As the Baltimore Ravens get ready for their week one bout with the Houston Texans, there will be plenty for fans to watch. It is a game that the Ravens are expected to win, so fans will be looking for strong performances from some of the following players: Who is most important to watch?
3. How will Zay Flowers look in his Baltimore Ravens debut?
This one is easy, the first-round pick in his debut is usually a player to watch. When that player is a skilled player, and he can get fans fantasy points, then you know that he is going to be under the microscope. Flowers was amazing in the preseason. He did not play much, but he had 37 yards, a touchdown, and over four yards gained per route he ran.
Flowers looked ready to hit the ground running. Now, the question is how he fits in the offense. Neither Odell Beckham nor Rashod Bateman suited up in the preseason. Both of them are more experienced, but they have more injuries.
Beckham is the most accomplished receiver on the roster. Bateman is the number one wideout according to Lamar Jackson. Then, there is the rookie Flowers who has more fan-hype than both. He is the future. The question is whether the future is now, or whether he is still behind names such as Becham and Bateman in the pecking order. Who starts in two wide sets? Who leads the group in targets, yards, catches, and touchdowns?
While the Texans have two find cornerbacks in Derek Stingley and Steven Nelson, the Ravens are familiar with Nelson from his time in Pittsburgh, and Stingley struggled as a rookie. These two are beatable. There is so much to find out for Zay Flowers in his debut for the Baltimore Ravens.
2. Justin Maduike is in a matchup to win for the Baltimore Ravens
This has to be a matchup where Justin Madubuike dominates and potentially is the reason that the Baltimore Ravens win the game. This is a huge year for Madubuike. Madubuike is in the midst of contract discussions, but it looks like he will enter the season without a deal for the 2024 season.
So, he is playing with a lot on the line this season as he could cash in big during free agency. He went from one sack to two to 5.5 last year. If he jumps up in sacks again, the money is going to come. However, a low sack total could show teams this is just not his game and he lacks the high-end upside.
The good news for Madubuike is that he may not get an easier matchup this year. The Houston Texans interior line is depleted. Juice Scruggs, Kenyon Green, and David Quessenberry are all on the IR. That is the starting left guard, center, and backup for both spots.
They are slated to start both Jarrett Patterson and Kendrick Green. They traded for Green after he was almost cut by the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Patterson is a sixth round rookie. Needless to say, this was not in the Texans' plans. This is going to be the chance of a lifetime for Madukbuike.
He has so much on the line and is being fed an easy matchup to start his season on the right now. Fans should be watching the interior of the line to see what kind of push Madubuike is getting and whether or not he can have that big season that leads to financial success.
1. Who will start at cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens?
One of the biggest questions this week will be who the heck is playing cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens. They technically have eight options right now, although Marlon Humphrey will not suit up for this game. On the outside, they have Ronald Darby, Rock Ya-Sin, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Brandon Stephens, and Kevon Seymour. In the slot, they have Arthur Maulet and Ar'Darius Washington.
So, who are the three that start? Maulet has not practiced enough, and Washington looked good enough that you have to assume that he will get the nod in the slot. Considering this will be his first career start, this should be worth watching.
On the outside, it could be anyone. Rock Ya-Sin should start if healthy, but he has not been healthy recently. Ronald Darby should start if he has the defense down, but he has been signed for less than a month. All three of Armour-Davis, Stephens, and Seymour got significant work in the preseason, and all of them started at some point this summer. Will the Baltimore Ravens all on them again to make a regular-season start?
Beyond that, how will this group look if they cannot even get sorted out to find three starters? There are plenty of questions in this room.