Baltimore Ravens vs. Washington Redskins: 10 Keys to Game for Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are a team desperately looking for answers after an embarrassing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The pass defense, thought to be a solved issue, is once again under scrutiny, mainly thanks to a nonexistent pass rush.

On offense, Ravens' fans and reporters alike have to wonder whether Joe Flacco is really the guy to lead this team to a Super Bowl. He will be crucial against one of the league's worst pass defenses.

This is a trap game for the Ravens. They could be banking on their better record or perhaps on their record of success after losses.

The Redskins are a tough team, though. The Ravens absolutely need to come through in these 10 ways for the game to fall their way.

Get No. 27 Involved

The Ravens are not a winning football team when they don't run the ball effectively. A strong running game is the basis for everything they do on offense, as Joe Flacco can't carry the offense on his own. Getting Ray Rice involved is absolutely crucial for the Ravens to have any offensive success.

Though the Redskins are ranked fourth against the run, they do surrender an average 4.1 yards per carry, so there will be opportunities there.

As long as Rice gets enough carries, the Ravens' offense will be able to use their play-action passing game to torch the Redskins. 

Contain RGIII

A week after getting shredded by Charlie Batch, the Ravens have to be extremely concerned about containing Robert Griffin III.

The Ravens have historically struggled against mobile quarterbacks, as Michael Vick demonstrated earlier in the season. Vick consistently avoided the pass rush and made big throws to the tune of 371 yards.

RGIII is a better passer and has a better offensive line than Vick, so he should be able to shred this Ravens defense.

The Ravens are no longer talented enough to stop Griffin, but if they can just contain him and make him one-dimensional, they will have done enough to win.

Slow Down the Redskins' Running Game

He might not be the Redskins' most famous rookie, but Alfred Morris is just the kind of back that gives the Ravens' defense fits.

Morris is powerful and decisive and should run roughshod over the Ravens' shoddy tackling. Morris averages over three yards after contact, a number which could rise with Dannell Ellerbe sidelined.

The key to stopping Morris will be the defensive line. The Redskins' offensive line is extremely athletic and technically sound, but they aren't one of the more physical units in the league. The Ravens' defensive line is bigger: They have to play like it.

If that happens, the Ravens might be able to surprise some people by slowing down the Redskins' rushing attack.

Get an Efficient Game from Joe Flacco

Joe Flacco's stock is down after an abysmal performance against the Steelers, but he has a chance for a bounce-back performance against one of the worst pass defenses in the league.

Unfortunately, this game is on the road, virtually guaranteeing a poor performance from Flacco. That means Cam Cameron needs to take the game out of his hands.

The Ravens will still need to throw, though. If Flacco can avoid turnovers and be generally efficient, then the Ravens' offense should be just fine.

Convert on Third Down

The Ravens went 3-for-11 on third downs against the Steelers. That's not going to get it done in any game, let alone against an explosive offense like the Redskins'.

Dennis Pitta will be a key factor on 3rd-and-long conversions, so expect Flacco to look his way on a regular basis.

On 3rd-and-short, though, the Ravens still haven't figured out what to do. They struggled to pick up tough yards on the ground, and their passing game just isn't good enough to reliably pick up those conversions.

The Ravens need to overcome their issues on 3rd-and-short to beat the Redskins.

Shut Down Ryan Kerrigan

Kelechi Osemele is going to have his hands full dealing with Ryan Kerrigan, the Redskins' best pass-rusher. 

Kerrigan leads all 3-4 outside linebackers with 35 hurries, and his seven sacks lead the Redskins. He gets to the quarterback with sheer tenacity and technique.

Osemele will be one of the key players for the Ravens in this game. If he can handle Kerrigan, the Ravens' passing game will have a fighting chance, but if he surrenders regular pressure, the Ravens are going to struggle.

Play with Passion

Despite being 9-3, this Ravens' team has the look of a team that's just going through the motions. They aren't displaying the same passion and determination that has made them such a tough team in recent years.

To beat a tough team like the Redskins on the road, the Ravens need all their passion and more to win.

Whether their lack of passion is because of the missing Ray Lewis or just simple arrogance, they need to figure it out. This team is too talented to play the way they have been lately.

Win the Big Play Battle

The Washington Redskins have quickly become one of the premiere quick-strike offenses in the NFL. Making sure Santana Moss, Aldrick Robinson and Pierre Garcon don't get deep on the Ravens will be key in slowing down this offense.

On the flip side, the Ravens lack the ability to maintain drives on the road. A big gain or two from Torrey Smith or Jacoby Jones would be a huge help for the Ravens.

Whichever team makes the most big plays will win this game. The Ravens will be hard-pressed to win this battle, but it is perhaps the most important battle in the game.

Win the Turnover Battle

Turnovers are always a key factor for the Ravens. A Joe Flacco fumble might have been the deciding play against the Steelers, so the Ravens must be careful to not let that happen again.

Unfortunately, the Redskins just don't give the ball away. They are +11 in turnover differential, led mainly by RGIII's meager four interceptions.

A turnover or two might be enough to keep the Redskins' offense from completely dominating this game. That makes the turnover battle key.

Avoid Stupid Penalties

Paul Kruger has been a revelation this season as a pass rusher, especially recently, but his roughing-the-passer penalty was an example of how the Ravens' stupid penalties are killing this team.

The Ravens are extremely prone to personal foul calls, something they will need to avoid if they want to win this game. They simply can't afford to give the Redskins any free yards.