Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports
After wins over the 49ers, Patriots, and Seahawks, the Ravens look unstoppable. They will look to keep their momentum going on Sunday against Josh Allen and the 9-3 Bills. Here are 5 keys to the game.
Contain John Brown
Former Ravens wide receiver John Brown is having a great season for the Bills. He is on pace for career-highs in receptions and yards and has become an integral part of their offense. In fact, Brown is responsible for 39.99% of his team's air yards, which is 4th in the NFL.
Keeping up with the Ravens offensively will be a challenge for the Bills, and Brown is clearly their biggest weapon. Preventing him from having a big game would certainly help the Ravens chances of coming out with the victory. Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters are definitely up to the task.
Stop the run
Like the 49ers, the Bills are a team that thrives when they run the football. The Bills are 5th in the NFL in rushing yards per game with 137.9 ypg. Rookie Devin Singletary is leading their backfield; he is currently 3rd among running backs in yards per carry. Reliable veteran Frank Gore also gets carries behind Singletary.
Let's take a look at the last game that the Bills lost, which came against the Browns. The Browns held the Bills to 84 rushing yards, and Singletary led the way with only 42 yards.
If the Ravens can slow down the running game, they will be in good shape to win.
Get an early lead
The Bills have been fortunate on offense to be able to focus on the run game due to the strong play of their defense. They have not allowed an opponent to score over 20 points in the last 5 games. After facing the Redskins, Browns, Dolphins, Broncos, and Cowboys, Buffalo's defense will face a much larger test with the Ravens top scoring offense.
If Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense can get out to an early lead, it will force Josh Allen to throw the football to keep up. That's exactly what the Ravens want to happen.
Prepare for the wind
Sunday's forecast includes wind gusts of up to 35 miles per hour. The Ravens had to prepare for weather last week due to heavy rain against the 49ers. The wind will definitely impact the passing game, so the Ravens should be prepared. Continuing to run the football early would be smart. Which brings me to my next point:
Continue to trust the running game
This honestly could be a key every single week, but this week's weather conditions make it even more prominent. Here are some stats to illustrate how great the Ravens have been running the football:
-The Ravens lead the league in rushing yards with 2,494 total yards (718 more than the 2nd place team)
-Lamar Jackson leads the league in yards per carry
-Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards are 5th and 6th among running backs in yards per carry
The Ravens have not veered away from the running game, and it has been key to their success. Look for them to continue to stick to the blueprint on Sunday.
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