Bold Predictions for Baltimore Ravens' Week 12 Matchup

Coming off their bye week, the Baltimore Ravens should be rested and ready to make one final push for the playoffs. Sitting at 6-4, Baltimore is just one game out of first place in the AFC North. It's also right behind the 7-4 Pittsburgh Steelers for the No. 6 and final playoff seed in the AFC. 

Needless to say, every game going forward is going to be critical to Baltimore's postseason hopes. It all starts in Week 12 on Monday Night Football when the Ravens travel to New Orleans to face the 4-6 Saints. 

While Baltimore is right in the thick of the playoff hunt, so too are the Saints, who are tied with the 4-6 Atlanta Falcons for first place in the NFC South. 

This is shaping up to be a game that could go a long way in determining which of these teams makes it to the playoffs, and which is left sitting at home for the postseason. 

Here are three things I believe will happen in this game that few people are expecting.

Ravens Hold Saints to Under 70 Yards Rushing

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The Saints have arguably the NFL's most balanced offense, and running back Mark Ingram has helped carry the ground game. 

Over the past four games, Ingram has rushed for 459 rushing yards and three scores to help New Orleans rank eighth in rushing offense. 

As a team, the Saints have failed to rush for at least 100 yards just twice this year, but the Ravens are one of the best when it comes to stopping the run.

Baltimore currently ranks No. 5 in run defense while allowing just 84.5 rushing yards per contest. Its defense rarely allows opponents to be effective on the ground, and that will continue in this game.

The Ravens will hold the Saints to under 70 yards rushing, which no team has managed to do this year. Baltimore held each of its last two opponents to under 70 yards rushing. 

The Ravens will make it a third straight game when they shut down the Saints' ground game this week.

Drew Brees Throws 2 Interceptions

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Saints quarterback Drew Brees is often regarded as one of the elite players at his position—and for good reason. Brees has thrown for at least 5,000 yards and 39 touchdowns in three straight seasons.

He's also done well at not turning the ball over, and he's thrown two or more interceptions just twice this year. One of those games was a road contest against the Cleveland Browns.

Needless to say, Brees rarely throws two picks when he's playing at home, and the Ravens' pass defense has struggled to get interceptions this year.

In fact, the Ravens have only six in 10 games this year, but I believe they will grab two against Brees. The Ravens' front seven has been terrorizing opponents this year, and I believe they'll shut down the Saints' run game (see previous slide) and force Brees to attempt 45-50 passes.

Baltimore's pass rush (25 sacks this year) forces Brees into several bad passes, and two of them will be intercepted by Ravens defenders.

Joe Flacco Throws 3 Touchdowns

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The Ravens offense struggled mightily in 2013 while going 8-8, and Joe Flacco was one of the primary culprits. Flacco threw just 19 touchdowns versus 22 interceptions. 

This year, he's already thrown 17 scores in just 10 games, and I believe he'll surpass last year's final total this week. 

New Orleans' defense has struggled in its past two games, allowing four passing touchdowns and 430 yards passing while not intercepting a pass. On the other side, Flacco has thrown for three or more touchdowns just twice this year, but he makes it three times when he throws for three this week. 

The Saints defense is banged up after safety Rafael Bush was lost for the year after breaking his fibula, and cornerback Keenan Lewis is battling a knee injury that is limiting his playing time. 

Flacco will have a big game in prime time as he slices and dices the Saints defense, and he finishes the game with three passing scores.