The Ravens hope the third time will be the charm against Tennessee in Sunday’s wild-card playoff game.
But what — or who — will be the difference in getting John Harbaugh’s team over the hump this time around after two losses to the Titans in the last calendar year?
It’s stating the obvious that NFL MVP Lamar Jackson needs to play at a higher level after he posted forgettable QBRs of 30.4 and 39.3 in his two previous starts against the Titans. It’s difficult envisioning Baltimore advancing to the divisional round without the 24-year-old quarterback playing much closer to the top of his game. To be clear, Jackson was hardly the only reason for those previous defeats, but he’d be the first to tell you he needs to be better.
Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters will want to make amends after their second-half struggles were a big factor in the Week 11 overtime loss in Baltimore in late November. But you also give two Pro Bowl talents the benefit of the doubt while acknowledging the challenge of slowing standout wide receivers A.J. Brown and Corey Davis.
We know Mark Andrews is Jackson’s most reliable target in the passing game, but the 2019 Pro Bowl tight end already had a season-high 96 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Nov. 22 meeting. The offensive line needing to play well goes without saying as the current starting five was used for the first time in that Titans game seven weeks ago and have really gelled down the stretch.
Which Ravens players stand out as potential difference makers on Sunday who may not have been X factors in the Week 11 loss for various reasons?
Below are five candidates fitting that description:
CALAIS CAMPBELL
A six-time Pro Bowl defensive end making the list seems too obvious, but Tennessee was one of the first opponents the Ravens had in mind when acquiring Campbell from Jacksonville in March, making his Week 11 absence due to a calf injury that much more disappointing. All-world running back Derrick Henry totaled 328 rushing yards in his last two meetings with the Ravens, including 133 and the game-winning 29-yard touchdown run in November when Campbell and nose tackle Brandon Williams were both sidelined. Campbell, 34, hasn’t had the year he envisioned after missing the better part of five contests with the calf strain and a COVID-19 infection — he hadn’t missed a game in the previous five seasons — but he can remind everyone why Baltimore wanted him so badly by helping bottle up Henry.
J.K. DOBBINS
The rookie running back had 85 total yards and a touchdown in Week 11, so why exactly is he on this list? It’s because of the absolute force Dobbins has become since then with offensive coordinator Greg Roman deploying him more frequently and in so many creative ways. According to Pro Football Focus, Dobbins has lined up in the slot or out wide nearly 20 percent of the time this season, often motioning across the formation to take a quick handoff and beat helpless defenders to the edge. Jackson’s athleticism remains the transcendent foundation of everything the Ravens do offensively, but Dobbins moving into the lead back role has helped transform this rushing attack from very good to downright frightening once again. The Titans will have a difficult time holding Baltimore to 3.9 yards per carry like they managed to do in November.
PATRICK QUEEN
Though the rookie inside linebacker led Baltimore with nine tackles in Week 11, it was a tough day at the office as the 232-pound Queen struggled to shed blocks, wasn’t much of a factor in coverage, and missed a couple tackles against the 247-pound Henry. There’s still so much to like about the 21-year-old LSU product and he’s played with more consistency down the stretch, but PFF credited Queen with a league-worst 22 missed tackles and an opponent passer rating of 117.5 when targeted in coverage. The same challenges apply for the rest of this inside linebacker group to get off blocks to tackle Henry and to be disciplined covering a rock-solid group of tight ends in the play-action passing game, but a first-round pick is going to be under more scrutiny this time around.
YANNICK NGAKOUE
In just his fourth game as a Raven, Ngakoue registered one of only two sacks against Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill in the 30-24 overtime loss, but he played only 22 snaps, which was likely a result of of the Maryland product still getting acclimated to his new defense and Tennessee’s propensity to run off the edges. Ngakoue’s ability to set the edge against the run will be critical with how challenging the Titans’ play fakes are for edge rushers wanting to put heat on Tannehill while staying disciplined enough for when Henry gets the ball. From the moment Ngakoue was acquired during the bye week, the move was touted as one for the playoffs with the Ravens wanting to more consistently pressure quarterbacks with a four-man rush. He has that extra juice to get to Tannehill that other Baltimore edge players lack without the benefit of the blitz, but the Titans will likely try to exploit his aggressiveness.
MARQUISE BROWN
If there was a silver lining from the heartbreaking playoff loss last January, it was the spectacular play of Brown, who caught seven passes for 126 yards. However, he failed to register as much as a reception on his three targets against Tennessee in Week 11. Despite inconsistency catching the football, Brown has since snapped out of that midseason slump, making 26 receptions for 338 yards and six touchdowns over the last six games. A poor Tennessee defense has been even against the pass than the run this year, so you’d like to see the 2019 first-round pick shine on the postseason stage. The ground attack remains king in this offense, but it’s still tough picturing a deep January run without Brown consistently making big plays for Jackson as the Ravens try to go toe to toe with some of the NFL’s most explosive offenses.
