The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a statement win against the Detroit Lions, and they have a big game against the Seattle Seahawks on deck. So, for some players, this could be a letdown spot. However, for others, this could still be a positive development. The Ravens are a team that is just getting healthy and trending up at the right time. Some players will use this game to get back on track. Which players are we looking for their best form on Sunday?
3. The Baltimore Ravens wide receivers need to explode at the Arizona Cardinals
If one area of the Baltimore Ravens offense has been a disappointment, it is the wide receivers. Namely, it has been Odell Beckham and Rashod Bateman. Granted, both of them have been hurt, and both have taken some time to get back into the swing of things. More than that, both are coming off of the best game of their season.
Still, that is just 49 yards for Beckham and 36 yards for Bateman. That is not very impressive. This week, they get their best matchup yet, and they are healthier than we have ever seen both of them. This could be a sign of a breakout.
The Cardinals benched rookie Kei'Trel Clark for Starling Thomas, and they have a safety starting in the slot right now. They have been getting burnt through the air all season, and they are just throwing things out there to see what sticks. If the Baltimore Ravens do not get the best games of the season from both Bateman and Beckham there are going to be signs of concern.
2. The Baltimore Ravens interior line needs to show up at the Arizona Cardinals
The Baltimore Ravens offensive line is starting to come together around the same time that their wide receivers are getting healthy. After losing Tyler Linderbaum, Ronnie Stanley, and Morgan Moses during separate times in the first five weeks the team has been healthy for two straight games. However, while the center and both tackles have been shuffling, it is actually the other two linemen who have been issues this season.
Kevin Zeitler is having the worst season of his career. The Ravens did not want to extend him this offseason because they were worried about his age and the potential fall off of his play. So far, they have proven to be right. They have proven to be wrong on John Simpson, though. They thought he could be a starter after he failed with the Baltimore Ravens, but he has been a huge letdown after essentially being handed the job in training camp.
Fortunately for these two, they get one of the weakest defensive lines in the NFL. Their interior front consists of Dante Stills, a rookie taken on day three, Jonathan Ledbetter, and Leki Fotu, a couple of depth pieces that were from the past regime, and then Kevin Strong and Roy Lopez, two journeymen who have bounced around the NFL. This is about as bad of an interior that you will see. If the Ravens cannot see Zeitler and Simpson plowing people over in the second level, there are going to be issues. These two should keep Lamar Jackson clean as they attempt to get back on track for the rest of the season.
1. Odafe Oweh could have a healthy explosion against the Arizona Cardinals
Odafe Oweh does not really need to get back on track as much as he needs to get into the swing of things. He is already looking as good as ever, but his health has held back a potential breakout season. Oweh had a great week one performance against Laremy Tunsil, but an injury early in week two sidelined him.
He came back for week seven against the Detroit Lions. That meant Taylor Decker. Once again, he performed against a well-known left tackle. Oweh has only played two games against two talented players, but he is two for two in terms of playing up to expectations.
Now, he gets D.J. Humphries. Humphries is good and has a solid reputation, but he has been pretty bad this year. He was ejected for bumping a ref in the Cardinals' last game. Oweh has handled linemen better than Humphries. This is not the easy test that the interior or the wide receivers will get this week, but Oweh should dominate and prove that he is going to have his best year this season with a strong performance in week eight.