3 ways the Baltimore Ravens can beat Washington this week

Three-part formula for the Baltimore Ravens to top the Washington Football Team:

The Ravens are looking to rebound from their Monday night debacle against the Kansas City Chiefs with a Sunday battle against an over matched Washington Football Team. To do so, there is a simple three-part formula they can put to use: Smash, rip, confuse.

Let’s get into it.

Smash

This should be pretty self-explanatory, especially on the heels of a disappointing performance against the Chiefs when the Ravens kind of got away from what they do best. Baltimore is good at lining up a lot of big bodies and smashing it down the throats of their opponents. This is a good strategy for the Ravens every week, because it’s what they are good at. When playing a team that is inferior to you in talent across the board, it is even more important: keep it simple.

The Ravens are averaging 5.7 yards per rush on the season, which is an insane number. The Washington Whatchamacallits’ defense, on the other hand, is allowing 4.4 yards per rush. This seems to work to the Ravens’ advantage, and takes away from the strength of the Washington’s team, which is their pass rush.

The Ravens need to batter the Washington front with a rotating diet of Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, with enough outside keepers by quarterback Lamar Jackson to keep the defense guessing. We should see a ton of Nick Boyle and Patrick Ricard this week, and uneven formations on the line to run into the teeth of the Washington defense, even if they are loading up to stop the run.

Stop trying to be something else. The Ravens are a physical team with a vast array of running attacks available in their playbook. Smash it down their throats.

Rip

This is not the game to be a finesse, three-step-drop timing passing offense to offset the pass rush of Washington. No, use the battering rams at running back for that chore. Keep those linemen and linebackers gasping for air by running directly at them, and then drop back and let it rip downfield. This would be a good game to target Marquise Brown on deep passes and Devin Duvernay and Mark Andrews racing down the seams. Don’t worry about a high-percentage passing game this week. Worry about making plays.

Going deep keeps opposing safeties and linebackers in check, and keeps linemen guessing. Linemen who aren’t sure of what’s coming next are genuinely not effective, and this Washington front is very, very good.

It’s also a good way to pick up cheap yards via penalties downfield against a defensive backfield that shouldn’t scare the Ravens. Generate first downs with the backs. Get splash plays by ripping it downfield.

Confuse

Remember how Patrick Mahomes seemed to take advantage of every exotic blitz and coverage the Ravens tried to throw at him the other night? Of course you do. You probably wake up in cold sweats since that game like I do.

Dwayne Haskins is not Patrick Mahomes.

Haskins is still learning his way around the NFL, and it is important that the Ravens don’t let him ever get comfortable. He throws a nice ball when given time and routes are able to be developed in front of him. Do not afford him that luxury.

This was not a strategy that proved effective against Mahomes, and that is something to consider if the Ravens find themselves facing the Chiefs in the playoffs. But these aren’t the Chiefs. Mahomes and Andy Reid are not on the other sideline.

Confuse the kid. Jump out to a lead and do what you do best.