Ravens record to 7-5 while dropping the Cowboys to 3-9. The Week 14 clash between the Ravens and the Cleveland Browns is shaping up to be one of the biggest games of the season for both teams in their hunt for a place in the postseason.

The Ravens were back to something approaching a full-strength roster against the Cowboys, although the specter of COVID-19 continues to haunt the team. Wide receiver Dez Bryant was pulled from the game during warm-ups after it was revealed that he had tested positive for the virus.

Let’s dive into the Ravens’ offensive and defensive snap counts from Week 13.

Patrick Queen vs. Ezekiel Elliott is our key matchup of Week 13

Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen will need to step up and keep Ezekiel Elliott from popping off chunk yards or breaking loose all together.

The Baltimore Ravens’ defense may have had its most impressive game of the season last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and without several starters to boot. This week, the Dallas Cowboys might not present as daunting a task, but the key to keeping their offense off the field — let alone out of the end zone — may come down to controlling star running back Ezekiel Elliott.

While Baltimore has relied mostly on their big men up front to stunt opposing rushing attacks, the availability of Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams on Tuesday still looks questionable, even though Campbell has been activated from the Reserve/COVID-19 list.

Sure, the Ravens did a remarkable job last week in spite of those and other absences, but controlling Elliott may ultimately come down to the speed and overall presence of their linebackers — Namely 2020 NFL Draft first-round pick Patrick Queen.

Aside from a few rookie growing pains — mostly in coverage — Queen has been nothing short of outstanding leading the inside linebackers for Baltimore this season. His presence, and more importantly, his sideline-to-sideline speed could be the difference when facing a dangerous opposing back like Elliott.

If the Ravens are without their powerful run-stoppers again, Queen (as well as his supplement of inside linebackers) will need to step up and keep Elliott from popping off chunk yards or breaking loose altogether. If Queen can effectively use his speed to contain Elliott when he touches the ball, the Cowboys should be in for a disappointing evening.

[listicle id=57027]

Ravens vs. Cowboys: 7 fun facts about this Week 13 matchup

The Ravens take on the Cowboys in Week 13. Here are seven things you didn’t know you didn’t know about this series.

At the start of the 2020 season, two offenses that most people were looking forward to watching in the weeks ahead were the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams seemed stacked with exciting playmakers at every level, including two high-caliber quarterbacks. The Week 13 clash between the two was expecting to see two playoff-bound juggernauts duking it out in the cold.

Things haven’t exactly gone according to plan for either team since then, sadly. However, the 6-5 Ravens and the 3-8 Cowboys are not dead just yet. And this week’s matchup should provide some points of interest. Indeed, the small number of games between the two sides has produced some interesting connections. Here are seven of my favorites.

Robert Griffin III put on injured reserve after hamstring injury vs. Steelers

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Robert Griffin III suffered a hamstring injury in Week 12’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers and is now on IR

Robert Griffin III earned the start at quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12. But it’ll be the last game he’ll play for some time and potentially the last one in a Baltimore uniform as the Ravens placed Griffin on injured reserve on Friday.

Griffin suffered a hamstring injury against the Pittsburgh Steelers and was unable to finish the game. He was not exactly stellar before injury struck, completing seven of his 12 pass attempts for just 33 yards and a pick-six. He did lead the team with 68 rushing yards but it was on one of the seven rushing attempts that he appeared to pick up the injury.

At the time of writing, the status of Lamar Jackson for Week 13’s clash with the Dallas Cowboys is still unknown. If he is not cleared to return after testing positive for COVID-19, the Ravens would have to turn to second-year quarterback Trace McSorley in his first career start. McSorley came in for Griffin against the Steelers and, to be fair, was just as bad as the veteran. McSorley completed just two of his six pass attempts, with one of the completions going for a 70-yard touchdown. But Marquise Brown did most of that work after the catch, making multiple defenders miss and outracing the others to the end zone.

The Cowboys’ defense has been, at times, historically bad in 2020. But a misfiring Ravens’ offense with McSorley at the helm is far from an ideal situation. Jackson’s health is a status that Baltimore fans should be checking regularly in the build-up to Tuesday’s game.

[listicle id=56926]

Ravens’ Week 12 snap counts vs Steelers: A host of unfamiliar faces

With so many players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, this week’s snap counts look dramatically different for the Baltimore Ravens vs. Steelers

The result was not what the Baltimore Ravens wanted. But given the depleted roster heading into the long-delayed Week 12 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a 19-14 loss was far from a disaster.

The loss drops Baltimore to 6-5 on the season, which means they can no longer win the AFC North. It also drops them two games behind the Cleveland Browns in the division. With a third consecutive loss, a season that started so promisingly is beginning to unravel for the Ravens.

It’s near impossible to make heads or tails of the snap counts this week thanks to so many new faces getting their first playing time due to the COVID-19 outbreak. But for as disappointing as the final score was, getting an in-game look at what the young players can do is something that should help Baltimore in the long-term.

Let’s dive into the Ravens’ offensive and defensive snap counts from Week 12.

AFC playoff picture: Ravens on the outside looking in after Week 11

How does the top seven in the AFC conference look at present, and who would be the playoff teams if the season ended today?

For the first time all season, the AFC playoff picture does not include the Baltimore Ravens. Their loss to the Tennessee Titans, coupled with results elsewhere, pushed the Ravens out of the top seven teams in the AFC. Given the team’s struggles on the field, especially on offense, and off it due to their increased exposure to Covid-19, we are entering a crucial stage of the season for the Ravens. The margin for error in the remaining weeks of the season is practically zero.

Let’s see how the AFC playoff picture looks following Week 11, with standings courtesy of Tankathon.

WATCH: Ravens S DeShon Elliott lays out Titans RB Derrick Henry with massive hit

Baltimore Ravens safety DeShon Elliott wasn’t going to get stiff-armed down the field by Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry.

The last time the Baltimore Ravens and Tennessee Titans met, running back Derrick Henry asserted his will on Baltimore’s defense. He ran over and around the Ravens’ defense, stiff-arming his way to just under 200 yards on the ground in that game. This Week 11 matchup wasn’t going to be the same and safety DeShon Elliott made sure of it on one play in the third quarter.

Henry appeared to have a full head of steam as he galloped deep in Ravens territory. But the seemingly unstoppable force met an immovable object in Elliot, who stopped the Titans’ back in his tracks and actually folded him backward a bit. Not many NFL defenders, nor people on the street, would happily meet Henry head-on in the open field. But Elliott is a different breed of safety.

[vertical-gallery id=56098]

 

WATCH: Ravens LB Tyus Bowser picks off Titans QB Ryan Tannehill

Baltimore Ravens outside linebacker Tyus Bowser has a perfect interception of Tennessee Titans QB Ryan Tannehill in Week 11.

Things haven’t gone the Baltimore Ravens’ way so far against the Tennessee Titans, but a huge defensive play could see the tide begin to turn in their favor.

Leading 7-3 at the time, the Titans faced a 3rd-and-4 on their own 38-yard line. Ryan Tannehill looked for his trusty tight end Jonnu Smith over the middle, but a huge hit saw his pass go astray. Ravens linebacker Tyus Bowser intercepted the pass at the Titans 47 and returned it 25 yards to the 22.

The ensuing drive would fizzle out but Justin Tucker was able to notch a 27-yard field goal, cutting the deficit to 7-6.

[vertical-gallery id=52513]