3 reasons for optimism is a hard task for somebody covering the Baltimore Ravens. However here are three reasons the Ravens can beat the Raiders:
The obvious reason the Baltimore Ravens can beat the Oakland Raiders is that the Raiders won’t be at full strength. When this game gets kicked off, the Ravens are expecting to see E.J. Manuel under center for the Raiders. Even if Derek Carr does end up playing, he won’t be at 100 percent.
The answer to beating Oakland is pretty simple. The Ravens must stop the run and brutalize the quarterback, whomever that ends up being. Dean Pees must call an aggressive defense, much like he did in the first two weeks of the season. When the Ravens send all the chaos they can into the backfield, good things happen. In the first two weeks the Ravens forced the issue and created 10 takeaways. In the next two weeks the Ravens let the Jaguars and Steelers put them on their heels. Aggressive defense must be the answer regardless of opponent. The Ravens defense can’t just stop the opponent, they have to make the big plays that their offense won’t.
The Raiders offense may not be hitting on all cylinders. Their offense has struggled in the last two weeks. Something has to give in this game. One of these teams is going to get back in the win column. The Ravens have to make sure it’s them. The key is making the opposing quarterback uncomfortable. It doesn’t matter if it’s Carr or Manuel. The game plan should be the same and they can execute it.