Ebony Bird
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Baltimore Ravens face brutal match-up with Vikings defense

By Chris Schisler

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 17: Quarterback Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens looks on against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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It is no secret that the offense is the Ravens’ biggest weakness. The Vikings strength of their team is defense:

The Ravens just lost a game to the Bears in which the offense did next to nothing. The Ravens beat themselves with an offense incapable of doing things that make sense. Now fans must get ready to see that suffering offense against a really strong defense.

Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr, Linval Joseph and Everson Griffin, make a pretty star studded front seven. Griffin leads the way as a pass rusher as he’s recorded seven sacks this season. Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes and Harrison Smith make their secondary scary good as well. Smith has three interceptions on the season. The Vikings’ 4-2 record is largely due to good defense.

Bad Offense vs. Good Defense:

The Ravens offense has been as pitiful as possible in the first six games of the season. The Ravens have scored only nine offensive touchdowns. Flacco ranks 27th in passing yards with just over 1,000 yards. Considering there are only 32 teams, that’s a bad look for Flacco. Flacco has thrown four more interceptions than touchdowns. I take it that you don’t need any more factoids about Flacco, you get it. It’s been horrible.

Must Read: Breaking down the Joe Flacco situation

The Vikings are 3-1 at home this season and their defense is only allowing 15 points per game in front of their fans. That’s not good for the scoring impaired Ravens. While the Ravens have the best field goal kicker in the NFL, they haven’t gotten into field goal range with much regularity. Tucker has only attempted 12 field goals this season. Points could be hard to come by. For the Ravens that means scoring will be next to impossible.

The only way the Ravens can win this game is by having a strong defensive outing. The Ravens just allowed over 200 rushing yards against the Bears. The Steelers had well over 100 rushing yards against them as well.

This could be ugly:

Minnesota is allowing 78.7 yards per game on the ground which is fifth best in the NFL. It could be tough for the Ravens running game to get going. The Vikings are allowing only 216.8 passing yards per game, which is 14th best in the NFL. The Ravens have the 29th ranked offense in the NFL right now. It’s tough to have a lot of confidence going into this game.

Next: 2 problems the Ravens could have avoided

The Ravens have to play better than they have. It’s as simple as that. The problem is that the Ravens are who they are. At this point in the season, you are what you have done. The Ravens offense has been atrocious and there is no reason to expect that to change. This could be a brutal game in Minnesota for the purple and black.

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