The Ravens did not do well this season against quarterbacks who are on par with the Pro Bowl. This is a trend that they must reverse if they want to maintain their playoff hopes.
Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Banner identified some of the Ravens biggest flaws. One was their inability beat teams that had standouts at center.
Shaffer wrote that “after the Ravens returned to their bye week, their defense sure did get easier.” “Top-line QBs were finally gone: Caleb Williams (in Week 8), Tua Tagovailoa (in Week 9), J.J. McCarthy (in Week 10), Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders in Week 11, and Tyrod Taylor, in Week 12. The Ravens have won five consecutive games without allowing more than twenty points.
Now they’re back at a problem which has plagued the defense for all of this season: Can they stop passers who are on par with those in the Pro Bowl? It hasn’t yet.”
The Ravens have lost six of their seven games to teams that feature quarterbacks who meet Shaffer’s criteria: the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Texans. Stroud), Los Angeles Rams Matthew Stafford, and Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow.
Shaffer wrote: “Adding it all together, the damage is significant. 258.7 yards passing per game, zero interceptions and 67.6% accuracy, plus a 0-6 record.” According to the expected points per play, all quarterbacks except Stafford performed at or above Pro Bowl levels against Zach Orr’s defensive coordinator.
It’s not only the accuracy and playmaking abilities that stars like Burrow have to offer. Presnap problems are also important. Burrow, in a Week 13 win over the Ravens that ended 32-14, appeared to have Cincinnati into seven man protections at least several times. “Despite only having three routes available downfield, Burrow converted third-and-11s, third-and-10s, third-and-7s, and third-and-6s, and connected with wide-receiver Andrei Iosivas on a 3rd-and-9 for a touchdown of 29 yards.”
Burrow will be facing the Ravens for the second time within three weeks on Sunday, in Cincinnati.
Shaffer wrote, “If the Ravens are able to handle Burrow in the next two weeks, it won’t make things any easier.” Drake Maye, a Patriots player, is ranked second in the NFL for EPA per play. “The Packers’ Jordan Love comes in first.”
The Ravens will conclude their season in Pittsburgh against Aaron Rodgers’ Steelers. The four-time MVP, who is 42, hasn’t been to the Pro Bowl since the year 2021. However, his performance against the Ravens on Sunday showed that he can still play at a high-level.