The Baltimore Ravens have a big test with the Houston Texans coming to town for the Divisional Round of the playoffs. While the Ravens are favored to win, they will need a full team effort this week, and that will include getting the best out of some players who may not be at their best.
Which players on the Ravens need to step up to beat the Houston Texans?
3. The Baltimore Ravens will lean on Gus Edwards late
The Baltimore Ravens have to find a way to put teams away in the playoffs. In their three meaningful losses, the team had leads and could not ice them. They had more scares than needed this year due to their inability to go into four-minute mode and put the game away.
In the playoffs, small things like that will cost you and send you home, especially with a quarterback like C.J. Stroud on the other side. So, this will be a huge week for Gus Edwards.
Edwards’ overall stats are skewed because he is used in short yardage so much. Also, the team uses him to put games away as their power back, who can run between the tackles. With all of the injuries to other runners and Justice Hill being the only other real option right now, they will have to lean on Edwards.
The Houston Texans' defense has its holes, but they have typically been a stout run defense. They did slip up against the Colts at times, especially when the Colts ran the ball straight ahead at them.
Can Baltimore run the ball downhill, and if they have a one-score lead late in the fourth quarter, can they put that game away? A lot of that comes down to Gus Edwards.
2. The Baltimore Ravens need more out of Rashod Bateman
This has not been the best year for wide receiver Rashod Bateman. Bateman has a history of injuries and was slow to recover this year. He also missed some time early in the season. When you add that the Ravens signed Odell Beckham and drafted Zay Flowers, it was easy to see Bateman pushed to the third spot.
Bateman averaged 1.26 yards per route run as a rookie and 2.38 in a limited sample last year. This year, he is down to 1.09 yards per route run. He is not getting the job done. The Ravens are going to need him to step up now that the playoffs are here.
Zay Flowers is dealing with a calf injury, and the rookie will see brackets. That is because Derek Stingley, one of the hottest cornerbacks in the NFL, will be following Odell Beckham. With that, the weak spot is going to be whoever is defending Bateman.
The Ravens just need three strong games from Bateman, and everyone will think that the draft pick was worth it. Can he turn around that narrative?
1. Can the Baltimore Ravens get a better performance from Geno Stone?
One of the biggest questions entering the postseason was the play of Geno Stone. One of the hottest players in the NFL to start the season had slowly turned into a defensive liability. A lot of that comes from going from the backup and replacing Marcus Williams to now having to play with Williams. It pushed Stone into the box more, which meant more missed tackles and more blown coverage busts. Along with that, he had fewer interceptions and plays on the ball.
In recent weeks, they started to shuffle how they ran the defense, and they got Stone out of the box more. However, with injuries to Marlon Humphrey and Kyle Hamilton, we have not seen the Ravens' defense in full since Christmas day.
What is the plan for Geno Stone? Does he start, and if so, how often does he end up in the box? C.J. Stroud does not have the weapons that San Francisco does, but he is pushing the ball down the field with more precision than any quarterback and could make any defense pay if they are not in the right spot. Can the Ravens risk this with Geno Stone against CJ Stroud? Or will they look to get Pepe Williams or Arthur Maulet in the slot and then keep Hamilton at safety with Williams?