Baltimore Ravens vs. New Orleans Saints: Keys To Victory
By Brett Foote
Nov 9, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett (29) carries the ball to score a touchdown in the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Stick to the Run
The Ravens must run the ball Monday night, for a number of reasons. One, to control time of possession and keep Drew Brees off the field. He may be off his game a little this year, but he is still capable of putting up points in a hurry. Keeping him on the sidelines is the only way to prevent that, outside of (gasp) playing good pass D or creating turnovers – two things the Ravens have done been good at in 2014.
It’s also a great way to keep the crowd quiet. The dome is a very, very loud place, and the Saints have fans who love to remind visiting teams of that.
Much like last week’s matchup, it also just makes good football sense to pound the rock. Joe Flacco has had an inconsistent season, while Justin Forsett is a top ten NFL back. The Ravens have the 10th ranked NFL rushing offense, while the Saints employ the 18th ranked rush defense. There will be a lot of holes to run through, if the Ravens choose to do so.