The Baltimore Ravens are entering their Week 10 game against the Minnesota Vikings on a two-game winning streak. Both wins during the stretch have shown a team capable of dominance on both sides of the football.
While the competition level has not been too high, taking on abysmal defenses and inconsistent offenses along the way, Baltimore is starting to look like the team many were expecting at the start of the 2025 campaign. Still, they need several areas to step up if they are serious about making the playoffs this year.
The Vikings present a tough task, as they are coming off an impressive win over the Detroit Lions last week. They have plenty of weapons on both the offensive and defensive sides to make life hard on the Ravens, but are also facing their own share of issues amid their 4-4 start.
Here are two Ravens who are set to steal the show in Sunday’s matchup in Minnesota.
2 Ravens poised to have strong showings in Week 10
Isaiah Likely
One or both of Baltimore’s tight ends are in line for a big game against the Vikings. The opposition has had difficulties locking down tight ends in recent games, opening the door for a clear area for the Ravens to attack. Isaiah Likely is on pace to be the go-to guy.
In Week 9, the Vikings let Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta go for 97 yards and a touchdown on six receptions. The week before, Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II dominated with five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown.
It seems that Likely is finding his footing after returning to action in Baltimore’s Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. After making five receptions for 26 yards through his first four weeks, Likely was a problem in the team’s Week 9 win over the Miami Dolphins. He caught three of four targets for 60 yards, including a long of 35 yards. It looks like he is back to his usual self, and he should take advantage of Minnesota’s recent struggles against tight ends.
Malaki Starks
Rookie safety Malaki Starks is coming off his best game of his career thus far. He finally hauled in his first career interception and was phenomenal in coverage and run defense. He posted a 91.2 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus, for that performance, and he could carry that momentum into Sunday.
Starks and Baltimore’s defense match up against rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy has thrown an interception in all three of his starts this season and has completed under 60% of his passes. In total, he has thrown for 444 total yards, four touchdowns, four interceptions, and carries a 57.6 completion percentage. He has also added 62 rushing yards.
While Starks is also inexperienced, he is peaking at the perfect time and is in a great position to take advantage of McCarthy’s inexperience. If the Ravens’ offense gets off to a hot start and leaves the Vikings behind early, it could force McCarthy to take more risks, something Starks and company will have the chance to capitalize on.