Facing a quick turnaround after winning on "Monday Night Football," the Ravens (8-4) host the surging Philadelphia Eagles (9-2) who have won seven straight games.
Basics
Kickoff: Sunday, 4:25 p.m., M&T Bank Stadium
TV: WJZ Channel 13 (Baltimore), and more. CBS crew Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (sideline)
Radio: WBAL (101.5 FM/1090 AM), 98 Rock (97.9 FM), SiriusXM Radio Ch. 162 or 227. Ravens crew: Gerry Sandusky (play-by-play), Rod Woodson (analyst). Sports USA Media: Josh Appel (play-by-play), Brandon Noble (analyst)
History
The Ravens lead the all-time series, 3-2-1. They haven't faced the Eagles since the 2020 COVID-19 season, when Baltimore won a 30-28 decision in Philadelphia. Lamar Jackson rushed for over 100 yards, including a 37-yard touchdown. Baltimore took a 30-14 lead into the fourth quarter and hung on. The Ravens thwarted the Eagles on a potential game-tying two-point conversion attempt with 1:55 left.
Stakes
Both teams are in strong playoff position. According to NFL.com, neither of their playoff odds would change much with a win or loss. The Ravens are vying with the Pittsburgh Steelers (8-3) for first place in the AFC North and want to avoid losing ground with just five games left in the regular season. A victory by the Eagles would move them closer to clinching the NFC East as they chase the Detroit Lions for the top seed in the NFC.
Key Storylines
Which elite running back will have the better day?
The NFL's two best running backs will take center stage, as Saquon Barkley (1,392 yards) and Derrick Henry (1,325) continue their battle for the rushing title. They do it with different running styles, but both can turn any touch into a house call. Both the Ravens and Eagles are 7-0 when Henry or Barkley rush for over 100 yards. The back who performs best could decide which team wins.
Will Lamar Jackson continue his dominance over the NFC?
Jackson's remarkable 23-1 career record as a starter against the NFC includes victories this season over the Cowboys, Commanders, and Buccaneers. Now Jackson will try to tackle the Eagles, who have given up just 14.7 points per game during their seven-game winning streak. NFC opponents rarely face Jackson, which can make stopping the dynamic dual threat quarterback even tougher. However, the Eagles' swarming defense will pose a challenge for Jackson as he attempts to make Philadelphia his latest NFC victim.
Has Baltimore's defense turned the corner?
The Ravens defense is coming off strong back-to-back defensive performances, keeping the Steelers out of the end zone and holding the Chargers to 285 yards total offense. However, the Eagles have overtaken Baltimore to lead the NFL in rushing, and they have an offense that strikes quickly via the ground or air. The Ravens are confident that their defense is trending up, but they'll be facing an offense that can make them pay for mistakes.
Players to Watch
OLB Odafe Oweh
Oweh has a career-high eight sacks, including 3.5 in his last two games. The Eagles have two of the league's best tackles in Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, but quarterback Jalen Hurts often extends plays, which could give Oweh more time to get home.
CB Nate Wiggins
Wiggins is playing well in his rookie season and has become a regular in the cornerback rotation. Philadelphia may look for one-on-one matchups with Wiggins against A. J. Brown, who is a deep threat and one of the most difficult receivers to tackle after the catch.
C Tyler Linderbaum
Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter is a game wrecker who rarely leaves the field. It's imperative for Linderbaum to have a strong game while helping guards Patrick Mekari and Daniel Faalele keep Carter from dominating as a run-stopper and pass rusher.
Keep an eye on these five battles in Sunday's game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Ravens LBs vs. RB Saquon Barkley
Barkley is on a heater coming off a game with more than 300 yards from scrimmage. He's the NFL's leading rusher but will face a strong Baltimore run defense that could get Roquan Smith back. Malik Harrison stepped up with a career-high 12 tackles with Smith out last week, and the Ravens will need solid play from the linebackers again to slow down Barkley.
CB Brandon Stephens vs. WR A.J. Brown
Brown is 12th in the NFL with 727 receiving yards, but he has played at least three fewer games than all but one player ahead of him. While Stephens isn't playing every snap anymore, he's still seeing the majority and is coming off one of his best games of the year. Baltimore's defense is coming off back-to-back strong games but has a massive test against Brown and Philadelphia.
WR Zay Flowers vs. CB Quinyon Mitchell
Flowers is on his way to his first 1,000-yard season, but he faces the potential Defensive Rookie of the Year on Sunday. Mitchell hasn't given up a touchdown all season and has only been targeted 10 times in the last four games, according to Pro Football Focus. Winning the Flowers-Mitchell matchup will play a big role in the outcome of the game.
C Tyler Linderbaum vs. DT Jalen Carter
Linderbaum has been the anchor in the middle of Baltimore's line, but he faces one of the best tackles in the league in Carter. While Carter didn't have a sack against the Rams last week, he dominated the game, drawing double teams as the rest of Philadelphia's pass rush feasted. Linderbaum and the rest of the Ravens offensive line must keep Carter in check to get the run game going.
QB Lamar Jackson vs. LB Nakobe Dean
Jackson leads the league in passing yards (3,053) and is tied for first in passing touchdowns (27) as he continues maybe the best season of his career. Philadelphia is No. 6 in scoring defense and has been even better the past few weeks. Dean has been stellar this season and will try to take away the middle of the field for Jackson and draw pressure on blitzes.
