BALTIMORE — December football has arrived and with it the opportunity for the Ravens to make it back to the postseason for the first time since 2014.
John Harbaugh’s team has struggled in the final month of the regular season in recent years, going an underwhelming 8-10 in regular-season games played in December and early January since Super Bowl XLVII. It’s a significant reason why Baltimore has found itself on the outside looking in in three of the last four seasons, but a 6-5 mark and a mediocre conference provide hope for 2017’s final stretch.
The Ravens are aiming for the first three-game winning streak since the start of the 2016 season.
Detroit also has plenty to play for as Jim Caldwell is trying to guide the Lions to the playoffs for the third time in his four seasons. The Ravens enter Sunday holding the final wild-card spot in the AFC while the 6-5 Lions are in eighth place in a very competitive NFC.
Wide receiver Breshad Perriman is a healthy scratch for the second time in three games, the latest disappointing development for the 2015 first-round pick. Return specialist and wide receiver Michael Campanaro is active after being a healthy scratch against Houston.
Rookie cornerback Marlon Humphrey is active after being a limited participant in practices all week and going through an on-field workout with secondary coach Chris Hewitt. A thigh issue limited him to just seven defensive snaps in last Monday’s win over Houston, but fellow rookie Jaylen Hill once again being inactive would suggest that the Ravens are confident in Humphrey’s health.
As expected, running back Alex Collins is active and will start after being listed as questionable on the final injury report. Collins missed Wednesday’s practice with a calf issue, but he was a full participant on Thursday and Friday, leaving very little doubt about his status. Terrance West is inactive once again, another sign that Collins isn’t a concern.
After Joe Flacco’s broken knee brace was a topic of conversation throughout the week, it’s worth noting that the veteran quarterback was once again wearing one on his left knee during pre-game warmups.
The Lions will be without starting running back Ameer Abdullah (neck) as he was only able to log a limited practice on Friday. However, he’s averaging just 3.4 yards per carry for the league’s 30th-ranked rushing attack and Theo Riddick figured to present a bigger threat as a receiver out of the backfield against the Baltimore defense anyway.
Detroit right guard T.J. Lang (foot) is active after being designated as questionable on the final injury report. Starting center Travis Swanson (knee) was officially ruled out on Friday, leaving the Lions vulnerable against the formidable Ravens defensive line.
Former Ravens great Haloti Ngata spent time chatting with former teammates and coaches on the field prior to Sunday’s game. The five-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle was placed on injured reserve with a biceps injury in October, bringing his third season with the Lions to a premature end.
The referee for Sunday’s game is Jerome Boger.
According to Weather.com, the Sunday forecast calls for mostly sunny skies and temperatures reaching the mid-50s with calm winds up to six miles per hour and no chance of precipitation.
The Ravens are wearing purple jerseys with black pants, the first time they’ve worn that uniform combination this season. Detroit is donning white tops with blue pants.
Sunday is the first meeting between these teams since 2013 when Justin Tucker famously hit a 62-yard field goal in the final minute to lift the Ravens to a 18-16 win in Detroit on Monday Night Football. Baltimore leads the all-time series with a 3-1 record and is 2-0 against the Lions at M&T Bank Stadium.
Below are Sunday’s inactives:
BALTIMORE
WR Breshad Perriman
RB Terrance West
CB Jaylen Hill
OL Jermaine Eluemunor
OL Maurquice Shakir
DE Bronson Kaufusi
DE Chris Wormley
DETROIT
WR Bradley Marquez
RB Ameer Abdullah
RB Dwayne Washington
CB Jamal Agnew
S Rolan Milligan
C Travis Swanson
OT Emmett Cleary
