Last week, the Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins 28-6 on Thursday night. Lamar Jackson, who had a bit off to a slow start in his first match back after injury, settled down to throw four touchdowns and a passer rating of 143.2.
Baltimore’s defense continued its midseason improvement by allowing the fewest points of any team this season. The Ravens had two sacks and forced three turnovers, both areas where they have struggled all season. The Ravens’ defensive performance has improved as they have returned from injury, and added some new players.
The Minnesota Vikings are standing in the way of the Ravens’ three-game winning streak. They just won a divisional game against the Detroit Lions who defeated them in Week 3. Pass protection and avoiding mistakes will be crucial for the Ravens to avoid a Vikings blitz-happy defensive unit. The Ravens must focus on establishing the run sooner and maintaining drives more effectively.
Nate Wiggins will likely cover Justin Jefferson for most of the game. The Vikings are a good team with a strong running back tandem and other pass-catching weapons like Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson. Creating consistent pressure will help against a young QB in J.J. McCarthy, who is making his fourth career start.
The Browns, fresh off their bye-week, will look to win their third match of the season and turn around a new advantage. In the first half of this season, Cleveland scored more than 17 goals just once. They also lost four out of eight games by double-digits. The Browns have a great chance to win this Sunday.
The New York Jets are the next opponent, as they have the worst record of all the teams left. The Jets wouldn’t have won a single game this year if not for their miraculous comeback victory in Week 8. The Jets allowed more than 27 points in every game but two this season. They may be willing to trade defensive pieces at this week’s deadline. This is the best chance for the Browns offense to succeed.
The Browns must run the ball more effectively, as they did not do well against the Patriots during their last match. Dillon Gabriel must also perform better at quarterback, as calls to start Shedeur Sander quietly are becoming louder. Gabriel has enjoyed some good moments in this season, but he has struggled a lot during his rookie year.
Even on the road against a Jets offense that is up and down, the Browns defense will keep them in contention. New York has yet to decide whether Justin Fields or Tyrod Taylor will start at quarterback. Their offense has been limited throughout the season, despite scoring 39 points in their last game. It was against a weaker Cincinnati Bengals defense.
Last week, the Steelers won a convincing victory at home over the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts had a 7-1 record and a top-notch offensive attack when they entered the game, but the Steelers were able to slow them down. They also forced six turnovers. The Steelers’ defensive performance was much needed after consecutive bad performances.
The Steelers now have a two game advantage over the Ravens in the race for the division title. The Steelers’ schedule is expected to get tougher in the coming weeks. They have another challenging matchup this Sunday. The Steelers are playing their second primetime match in three weeks on the road against a Los Angeles Chargers team that is 6-3.
The Chargers are 3-3 since the start of the season, when they had a three-game winning streak. The Chargers have suffered from offensive line injuries, and their offensive lines are vulnerable. This gives the Steelers’ passing rush a great opportunity to create havoc and build momentum. Justin Herbert at center will challenge them, but they have a good group of pass catchers.
Pittsburgh’s offensive unit should have some success in this matchup against a Chargers defensive unit that is up and down. For the Steelers, staying on script and avoiding mistakes will be crucial to scoring enough points to win. The Steelers should have an advantage over the Chargers in this game because the Chargers’ home crowd is notoriously low at SoFi Stadium.
After losing their second consecutive game, the Bengals will be on bye next week. They lost a thrilling 47-42 to the Chicago Bears. Cincinnati has an overall record of 3-6.