With the Ravens aiming to win their first home game since before last Thanksgiving in Sunday’s meeting with Tennessee, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. “It’s always love, but it’s not going to be much love on Sunday though.” Derrick Henry is already in his third season with Baltimore and the Titans have changed dramatically since his “bittersweet” departure, but I’m sure he’d like to remind them what they’ve been missing.
2. Henry himself placed more focus on helping the Ravens win their first home game since before last Thanksgiving. If you can’t reestablish some dominance against an opponent that’s won only six games since Henry’s post-2023 departure, that once-lauded home-field advantage might be gone for good.
3. Kyle Hamilton’s post-game words last Sunday lingered all week. “Unacceptable to be saying we are a ‘Ravens defense’ — whatever that means at this point — and be going out there and” allowing 18 points over the final 17 minutes. Yes, Trey Hendrickson is out, but Tennessee ranks 30th in points scored.
4. Vega Ioane shifting to center reminds of Marshal Yanda moving to right tackle at various times. It’s not ideal, but you sense the rookie will do a respectable job for however long he’s asked to play there. Filling the void at right guard is another story, however.
5. Ioane’s inexperience clearly puts more responsibility on Lamar Jackson to help put the offensive line in a good spot prior to the snap. As Declan Doyle said, “Everybody else has to lift their communication [and] their level of play. We all are responsible to cover for where the shortcomings are.”
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6. A big part of that is having a sound plan to account for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. That’s a matchup problem that could keep this game uncomfortable if Baltimore can’t keep Simmons from dominating. Frequently getting Jackson — who had a sore back this week — on the move would help.
7. Henry sounded borderline despondent expressing his part in the Ravens’ short-yardage woes, which is admirable if not overstated. If the 42-year-old Aaron Rodgers could run a quarterback sneak Thursday night, there’s no excuse for this offense — even with interior line concerns — not to find an answer for needing a yard.
8. “I don’t think we’ve been terrible. … In some critical moments, we’ve missed tackles — particularly on third down — that could have gotten us off the field.” I suspect Anthony Weaver’s unfiltered message to the defense about its poor tackling wasn’t as kind. It’s a non-starter for this group’s expectations.
9. With Zay Flowers practicing fully, he’s in position to handle a full-game workload, which is a frightening thought for the Tennessee defense. Per PFF, the Titans play zone at the league’s seventh-highest rate, and Flowers is averaging 10.3 yards per route run against zone.
10. There aren’t many players left from the Super Bowl XLVII team who remain active, but the 40-year-old Morgan Cox is in his 17th NFL season and sixth year with the Titans. I’d forgotten the former Ravens long snapper was with Tennessee, but that’s just the nature of his position.
11. Though still limited in practices this week, Ronnie Stanley seems on track to make his return from a toe injury. Interior line concerns persist, but second-year tackle Carson Vinson did a good job in Week 3 and looks like a viable swing tackle with long-term upside. That’s encouraging news.
812. Considering nobody was certain that even Danny Pinter, Jovaughn Gwyn, or Ethan Pocic would do a satisfactory job at center, offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford has his hands full trying to figure out the interior picture. Eric DeCosta needs to be eyeing an impact addition before the trade deadline.
Prediction: Led by struggling second-year quarterback Cam Ward, the Titans are one of two teams — the other being Miami — who’ve yet to run an offensive play while leading in a game, according to Sharp Football. In other words, this is the week the Ravens defense better start looking like the formidable unit we expected to see under Jesse Minter, regardless of Hendrickson’s absence. Tennessee is better on the defensive side of the ball and led by one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles in Simmons, but the impact of a healthier Flowers in this offense should help ease the concerns along the offensive line. Running inside and pass protection will persist as challenges, but Baltimore should be able to find enough daylight on the perimeter and in the play-action passing game, especially as the afternoon progresses. Henry will go over the century mark against his old team, Jackson will pass for two touchdowns, and the defense will force two turnovers. The Ravens win 27-10 in a matchup that will never feel in doubt.
