3 Keys to Victory For The Ravens On Thursday Night

Key #2: Production from the tight end position

A bit of a wild-card here, but I believe the importance of tight end play in this game is crucial. What once was a go to position for the Ravens, has been absent in the past couple seasons. Injuries have kept Crockett Gilmore and Maxx Williams sidelined for most of the season. Starting tight end Dennis Pita had his best season in the first meeting against the Browns, catching for over 100 yards.

For the Ravens to be successful in the passing game Dennis Pitta will need to be that security blanket that Joe Flacco can go to in tough 2nd and 3rd down situations. Wide receivers Breshard Perriman and Kamar Aiken have struggled to catch the football this season, so Pitta needs to be that third option behind Smith Sr. and Wallace. Pitta has not caught a touchdown since the 2013, when he was sidelined with a broken hip.

Flacco’s game relies heavily on checking down game, especially to the tight end. Jason Witten put up his best game of the season against the Browns with 134 yards and a touchdown. If Pitta can turn back the clock to before the hip injuries, he could have a big game tonight. A match-up with the Brown’s linebackers and secondary proves to be in favor of Pitta and I would not be surprised to see him be targeted multiple times in the end zone.