How will the Minnesota Vikings respond after a numbing defeat to Cooper Rush and the Dallas Cowboys in primetime? The opponent certainly won’t be any easier as Kirk Cousins and Co. head east to take on Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9.
Baltimore is coming off a bye week. But before that, they were thrashed by the Cincinnati Bengals at home, 41-17. The Ravens will be on high alert after that dose of reality.
Minnesota will look to rebound after an embarrassing loss on Sunday Night Football. A win would get them back to .500 on the season. Here are four things the Ravens do well that the Vikings have to watch out for.
Running the football
The running game has been a staple of the Ravens’ offense ever since Lamar Jackson took over as the full-time starter in 2019.
What’s most impressive about Baltimore’s attack this year is that they lost their top-three running backs all to season-ending injuries before the regular season even began. Gone are J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill. In come the replacements: Ty’Son Williams, Devonta Freeman, Latavius Murray, and Le’Veon Bell, who have been more than suitable. It’s certainly not a young group, but they’ve all chipped in and been productive. Having Jackson helps.
Jackson is tied with Alvin Kamara for 10th in the NFL in rushing yards at 480. The staggering number lies within the attempts. Lamar has gobbled up his 480 rushing yards on only 76 attempts. For Kamara, it’s taken 133 looks. Jackson has by far the least amount of rushing attempts of anyone in the top 10.
Baltimore can be deceptive with its ground attack. Even though you know it’s coming — and the Vikings know it’s coming — it can be a freight train from hell.
Big-play ability
While the running game gets its flowers for Baltimore, and rightfully so, Jackson continues to peel back layers of the onion in his passing capabilities. This year, there’s been significant improvement in the big-play hits.
The Ravens are seventh in the league in pass plays that amount to 25 yards or more. They’ve piled up 19 of those bad boys on the season. One big reason why: Marquise “Hollywood” Brown.
Questions remained about whether or not Brown could be a true No. 1 wide receiver in an offense, and he has answered with aplomb halfway through the season. He’s struggled with drops at times, but he continually gets open deep down the field, and Jackson has hit him time and again this year.
Neutralizing the run game should be the top priority for the Vikings’ defense. But don’t be surprised when Lamar uncorks a couple to Hollywood Brown right when they creep the safeties up.
Run defense
One of the more fascinating matchups to watch on Sunday is Dalvin Cook, and his shifty running style against a stout Baltimore run defense.
The Ravens have long been known for having disciplined defenses that get in your face. They’ve given up more points than usual this year, but they have still been stubborn as ever against the run. Baltimore ranks fourth in the NFL in rushing yards allowed per game (86.1). Meanwhile, Cook is third in the NFL in yards rushing per game, setting up a fascinating clash.
Running the ball successfully will be of the utmost importance for the Vikings to get comfortable and find a rhythm. Thankfully for them, they have one of the best backs in the business. Cook was somewhat quiet against the Cowboys in Week 8. You best believe he’ll be out to put a stamp on this game against one of the league’s best teams against the run.
Blitzing
Baltimore isn’t quite to the psychopathic levels of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers when it comes to blitzing on defense, but they’re close enough. The Ravens blitz 32.5 percent of the time, good for fifth in the NFL. Even if the blitz is proving to be ineffective, they’ll likely continue to dial it up.
Cousins has fared well in the last couple of seasons when facing a blitz. However, he hasn’t often seen a relentless approach like Baltimore will present. The Ravens play an opportunistic style on that side of the ball. They will force Cousins’ hand early while trying to take away Cook.
This game could come down to how well Minnesota reacts to some of those exotic looks from the Ravens when they bring the heat. If the Vikings have the remedy, it could be a good day for the offense.
