Ravens vs. Chargers: A playoff edition of 3 big things
The Baltimore Ravens get a rematch with the Chargers in the first round of the playoffs. Here are 3 big things to think about for the playoff battle:
1. Did Baltimore show the Chargers too much in their first meeting?
The Baltimore Ravens had to know that a playoff rematch was a likely draw heading into the postseason. The Ravens beat the Chargers in week 16, but it may have come at a price. The Chargers certainly have time to look at the film from the last game and make adjustments. That could make a significant impact on this game. In the previous encounter the Chargers seemed unprepared or at least a little surprised. In this game, they know how the Ravens want to attack them.
That’s an advantage for the Chargers and that’s because the Ravens can’t really change the formula. They have to employ a run heavy attack and play in Lamar Jackson’s wheel house. Jackson is 6-1 as the starting quarterback because there is a definitive blueprint for the offense. If Jackson were asked to throw the ball more than 25 times in a game Baltimore would be well out of it’s comfort zone. The offense can’t dramatically change. They need to stick with the power plays that have pulling linemen opening up huge lanes for the ball carriers. If Marty Mornhinweg is smart, he’ll add a wrinkle or two into the offense. The offensive game plan has to be relatively the same though, so it becomes a matter of execution.
The Chargers didn’t just look unprepared on defense, their offense took a beating. Phillip Rivers was held under 200 passing yards. The Baltimore pass rush was incredibly good. There are some things that Los Angeles can do to counter the Ravens pass rush. They can use extra blockers on the edge and Rivers can make the Ravens pay with quick passes. The question becomes how much of the Ravens dominance in December was about the game plan? Can the Chargers handle the pressure with a different strategy? It seems likely that these questions will be answered in the postseason clash.