Broncos (5-3) at Ravens (5-3)
When: Sunday, 11 a.m. MT
Where: M&T Bank Stadium
Radio/TV: 850 AM, 94.1 FM/CBS
Line: Ravens -8.5
Broncos-Ravens series: Denver is 6-8 in 14 regular-season games dating back to 1996; the Broncos lost 10-9 in the last meeting, on Dec. 4, 2022, in Baltimore, and have lost three in a row against the Ravens.
In the spotlight: Vulnerable Ravens pass defense presents opportunity for Broncos
Browns quarterback Jameis Winston might not have won AFC Offensive Player of the Week if Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton didn’t let a game-sealing interception slip through his fingertips. Or if safety Eddie Jackson didn’t allow wide receiver Cedric Tillman to slip behind him for the game-winning touchdown catch last week.
The Ravens’ 29-24 loss to Cleveland, a 2-6 team, exposed Baltimore’s many flaws as a pass defense under first-year coordinator Zach Orr. Baltimore has allowed a league-high 291.4 passing yards a game and is tied with Jacksonville for the most passing touchdowns allowed (17).
When the Broncos travel to Baltimore on Sunday, the odds are not in their favor. They are 8.5-point underdogs in what head coach Sean Payton called their “toughest matchup to date.” But if Denver wants to pull off an upset, taking advantage of the Ravens’ pass defense could be the way to go.
“I’m excited for the challenge because these are the types of games that you go through, you play and they’re extremely (difficult),” Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix said. “They’re hard at the moment, but when you get out of them, you grow a lot as a player.”
The Ravens defense went through a major change in the offseason. Former defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald became the head coach for the Seahawks, and Orr, who was previously the inside linebackers coach and played three seasons in Baltimore, slid into his role.
Orr inherited talented returners such as All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, inside linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive end Nnamdi Madubuike, who had 13 sacks in 2023. The Ravens also drafted Clemson standout cornerback Nate Wiggins to help strengthen the secondary.
But the Ravens’ talent hasn’t translated to consistent success.
After Baltimore gave up the fewest yards per pass (4.7) in 2023, the defense has allowed 7 yards per pass this fall — sixth-most in the league. The Ravens have struggled to defend the intermediate passing game (downfield throws between 10-19 yards). They have allowed 102.1 yards on those pass attempts, while giving up seven touchdowns on passes for 20-plus yards, according to Next Gen Stats.
Ravens safety Marcus Williams hasn’t met expectations and was benched in Week 8. He has given up 10 catches for 211 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 149.3. Smith hasn’t been good in coverage, either, at linebacker. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 24 of 35 attempts for 324 yards, two touchdowns and an interception with Smith as the nearest defender in coverage.
Orr told reporters that coverage and pass rush go hand-in-hand. It hasn’t been the perfect marriage this season.
Despite the Ravens being tied for fifth in sacks (24), they have struggled …read more
Source:: The Denver Post – Sports
