The Ravens will head to New York in December, looking to soak up some Holiday cheer in the form of a win against the Giants.
Here are my thoughts on the game, all in 50 words or less:
- There's been so much focus on the storylines surrounding Diontae Johnson, Marcus Williams, and Justin Tucker that people have lost focus of what's most important. The Ravens are still a really good football team. When there's been a bunch of outside noise, John Harbaugh's teams hunker down and win.
- Winning ultimately solves everything, and that's what it's going to boil down to. The defeat in Pittsburgh stung. The loss to the Eagles was a cloud that hung over Baltimore the entire bye week. The Ravens can turn it all around starting Sunday and the following week against the Steelers.
- The creator of DVOA, Aaron Schatz, believes the Ravens are the best team in the AFC “when they play at their best.” Advanced analytics aside, that sounds right. That's why the Ravens' focus is on finding that level of play more consistently. If they do, they may not be stopped.
- The Ravens are the NFL season's heaviest favorites to win against the 2-11 Giants, but Baltimore is genuinely focused on itself more than its opponent. The offense knows it hasn't been clean in a few weeks and the defense wants to go from eliminating big plays to making big plays.
- Baltimore's much-maligned defense has rounded into form and it's not a mirage. Over the past three weeks, they've been one of the best units in the league and they've gone against three solid offenses in the Steelers, Chargers, and Eagles. A weakness has become a strength just in time.
- It's not a sexy storyline, but Travis Jones' improved health and the potential return of Michael Pierce could make a big difference for this defense. The Ravens reportedly tried to trade for Calais Campbell. They wanted more help up front. They got it this week. Baltimore could dominate the trenches.
- Talk of how much Lamar Jackson should run resumed this week after his mom saw unexposed lanes. The bigger question, in my opinion, is how much Derrick Henry runs down the stretch. Henry has averaged 18.5 attempts per game this season. Does that bump up to the low 20s?
- The Ravens are very healthy going into Sunday’s game. The Giants are very banged up. The health of teams is a major factor in determining the outcome and this is the time of year when the war of attrition is even steeper. Baltimore's strong post-bye health is a big deal.
- Giants rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers is clearly the Giants' top offensive playmaker. This will be a key game for Ravens first-round rookie Nate Wiggins as he looks to continue his ascension. A strong performance Sunday could be a springboard for the talented youngster.
CB Nate Wiggins vs. WR Malik Nabers
The battle between first-round rookies is sure to get a lot of reps as Nabers averages more than 11 targets per game. He is the workhouse for a struggling Giants offense but can dominate games, as he did in Week 13 against the Commanders with 10 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown. Wiggins has played more than 60% of the defensive snaps over the past four weeks as the Ravens secondary is starting to click. Slowing down Nabers will be priority No. 1 for Wiggins and the Baltimore defense.
ILB Roquan Smith vs. RB Tyrone Tracy Jr.
After converting to running back in his final year of college, Tracy has been a bright spot for New York's offense, running for 664 yards and five touchdowns. The former wide receiver also has 29 catches for 216 receiving yards, so expect Smith to draw him in the pass game at points. Smith is coming off his two best games of the season and had an extra week to rest the hamstring that kept him out in Week 12.
LT Ronnie Stanley vs. DE Brian Burns
The Giants' strength lies in their defensive line, and Burns has been a stud ever since they traded for him over the offseason. Burns has seven sacks and two forced fumbles, but he'll face one of the game's best left tackles in Stanley, who hasn't allowed a sack all season, according to Pro Football Focus.
RT Roger Rosengarten vs. OLB Kayvon Thibodeaux
Rosengarten has held his own since becoming a full-time starter as a rookie, and he faces a fierce edge rusher on Sunday. Thibodeaux has three sacks in eight games this season, but he posted 11.5 in 2023 and can muddy the backfield quickly. The Ravens need to prevent New York's star pass rushers from wrecking the game.
WR Zay Flowers vs. S Jason Pinnock
Flowers had a couple of big plays against the Eagles, and he will look to build on that at MetLife Stadium. Flowers' 863 receiving yards are already more than all of last season, and he's averaging three yards per reception more than his rookie year. After benching 2023 first round pick and University of Maryland alumni Deonte Banks, the Giants don't have any big names at cornerback, but Pinnock will play a bigger role on the back end with rookie Tyler Nubin on injured reserve.
- Mark Andrews is on the cusp of breaking Jamal Lewis' touchdowns record. He has seven in his past eight games. I don't think that record is going to hold up much longer and I don't think it will take long to put Andrews in the Ring of Honor someday.
- Will recently waived wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. land back in Baltimore? I don't know, but I think it's worth pointing out that Tylan Wallace has caught all nine of his targets this season and played a career-high 40 offensive snaps against the Eagles. He could remain significantly involved.
