2. The ground game will be important:
The ground game is huge in any game for the Ravens, but it is especially important in this game. The Ravens don’t want to get behind the chains against the Lions. The Ravens are incredibly bad at converting on anything more than four yards, and the Lions have some really good pass rushers. Anthony Zettle and Ezekiel Ansahh have combined for 11.5 sacks this season.
The Lions defense isn’t a dominant unit. They give up big plays on the ground and through the air. If the Ravens can that slow down the pass rushers they can win this game. The best way to control the pass rush is to slow it down with a heavy dose of the run.
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If Flacco throws it more than 30 times in this game, it’s hard to like Baltimore’s chances. Run the ball, take some safe shots in the passing game and head into Pittsburgh with a 7-5 record. It’s that simple. When this team has shown any sign of life on offense, it has been because of Alex Collins. Collins has had a rough stretch in the season. The Ravens have to get him going again, to get their offense to have any shot.
While the defense has a challenge the offense could have a chance to get things going. It’s not something we can expect from the Ravens, but if they do this right it could happen. The Ravens won’t look like a juggernaut no matter what they do, but seeing a functional offense is a reachable goal on Sunday. If the Ravens run the ball well, set up manageable third downs and avoid the impact of the Lions’ pass rush. than good things will happen. It all starts on the ground, and that’s nothing new.