Ravens need Flacco to return, big defense against Titans
After shutting out the Miami Dolphins, 40-0, the Baltimore Ravens moved to 4-4 on the season, but they’ll face the AFC South Tennessee Titans (4-3) in week nine. With the Titans tied at the top of their division with the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Ravens looking to inch closer to the Pittsburgh Steelers, this looks to be a pivotal game for both teams.
Will Flacco be at the helm on gameday?
In the game against the Dolphins, Joe Flacco – who already had a nagging back injury – was the recipient of a nasty hit by Miami linebacker Kiko Alonso that took the Ravens quarterback’s helmet clean off. The minute the play happened, social media erupted in response; some fans called it a flagrant illegal hit that should result in Alonso being ejected, fined and even suspended while others blamed Flacco for sliding at the very last second as Alonso was coming in for the tackle. Alonso later texted Flacco to apologize, but the NFL ruled against suspending him.
Kiko Alonso with a vicious hit on Joe Flacco pic.twitter.com/C5lnfP6mZ5
— uSTADIUM (@uSTADIUM) October 27, 2017
Either way you look at it, the concussion-causing blow brings up questions as to whether Flacco will be available against the Titans. On Monday, head coach John Harbaugh told the media, “We’re very hopeful for this week; it will be in the hands of Joe and the doctors to decide what we can do. But we’ll get him ready to play if he can play, and that’s all you can really do.”
I don’t want to minimize what happened … I thought that was a very vicious type of hit – J. Harbaugh
There is still time for the Ravens to get their season turned around, but Flacco was averaging just 5.40 yards per pass and held a record of six-to-eight touchdowns to interceptions ratio. Ryan Mallett really is not ideal in the backup spot. That’s why the run game will be critical against the Titans.
Ravens need run game to open up the passing game
Baltimore has been using a mix of Alex Collins and Javorius “Buck” Allen at running back with some success. Collins has 478 yards on 80 carries and is averaging 6.0 yards per carry (best in the NFL through eight weeks). Allen has 356 yards on 99 carries and a rushing touchdown (averaging 3.6 yards per carry). Allen leads the team in receptions (32) and targets (42) with 145 yards and one touchdown.
The Titans have the 10th best run defense entering the game and their strength comes from the defensive front. The Ravens will need to establish a run game in order to open up what passing attack they can muster. Griff Whalen was released leaving Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, and Breshad Perriman as the main targets. Maclin has 19 receptions for 212 yards and three touchdowns.
Still, the Ravens offense is not performing well and the Titans defense may get the better of them if they are able to stuff the run and force the Ravens into a shootout. Tennessee is ranked 17th in the league in yards allowed. Inside linebacker Wesley Woodyard leads the team with 57 tackles and 2.0 sacks. In the defensive backfield, free safety Kevin Byrd has four interceptions and 11 passes defensed.
Danny Woodhead is expected to return this week, but will not be available for the game.
Defense needs repeat performance in Week 9
The Ravens defense was already trending on their way back up when they faced the Dolphins and held Jay Ajayi to just 23 yards on 13 carries; holding their opponent to just 45 total rushing yards in a shutout. Baltimore also registered a pair of pick-sixes and rediscovered dominant play after being torched by the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings for 400 combined rushing yards.
We’ve been in the top five since I’ve been here … Being [32nd] in the league for a Ravens running defense, that’s unheard of. [Thursday] was a good start. – C.J. Mosley
Tennessee has two solid rushers in Derrick Henry and DeMarco Murray. Where Murray is the power back and downhill rusher, Henry is punishing when moving the pile. Despite rumors that the Titans may trade Murray, stopping the run will be critical for Baltimore’s defense.
The defense will also have their hands full trying to pressure and contain quarterback Marcus Mariota who is at 100 percent and ready to go Sunday. He’ll likely have rookie receiver Corey Davis back in the lineup after a hamstring injury as well.
“If we all play good as a defense, we have a good chance to win,” safety Eric Weddle said. “If we don’t, it’s just reality that we won’t.”
John Harbaugh discusses Joe Flacco's recovery as he's in the concussion protocol. pic.twitter.com/tt635JrxOL
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 30, 2017
