Mapping a out a blueprint to success in this interconference showdown.
New York Giants in Week 15 on Sunday in the early window. They are heavily favored to come out on top of this interconference matchup between two teams heading in completely different directions. Rested and rejuvenated after a much-needed week off, the Ravens will be looking to wash the taste of defeat out of their mouths from the last game they played by bouncing back and getting in the win column to kick off a critical final four-game stretch to close out the regular season.
A win would not only improve the Ravens’ record to 9-5 but potentially put them just one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers for the top spot in the AFC North standings depending on if they fall to the Philadelphia Eagles in the late window of games on Sunday.
Here are five keys integral to the Ravens’ coming out on top in Week 15.
Don’t let Malik Nabers have a big day
Ravens defensive coordinator Zach Orr compared the dynamic first-round rookie wide receiver to another former top 10 pick from LSU, Jamarr Chase of the Cincinnati Bengals in his Thursday press conference. For the Giants to have a sliver of a chance to keep pace with the Ravens high octane offense, he’ll need to have a monster day like the Chase did in both of the matchups between the two rivals this season albeit in a losing effort. In the first major upset Baltimore suffered this season back in Week 2, they let the Las Vegas Raiders hang around too long which left the door open for Davante Adams to go off in the fourth quarter and help lead his team to a come-from-behind victory.
“He’s an explosive player,” Orr said of Nabers. “He’s not there yet, but he kind of reminds me just from his college tape of Ja’Marr Chase. He’s explosive, he can make contested catches, he gets the ball in his hands, he’s a good RAC (run after catch) guy. He’s a good player. They feature him, they trust him a lot. We definitely have to know where he’s at and take care of him and not let him wreck the game.”
Fortunately, since the Ravens’ secondary got torched by Chase for the second time this season, they’ve done a complete 180. Their cornerbacks and safeties went from being the catalysts for the worst pass defense in the league to one of the best and most stingy in their previous three games leading into the bye week. Nabers leads the Giants in targets (126), receptions (80), receiving yards (819) and touchdowns (three). He’ll likely see a lot of three-time Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey who plays a lot of nickel but the battles on the outside between him and fellow first-round rookie Nate Wiggins should be fun to watch as well on Sunday.
Start fast and continue to be highly proficient in the red zone
The best way to avoid an upset to an inferior opponent who struggles to put up points and ranks dead last in scoring with a measly 14.9 points per game as the Giants do is to jump out to an early lead. That shouldn’t be hard for a Ravens offense that ranks third in scoring and points per game with an average. Baltimore is the most efficient offense in the red zone with a league-leading touchdown conversion rate of 75% and will be going up against a defense that slots in near the middle of the pack, allowing touchdowns on 53.8% of opposing red zone drives. The soon the Ravens put up points on the scoreboard, the quicker they’ll be able to demoralize and put away the Giants.
Keep Tommy DeVito contained within the pocket
With veteran quarterback Drew Lock slated to miss this game with heel and elbow injuries, the Giants will start the second-year pro under center whose claim to fame is more about his Italian heritage than his play on the field. The 2023 undrafted free agent is one of the lowest-rated passers in the league whose quarterback rating of 16 would be the lowest mark in the league among qualified starters if he had started a few more games earlier in the season before the release of Daniel Jones last month.
With that being said, while DeVito is no Lamar Jackson, he can use his legs and mobility to extend plays in the passing game and pick up yards on scrambles. The Ravens have the second-best run defense in the league and have been one of the best units at limiting or completely neutralizing opposing quarterbacks in the running game and will need to continue doing so again on Sunday with discipline and rush lane integrity.
Pound Giants defense into submission with running game
While New York’s mediocre defense is just as likely to give up big plays through the air as on the ground which could tempt Baltimore to want to open up the passing attack a little more, now is not the time and this is not the opponent to do so because it likely won’t be needed to win comfortably.
The Giants have been especially at limiting their opponent’s rushing attacks, allowing an average of 141.7 yards per game—fourth-worst—and 4.9 yards per carry—second-worst. They’ll be going up against a Ravens running game which ranks second in the league in yards per game (179.1) and first in yards per carry (5.7) without two-time Pro Bowl nose tackle Dexter Lawrence who is on injured reserve. Leading the charge for Baltimore in the running game will be their dynamic dual-threat quarterback and four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry who are both chomping at the bit to get back in action with the ball in their hands.
Pass rush should feast on banged up and underwhelming offensive line
The Giants have one of the worst pass-protecting units in the league when healthy having given up the fifth-most sacks (42). Three of their slotted five starters on the depth chart are listed on the injury report with ailments that have caused them to either miss or be limited in the first two days of practice this week. Going up against a compromised blocking unit that didn’t perform well even when intact with a young signal-caller without a wealth of experience or passing prowess should have the Ravens’ interior and edge pass rushers licking their chops after a week off to get healthier and rejuvenated for the stretch run.
It will all start up the middle with the disruptive defensive tackle duo of Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike and breakout stud Travis Jones who will be generating relentless pressure in DeVito’s face. They’re also expected to have veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce back off injured reserve this week. Both of the Giants tackle spots have been turnstiles in pass protection since Second Team All Pro left tackle Andrew Thomas was lost for the season to injury which could lead to a big day for the potent outside linebacker trio of Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy and Tavius Robinson.