7 Baltimore Ravens who must step up against Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans are hoping to be one of those special six seeds who makes a run toward the Super Bowl; the Baltimore Ravens can’t let that happen. Here are seven Ravens players who must elevate their game to put the Titans playoff run to bed:

7. Jaylon Ferguson

There’s no secret about the Tennessee Titans game plan. They want to feature Derrick Henry in the run game. The key to winning this game could easily be keeping outside contain. The Ravens can’t have a repeat of what Nick Chubb did earlier in the season so the outside linebackers carry a heavy responsibility. Matt Judon has proven himself reliable, while Jaylon Ferguson and Tyus Bowser have been spotty against the run.

Success in a game for at this position is often measured by how much pressure they generate on the quarterback, however Ferguson’s day will be graded by how disciplined he is in run defense. The Ravens can get pressure on the quarterback by blitzing. They don’t need Ferguson to be over-aggressive in this game. He has to stay trong on the edge, he can’t let the Titans run game get to the outside. When Henry has a full head of steam and a bit of daylight, he can make things happen. Ferguson cannot be a liability in run defense, or the Titans will just chip away at him.

Ferguson can’t get over-engaged with the offensive tackle. He can’t over pursue plays and he has to really hone in on his responsibility in the run defense. Stopping the run is priority number one in this game. Pass rush from Ferguson would be gravy, but he has to deliver the main course for this defense. The Ravens have an opportunity to get the Titans out of their comfort zone if they can make them one dimensional. The outside linebackers have to play at a high level and Ferguson is the player that needs to step up the most.