Baltimore Ravens: 5 questions facing them in week 3

4. Can the Ravens protect Joe Flacco?

The answer to this question could decide the outcome of the game. The Ravens’ offensive line has to get things together and they have to do it against Von Miller, Bradley Chubb and company. Ronnie Stanley has been limited in practice according to reports and has been wearing a brace on his arm. James Hurst has been a walking liability at right tackle and nobody on the offensive line has been above criticism so far.

On Sunday, the Ravens will answer this all important question, but the answer is likely that the Ravens cannot protect Flacco. Looking at this match up, the Broncos have an advantage here that sticks out like a New York City skyscraper. Flacco is going to take some hits in this game and how he responds will be crucial. Flacco needs to stand in there and deliver great passes against pressure. He needs to escape and roll out of the pocket. The line needs to give him a chance to actually have a chance, after that most of it is on Flacco. There’s no defense to a perfect throw, and those perfect passes better come out quick.

Maybe the Ravens will surprise us and slow down Denver’s pass rush. Remember the Bengals came into the game with a good strategy and their suspect offensive line was a non factor last week. The Ravens can counterbalance this weakness and they can slow the pass rush down.  The thing is that Baltimore can’t count on that happening. They have to win this game despite a clear advantage for the Broncos here. This won’t make it easy, but it doesn’t have to be game, set, match.