3. Shutdown Michael Thomas:
Kamara may be what makes the clock tick for New Orleans, but Michael Thomas is a key ingredient in the Saints 4-1 start. Thomas has 46 receptions. Kamara has 38 receptions. No other player for the Saints has more than 17 grabs this year. Their next leading receiver is Benjamin Watson. This means the Ravens have to take out the top two targets and make somebody else beat them.
This is what should intrigue Ravens fans. Baltimore has two cornerbacks that have shown the ability to slow down Antonio Brown (Jimmy Smith, Marlon Humphrey). This means the Ravens have two cornerbacks that can go up against any wide receiver in the league. If the Ravens cornerbacks can win without rolling coverage to Thomas, this will be huge. Jimmy Smith could be the defensive weapon that turns this game in the Ravens’ favor. He is a big physical wide receiver, that can win this match up.
The Ravens may be thin at cornerback, but that is a misleading fact. Each of the Ravens corners could start all around the NFL. Anthony Levine and Chuck Clark are defensive backs whose versatility creates problems for opponents, just ask Ben Roethlisberger. Baltimore has a dominant pass defense and that is a big key in beating the New Orleans Saints.