Ravens’ Victory Blueprint: Key Factors to Conquer the Commanders in Week Six Showdown
After losing their opening two games of the season, the Ravens found their groove and have won three straight games against the Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals to go above .500 for the first time this season at 3-2. Coming off a thrilling road overtime victory against the Bengals last week, the Ravens have another exciting home game in the Battle of the Beltways coming up this Sunday afternoon when the Washington Commanders, headed by rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, visit M&T Bank Stadium. Going into this season, the Commanders were hoping to avoid an eighth straight season with a .500 record or worse. Having led his team to an impressive 4-1 start to the season and being in first place in the NFC East division, Daniels has shown why the Commanders selected him with the second overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Having said that, let's examine some of the most important factors that Baltimore needs to overcome in order to defeat the red-hot Commanders this week and capture their fourth straight win.
Contain Jayden Daniels
The ability of the defense to limit Daniels as best they can will undoubtedly play a major role in determining whether or not the Ravens win on Sunday. However, if they can cause problems with the rookie quarterback's vision and poise in the pocket when throwing, they may be able to limit the Commanders' passing attack, which includes star receiver Terry McLaurin. The Ravens' defense has experience facing exceptional rookie quarterbacks. In their season-opening game against the Houston Texans last season, which featured quarterback C.J. Stroud, the Ravens' defense allowed just nine points and no touchdowns while Stroud was sacked five times. The Ravens' defense has a reputation for devising blitzes and clever tactics that are challenging for the opposition to read and has proven effective in games against rookie quarterbacks. As the Ravens attempt to limit Daniels' ability to make plays on Sunday, it won't be shocking to see that trend continue.
Expose Commanders’ Secondary
With star quarterback Lamar Jackson tossing for four touchdowns and the offense scoring five touchdowns overall against the Bengals, the Ravens' offense is arguably coming off of its most consistent and impressive outing of the season. The Ravens' offense should focus on taking advantage of the Commanders' secondary, which has struggled despite the team's strong start to the season, going into this week's game against them. The Commanders' defense has allowed the highest number of wide receiver touchdowns, at 10, during the first five weeks of the season and has also failed to haul in an interception. If this trend keeps up, it will be good news for Rashod Bateman, who added four receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals, and Zay Flowers, the second-year receiver for the Ravens, who had his finest game of the season with seven catches for 111 receiving yards.
Set up the Running Game
Predominantly led by NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry, who has settled into his new team over the last three games, rushing for a total of 442 yards with versatile running back Justice Hill also having an impact, the Ravens must continue to make opponents pay on the ground if they hope to maintain their positive momentum this week. Heading into this week's game, the Ravens' offense will face the Commanders' rush defense, which is ranked 22nd in the NFL and allows 130 yards on the ground per game. In addition to controlling the time and preventing the Commanders' offense from getting on the field, the Ravens will be in a terrific position to create possible play-action opportunities if they can maintain their dominance in the run game. With that said, this Sunday's Ravens vs. Commanders Week Six matchup pits two of the league's hottest teams against one another, making it a riveting show for both fans and sports analysts alike.
