What are the keys to a Denver Broncos victory over the Baltimore Ravens?
The Denver Broncos host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4, and most of the time, it would feel like it was an automatic “L” on the schedule. With the Broncos 3-0 to start the season, it certainly feels possible to turn that L into a W for “win”.
The Ravens are 2-1, coming off of two consecutive wins—against the Chiefs and Lions. Both of those games came down to the wire.
It is a little concerning that the Ravens were able to keep the Chiefs game close. How will that hold up against the Broncos this week?
My prediction: it will either be a close game with the Broncos on top or a not-so-close game with the Broncos being handed their first loss of the season.
So what exactly would it take for the Denver Broncos to come away with a victory?
1. Denver Broncos must contain the Baltimore Ravens run game
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is a dangerous quarterback. Not only is he a very good passer, but he also poses the threat of being able to take off with his legs when opportunities strike. Through three games, Jackson has rushed 35 times for 251 yards and two touchdowns.
Those two touchdowns came against the Kansas City Chiefs.
While his completion percentage of 60.9 percent ranks 28th in the league through three games, it’s not something to dismiss. The worst thing you can do is overlook an opponent.
The Ravens lost their top-2 running backs in J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards to season-ending injuries which on paper is a huge victory for the Broncos. However, speaking over overlooking something, the team cannot ignore second-year running back Ty’Son Williams as well as Latavius Murray and Devonta Freeman.
Through three weeks, the Broncos have allowed 178 rushing yards on the ground. The most the team has given up in a single game this year was against the Jacksonville Jaguars with 75.
The Broncos will need to have a QB Spy drawn up, with somebody such as Justin Strnad as the spy.
If the Broncos can stop Baltimore’s run game, I am confident that their secondary can live up to expectations and do enough to not let the Ravens passing game get going.
Even without Ronald Darby at one of the starting cornerback positions.
2. Unleash Courtland Sutton
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton technically did get unleashed against the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that doesn’t mean we can’t say it again. Sutton went off for nine catches and 159 yards in just his second regular season game back from last year’s torn ACL.
The Chiefs scored three passing touchdowns against the Ravens of over 30 yards. That needs to be copied by the Denver Broncos this week.
Jerry Jeudy (ankle – short-term IR) and K.J. Hamler (ACL – out for the year) will miss this game, so it will be up to Sutton and Tim Patrick to provide big plays through the air.
After Sutton and Patrick, who are the team’s receivers? They are guys who have not done a whole lot in the league yet. Diontae Spencer is primarily a return man. He offers pretty much nothing on offense. Kendall Hinton also has not done a whole lot except play quarterback for the team in one game.
The Broncos signed former Seahawks wide receiver David Moore the other day, but who knows what the plan is for him?
Sutton has shown that he is back from his injury. After he made several nice catches this season, my worries of a slow return have disappeared. There are zero doubts in my mind that he is going to be the best wide receiver on the field on Sunday.
3. Avoid the dumb mistakes
The Baltimore Ravens are not a team that you can afford to make dumb mistakes against. They’ll eat you alive if given the chance.
One of the mistakes that very well may happen against Baltimore is later hit out of bounds. With Lamar Jackson as a duel-threat, this game is going to be intense and players could lose their focus and accidentally tackle him while out of bounds.
I don’t expect that to happen a lot, but it is certainly a possibility.
Both guard Dalton Risner and special teams player Mike Ford were penalized for taunting against the New York Jets. While it didn’t matter at the end of the day with the Broncos blowing the Jets out, it would matter a lot more against a tough team such as the Ravens.
The team cannot afford to lose their focus. If they end up trailing the Ravens, tempers could flare. With the game being in Denver, however, that may not even be an issue.
I’m not saying that the Broncos cannot afford any penalties. It will matter when the team has them—not if.
Denver Broncos steal from the Raiders to replace KJ Hamler
The Denver Broncos lost KJ Hamler to a season-ending ACL injury. To replace him, they stole David Moore from their division rival Las Vegas Raiders.
If it is mostly a penalty-free game, however, the Broncos may have a pretty good chance at defeating the Baltimore Ravens.