Ravens Game Notes (10/26/08)

WEEK 8 - BALTIMORE RAVENS (3-3) VS. OAKLAND RAIDERS (2-4)

The Baltimore Ravens (3-3) return home to M&T Bank Stadium to face the Oakland Raiders (2-4), in a battle of two reputably physical teams.

The Ravens, sometimes referred to as "the Raiders of the East," share more than toughness with their West Coast counterparts -- both teams' defensive coordinators are sons of defensive coaching legend, Buddy Ryan.

Baltimore's Ryan (Rex) is the architect of the NFL's 2nd-ranked defense, and is known for exotic blitzing schemes that have helped the Ravens rank in the top 10 in defense since taking the reins from Mike Nolan in 2005. Meanwhile, Oakland's Ryan (Rob) has found less success than his twin, having fielded a top 10 defense only once in his Raiders tenure (2005).

The last time this sibling rivalry unfolded on an NFL stage was a 28-6 Baltimore blowout of Oakland in Week 2 of the 2006 season.

The Ravens are looking to build upon their dominant performance in last week's 27-13 road victory over the Miami Dolphins, in the last home game they play for nearly a month. Conversely, the Raiders seek a road victory to prove that their 16-13 overtime win over the New York Jets was not a fluke.

MATCH-UPS

Ravens offense vs. Raiders defense: Ravens QB Joe Flacco has played mostly well in spite of the 25th-place ranking of Baltimore's passing offense. The continued development of the Delaware product is reflected in his completion ratings in each game, reaching a career-high of 73.9% in last week's road win over Miami. In that contest, Flacco tallied his second career passing TD on his way to a career-high 120.2 passer rating, after rebounding from three early sacks by the Dolphins and a near-interception in the endzone.

Against the Raiders' 22nd-ranked pass defense, Flacco will have opportunities to make plays, but will still be called upon to take care of the ball rather than take shots downfield. To balance this, Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will again utilize the three-headed monster of Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain, and Ray Rice on the ground, ranked 7th in the league. McGahee had his breakout game against Miami with his first 100-yard rushing effort (roughly 150 yards from scrimmage total), and could have another great performance against a Raiders rushing defense that ranks 24th in the league.

The Raiders defense will need to pressure Flacco early and often, but need to be wary of his strong arm. The Ravens offensive line is still in flux, but has largely done a good job of protecting the QB and opening holes for the running backs. If Flacco can get enough protection to make reads, he will exploit weaknesses in the defensive secondary that Rob Ryan has had difficulty shoring up in recent weeks. Though he is no Brett Favre, Flacco could have a career day at home if Ryan's scheme cannot contain him.

Raiders offense vs. Ravens defense: The Raiders' 23rd-ranked offense has been wholly inconsistent this season, largely due to their 27th-ranked passing offense. Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell has yet to prove his worth as the 1st-overall selection in the 2007 NFL Draft, and Oakland's receivers have been particularly invisible.

The Ravens' top-ranked rushing defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher for 25 consecutive games (the longest active streak in the NFL). However, the streak will be tested by Oakland's own three-headed monster in rookie phenom Darren McFadden, veteran Justin Fargas, and Michael Bush. The Raiders' 5th-ranked rushing offense has surprised many in the league, and Baltimore will have to be careful not to be too aggressive in trying to contain it.

Special teams: Oakland has an explosive young returner in Johnnie Lee Higgins that will prove to be a challenge for a Ravens coverage unit that has been inconsistent with speedier returners this season. Last week, the Ravens were able to shut down Miami's Ted Ginn, Jr., but not before giving up big yardage early. Baltimore will need to clamp down fast, or risk giving up a return for a TD that could be the deciding factor in the game.

Veteran kicker Matt Stover has finally rebounded from his slump, but will need another big day to prove that he has shaken the cobwebs from earlier this season. His Oakland counterpart, Sebastian Janikowski, was the heor in last week's win over the Jets, and will likely be prepared to do the same this week if the Ravens cannot capitalize on every opportunity. Punter Sam Koch had a career day last week, pinning the majority of his kicks within the 20-yard line, even when nearly blocked. Koch, however, will need to help the Ravens win the field position battle again if Baltimore expects to take pressure off their rookie QB.

RAVENS INJURY REPORT

Out:
Dawan Landry (SS) - Neck
Samari Rolle (CB) - Shoulder
Adam Terry (OT) - Knee

Doubtful:
Yamon Figurs (WR/KR) - Knee

Questionable:
Mark Clayton (WR) - Thigh
Derrick Mason (WR) - Illness
Chris McAlister (CB) - Knee
Ed Reed (FS) - Thigh
Demetrius Williams (WR) - Ankle

Probable:
Jared Gaither (OT) - Neck
Derrick Martin (CB) - Shoulder
Willis McGahee (RB) - Knee
Fabian Washington (CB) - Neck

Injured Reserve:
Kyle Boller (QB)
Prescott Burgess (LB)
P.J. Daniels (RB)
Dwan Edwards (DL)
Tavares Gooden (LB)
Kelly Gregg (DT)
Scott Kuhn (TE)
Quinn Sypniewski (TE)
Kelly Talavou (DT)
Marshal Yanda (OL)

UPCOMING RAVENS GAMES

The Ravens head back on the road for their return match against the Cleveland Browns, kicking off a string of three consecutive road games. This series is marked by the rescheduled road game from Week 2 against the Texans, followed by a tough match-up against the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants. The Ravens then return home to face the Philadelphia Eagles, before heading back on the road for another AFC North match-up with the Cincinnati Bengals.

In this upcoming stretch, the Ravens play four of their next five games on the road, and will not play another home game for nearly a month. Of these next five, two are against tough NFC East teams, while another two are against divisional opponents.