
Falcons vs. Ravens: Full Game Preview for Baltimore
The Baltimore Ravens are riding high and looking to win their fifth win of the year when they host the Atlanta Falcons in Week 7. Coming off a 48-17 demolition of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Baltimore is looking significantly better than last year's 8-8 team did.
Baltimore finished 29th in total offense in 2013 but rank seventh through six games this season. If the Ravens can keep up that pace, they'll easily surpass last year's eight wins and may even get back to the postseason.
As for the Falcons, they've fallen on hard times since going to the NFC Championship Game in the 2012 season. Since that game, they have gone 6-16, including this year's 2-4 start.
They'll drop to 2-5 Sunday if they lose to Baltimore, which will make it very challenging for Atlanta to even finish with a winning record, let alone get back to the playoffs.
Here is my preview of the game.
Week 6 Recap
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The Ravens hammered the Buccaneers in a Week 6 game that was over almost as soon as it started. Coming off a loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5, the Ravens looked like a team determined to bounce back and earn the victory.
The Buccaneers didn't look determined to do much other than help Joe Flacco have a career day. He got started with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Torrey Smith on Baltimore's first offensive drive, and from there, the rout was on.
On Tampa's first offensive possession, cornerback Jimmy Smith intercepted Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon.
Flacco would make Tampa pay for the turnover by hitting Torrey again for the score. Flacco would slice and dice the Bucs secondary, throwing touchdowns to four different receivers, including Torrey, Steve Smith, Michael Campanaro and Kamar Aiken.
Nine seconds into the second quarter, Baltimore held a 35-0 lead, and the team cruised to a 48-17 win to improve to 4-2. Flacco had arguably the greatest game of his seven-year NFL career, throwing for a career-high five touchdowns while not committing a single turnover.
News and Notes
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Timmy Jernigan Returns to Practice
The Ravens got good news on Wednesday with the return of defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan. Drafted in the second round of this year's NFL draft, he was expected to be a key contributor along Baltimore's defensive line this year.
However, a knee injury forced Jernigan to undergo arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage. That occurred in Week 3, and he has missed the past four games since then.
Jernigan was back on the field Wednesday for the team's first practice in preparation for the Falcons. Needless to say, the rookie was happy to be back while looking forward to playing Sunday versus Atlanta. He said, via The Baltimore Sun:
"It was rough. At the same time, the coaches did a great job of keeping me around everybody and keeping my spirit up...It felt good to get back out there and be back around the guys and get my feet wet. It's a matter of keeping on progressing and hopefully getting back on the field as soon as possible.
"
Though he likely won't earn a starting job anytime soon, Jernigan is a key backup who will get plenty of snaps coming off the bench. With defensive end Chris Canty dealing with a wrist issue, that could lead to even more playing time for Jernigan this week versus Atlanta.
Dean Pees Thinks Will Hill Is "Real Deal"
The Ravens secondary got a nice boost with the addition of safety Will Hill to the active roster. Hill, a former starting safety for the New York Giants, was signed this offseason after he was cut following a suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.
Hill could be exactly what Baltimore needed for its 27th-ranked pass defense. Defensive coordinator Dean Pees sounds like he's expecting Hill to help his defense, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. "Obviously, we expect him to be a very, very good player back there. I think he's very smart. He's really kept up on everything. It was great to see him back, and I think he's done a good job here in the few days that we've been back practicing.
"It'll be interesting to see how he progresses. But we think he's the real deal."
In 24 career games, Hill has registered 115 tackles, four forced fumbles and two interceptions.
Injury Report
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Name | Position | Injury |
|---|---|---|
Aiken, Kamar | WR | Concussion |
Bilukidi, Christo | DE | Ankle |
Brown, Marlon | WR | Pelvis |
Canty, Chris | DL | Wrist |
Daniels, Owen | TE | NIR |
Jernigan, Timmy | DT | Knee |
Monroe, Eugene | T | Knee |
Osemele, Kelechi | G/T | Knee |
Smith, Daryl | LB | Not Injury Related |
The Ravens got great news Thursday with the return of starting offensive tackle Eugene Monroe, who protects Joe Flacco's blind side. He's been out since a minor surgical procedure was performed on his knee in Week 4.
That led to rookie undrafted free agent James Hurst starting in his place for the past three games. Monroe would be a huge addition if he's able to play Sunday against Atlanta.
Another starting offensive lineman returned to practice this week after guard Kelechi Osemele came back in a limited fashion. Osemele missed Week 6 versus Tampa Bay after injuring his knee the previous week.
Starting defensive lineman Chris Canty continues to recover from wrist surgery. After he did not practice Wednesday or Thursday, it's hard to see him playing versus the Falcons.
Injury report via BaltimoreRavens.com.
Matchups to Watch
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CB Jimmy Smith vs. WR Julio Jones
The Ravens secondary has suffered injuries to starting cornerbacks Asa Jackson and Lardarius Webb over the course of this season. That's helped Jimmy Smith ascend into the role of the No. 1 cornerback.
He's typically been tasked with covering the opposition's best receiver. If that holds true this week, Smith will be covering Falcons receiver Julio Jones.
Through six games, Jones has caught 44 passes for 620 yards (14.1 YPC) and three touchdowns. That's an average of 7.3 catches for 103.3 yards per game.
According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Smith has allowed just 18 pass completions for 135 yards this season. Atlanta relies heavily on Jones to keep its offense operating effectively.
If Smith can contain Jones, Baltimore will control the Falcons offense.
OLBs Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil vs. OTs Gabe Carimi and Jake Matthews
The Falcons offensive line has been horrendous this season, particularly at offensive tackle. This is where Baltimore can win the game.
The Ravens boast a pair of top-notch pass-rushers in Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil who can take advantage of Atlanta's starting offensive tackles in Gabe Carimi and Jake Matthews.
Carimi, a journeyman who was signed this offseason to be a backup, has been thrust into a starting role after injuries to Sam Baker and Lamar Holmes. According to Pro Football Focus, Carimi has allowed three sacks and eight QB hurries.
As for Matthews, the sixth overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft, he's had a rough rookie season. The former Texas A&M All-American has allowed two sacks and 13 quarterback hurries in just five games.
Suggs and Dumervil can wreak havoc in Atlanta's backfield if they're able to consistently get one-on-one matchups with Carimi and Matthews. Those two have combined for nine sacks and 18 QB hurries through six games this season.
The Ravens outside linebackers versus the Falcons offensive tackles is arguably the biggest mismatch of this game. If Suggs and Dumervil play well Sunday, Baltimore should shut down the Falcons offense.
Prediction
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The Ravens look like a team on a mission, and they aren't about to lose at home to a Falcons team that hasn't won on the road this season.
Joe Flacco had a career day against the Buccaneers last week, and he's in for another big game against Atlanta's 30th-ranked pass defense.
Ravens running backs will also perform big against the Falcons' 30th-ranked run defense. Atlanta will get several scores against Baltimore's defense, but it won't have any answers for the Ravens' surging offense.
That's why I'm going with a Ravens win.
Prediction: Ravens run over Falcons, 30-16



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