This interconference clash features key battles between specific players, units, and coaches.
The Baltimore Ravens will be back at home in Week 13 following a two-game road stint and will host the Philadelphia Eagles in the Battle of the Birds. This interconference clash of contenders could be a potential Super Bowl preview given how talented and well-balanced both teams have been as of late. For the 12th straight week, the Ravens are favored to come out on top in this matchup of teams who closely resemble one another and try to win the same way.
However, games aren’t won on paper or decided by betting odds. There are some pivotal matchups between individual players, units, and coaches that will go a long way in determining the outcome of this contest.
Below are a handful of those key battles that could be deciding factors in Week 13.
Ravens run game v. Eagles front seven
The Eagles’ defense has made tremendous strides during their winning streak and ranks in the top 10 of run defense in terms of total yards (1,091) and yards per game (99.2) allowed. However, they rank in the middle of the pack in yards per carry allowed (4.3) and have only faced one top-10 rushing attack since they’ve gotten on a roll. They also haven’t faced an offense that runs the ball and presents the kind of unique challenges as the one they’ll face in Baltimore.
Four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry and the Ravens’ top-ranked rushing attack have made a habit out of playing through top 10 defenses this season because of how unique and dominant their offense is to play against. They racked up 212 rushing yards on the Chargers last week, 124 on the Steelers in Week 11 and 127 against the Denver Broncos in Week 9. Attacking the Eagles’ edges where they are not as stout against the run, especially without Brandon Graham for the rest of the season could be an area the Ravens could look to exploit in particular.
Ravens front seven v. RB Saquon Barkley
To stop or at least limit the dangerous big play ability of the Eagles’ star running back, it will be an all-hands-on-deck situation because of the multitude of ways he can gash an opposing defense as a rusher and pass catcher out of the backfield. Barkley is fresh off a franchise record-breaking performance on Sunday Night Football in which he racked up over 300 scrimmage yards. He leads the NFL in rushing yards (1,392), carries (223), total touches (250), scrimmage and all-purpose yards (1,649) and yards per carry (6.2).
Barkley and the Eagles’ vaunted offensive line will face their stiffest test to date when they come to Baltimore which is home to the second-best rush defense in the league. The Ravens are allowing the fewest yards per carry at 3.5 and are slated to have two-time All Pro inside linebacker Roquan Smith back in the lineup after he missed last week’s still stout performance with a hamstring injury.
Ravens cornerbacks v. WR AJ Brown
The biggest Achilles heel of Baltimore’s pass defense which no longer ranks dead last in the league has been elite No. 1 wide receivers. Before they made some much-needed adjustments and realignments to the starting lineup in the secondary, they allowed Davante Adams to take over late in their Week 2 upset loss to the Las Vegas Raiders and gave up a combined 21 catches on 29 targets for 457 receiving yards and five touchdowns to Ja’Marr Chase alone in a pair of close victories over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Brown is also a three-time Pro Bowler with a similar physical profile and playing style to Chase and can torch the Ravens in all of the same ways. He’ll be a challenge for whoever he lines up against but the Eagles might look to especially exploit the matchup between him and Ravens’ fourth-year cornerback Brandon Stephens who has been among the most targeted defensive backs in the league this season and has struggled to consistently locate and make plays on the ball down the field. Brown’s 18.6 yards per reception this year is his highest mark since his rookie season and also ranks fourth in the league so Jalen Hurts won’t be shy about giving him a chance on 50-50 balls.
Ravens wide receivers v. Eagles backup cornerback
Philadelphia will be without six-time Pro Bowler Darius Slay opposite of standout first-round rookie Quinyon Mitchell after the 12-year veteran was ruled out with a concussion he suffered in last week’s win over the Los Angeles Rams. Replacing him in the lineup for the remainder of that game was fifth-year veteran Isaiah Rogers who was targeted heavily and gave up a handful of plays.
Whichever of the Ravens wideouts finds themselves lined up against Rogers as opposed to Mitchell or fellow standout rookie Cooper DeJean will have a better chance of creating separation and making big plays in the passing game. The Ravens could try to get Zay Flowers going early by moving him around to exploit that more advantageous matchup or target Rashod Bateman or Diontae Johnson in obvious passing situations with Rogers in coverage.
Ravens interior defensive line v. Eagles interior offensive line
Philadelphia has one of the NFL’s best-blocking units headlined by the outstanding offensive tackle duo of future Hall of Famer Lane Johnson and stud blindside protector Jordan Mailata. While two-time Pro Bowler Landon Dickerson is holding it down at left guard, the Eagles are more susceptible to giving up pressure up the middle from the other two interior spots where third-year pro Cam Jurgens is in his first year of replacing future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce and former first-round tackles Mekhi Becton is starting at right guard.
In addition to being extremely stout against the run, the Ravens’ interior defensive linemen are extremely disruptive as pass rushers as well. They will need to consistently generate pressure on Jalen Hurts up the middle to flush him out of the pocket and prevent him from delivering the ball to his arsenal of weapons which could include DeVonta Smith who missed last week with a hamstring injury and will try to test it during pregame warmups. Even though the Ravens aren’t slated to get veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce back for this big game, the quartet of Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington and Brent Urban will be more than up to the challenge.