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Baltimore Ravens: Top 3 match-ups to watch vs Denver Broncos

By Richard Bradshaw

DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: Outside linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos works against tackle Ricky Wagner #71 of the Baltimore Ravens during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 13, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - SEPTEMBER 13: Outside linebacker Von Miller #58 of the Denver Broncos works against tackle Ricky Wagner #71 of the Baltimore Ravens during a game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on September 13, 2015 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /
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The Baltimore Ravens will be coming off 10-days of rest after a demoralizing loss in Cincinnati to take on the undefeated Denver Broncos in Charm City.

The Denver Broncos walk into Baltimore with a large task on hand. The Ravens will bring their A-game (hopefully) and give the 2-0 Broncos a hell of a fight this Sunday. In order to squeak out a win against a very solid Broncos team, there are certain individual match-ups Baltimore needs to win and take advantage of.

Sure, the Ravens will have to be successful across the field, including shutting down a good Broncos passing attack and establishing their own run game early on. Even with that being said, there are three one-on-one match-ups that will prove to be more crucial in a Ravens win this Sunday. You can expect us all to be glued to the t.v. to watch these match-ups, and you should, too. Let’s dive right in to it then:

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Michael Pierce vs. Matt Paradis:

The Broncos have two stud rookie running backs in Phillip Lindsay and Royce Freeman, the former being a UDFA from this past year’s draft class. Lindsay and Freeman have combined for a whopping 277 rushing yards through the first two games of the season, with Lindsay leading the pack with his 178-yards (6.1 YPC) on the ground. The two backs have carried their team’s offense thus far in 2018, some credit owed to their offensive line.

Center Matt Paradis is as underrated as they come for offensive lineman. Paradis is entering his fifth-year in the NFL, all with Denver, and is arguably the team’s top offensive lineman. He will certainly have his hands full come Sunday afternoon, when the Ravens big defensive line comes storming into M&T Bank Stadium, including blossoming star Michael Pierce.

Pierce has continued to prove time-and-time again that he’s one of the league’s top nose tackles. He’s stout against the run and eats gaps for breakfast. If the Ravens want to take down the 2-0 Broncos, it’ll have to be behind solid run defense. Shutting down these two rookie sensations won’t be easy, but Pierce is the key to achieving this task.

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