BOLD PREDICTIONS: A Battle of MVP Candidates in Buffalo

Ravens at Payments: Divisional Playoff Sport

In 2024, Baltimore’s No. 1 offense (424.9 YPG) grew to become the primary unit in NFL historical past to submit a minimum of 4,000 passing yards and three,000 speeding yards in a single season. … The Ravens’ franchise-record 7,224 complete yards stand because the third most in NFL single-season historical past, trailing solely the 2011 Saints (7,474) and 2013 Broncos (7,317). … Baltimore (41 & 21) additionally grew to become the primary staff in NFL single season historical past to attain 40+ passing TDs & 20+ speeding TDs.

The Ravens ranked No. 1 vs. the run (80.1 YPG allowed) and No. 2 in sacks (54), behind profession highs from OLB Kyle Van Noy (12.5) and OLB Odafe Oweh (10). … CB Marlon Humphrey produced an AFC-best 6 INTs (tied for third within the league general). From Weeks 11-18 (final seven video games), the Ravens allowed NFL lows in complete yards per recreation (261.7), web passing yards per recreation (171.6), yards per play (4.4) and factors per recreation (15.4).

• BETTING LINE: Ravens favored by 1 ½ factors; over/beneath at 51 ½ factors• GAME TIME: 6:30 PM, Sunday, January 19, 2025• FORECAST at KICKOFF: 17 levels; winds WNW 4 MPH; 5% probability of sunshine snow with growing potentialities as the sport progresses.• ON THE CALL: Jim Nantz (PBP); Tony Romo (analyst); Tracey Wolfson (sideline)• OFFICIATING CREW: Carl Cheffers

So how will it play out on Sunday? Listed below are your Ravens vs. Payments predictions, c/o RSR.

Tony Lombardi

This Ravens staff simply feels a bit totally different. The adversity that they’ve been by in 2024 makes them a bit extra battle examined even going again to the heartbreaking loss within the AFC Championship Sport again in January of 2024. They’re grittier and extra decided than 2023’s squad. Their insatiable thirst for redemption retains them grounded – it retains them targeted one play at a time. And their two greatest stars, Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry are ambassadors for the staff’s resolve. It issues.

• Lamar Jackson will probably be busy on the bottom once more. He’ll take off 10 instances for 80 yards and a landing. By air Lamar will throw for 185 yards, finishing 14 of 19 for 2 TDs. One rating will belong to Mark Andrews and one other to Rashod Bateman.,

• The locomotive will proceed to roll. Derrick Henry will carry it 24 instances for 160 yards and a landing.

• On protection, the Ravens will take down Josh Allen thrice with Madubuike, Oweh and Van Noy getting in on the motion. Oweh’s will probably be an important strip sack.

• Allen will throw for 260 yards and a pair of scores, however the Ravens will deny the Payments twice within the pink zone, forcing a few discipline targets. The scoring tosses go to Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman. Nevertheless it received’t be sufficient.

Thanks partially to successful the turnover battle 2 to 1, the Ravens transfer on to the following cease of their redemption tour – KAN-SAH-CITY!

Ravens 31 Payments 20

Nick Polinsky

What higher matchup may a fan ask for? The 2 main MVP candidates will conflict this Sunday with every part on the road.

Each groups are a lot totally different than they had been in Week 4 when these groups confronted off in Baltimore. The Ravens had Marcus Williams taking part in over 90% of snaps at free security and the robust security was a real committee with guys like Eddie Jackson. Since then the protection has discovered stability and from Week 11 on have been one of many high items within the league.

Buffalo however was lacking three key defensive items. Taron Johnson, who picked off Lamar Jackson again within the 2020 divisional recreation for a landing, and their two linebackers Terrel Bernard and extra notably, Matt Milano.

Although a lot has modified since their first bout in September, in my eyes Baltimore nonetheless has a transparent benefit on this one. Derrick Henry is close to inconceivable to include come the postseason and every part appears to be clicking on the excellent time for Baltimore.

Derrick Henry runs for over 125 yards on 6.0+ YPC
Josh Allen will probably be intercepted for simply the second time since Week 13
I anticipate Zay Flowers to sit down out as soon as once more on this one. Isaiah Possible, Rashod Bateman and Mark Andrews will all file a minimum of 30 yards.
Baltimore is as soon as once more in a position to dominate the time of possession battle.

Ravens 31 Payments 20

Kevin McNelis

Final week’s playoff opener for the Ravens was about pretty much as good a begin as you would’ve requested for, particularly within the first half. They dismantled the Steelers, working throughout them. In the meantime, the Payments began their recreation slowly towards the Broncos, however rattled off 31 unanswered to knock off Denver. Now the 2 groups are set to collide within the brutal Buffalo chilly, the place somebody’s coronary heart will probably be damaged.

— Normally, you’ll profit from blocking early common season conferences out of your thoughts when the groups rematch within the playoffs. On this case, although, I really feel prefer it could possibly be indicative of issues to come back, largely as a result of we all know the Ravens need to pound the ball on the bottom. Derrick Henry notched near 200 yards within the first assembly, and I feel you’ll see the Ravens give #22 loads of motion. He goes for 100+ and a landing.

— With the defensive emphasis on Henry, although, the secondary and linebackers must play down towards the field, and whereas the Payments have some premiere protection stats by way of stopping separation, the presence of those Ravens tight ends goes to be too many weapons to go a hat for a hat. Isaiah Possible leads the Ravens in receptions on this recreation.

— One of many best weapons that the Payments have is Josh Allen’s capacity to maintain a play alive lengthy sufficient for the deep ball to develop. At one level or one other, he’ll escape strain lengthy sufficient to select on Brandon Stephens for a TD catch going 40+ yards. That stated, he’ll search for a deep ball once more, and Kyle Hamilton baits him into considering the throw is open simply lengthy sufficient to recover from for a decide in an important scenario.

This recreation goes to be shut. It’s going to be a hard-fought contest, however I really feel just like the Ravens prevail so long as they follow their weapons. Coaches… PLEASE maintain the run going.

Ravens 20 Payments 17

Derek Arnold

I keep in mind an AFC North staff headed to Buffalo for a snow recreation within the divisional spherical, don’t you? There was no WAY Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals had been going to win up there in these components towards Josh Allen’s Payments, proper? In that matchup two years in the past, Cincy out-rushed the Payments 172-64 and received TOP by almost 8 minutes in a 27-10 drubbing.

I see no motive why related received’t occur this time round. Buffalo’s protection is improved, however they need to play base nickel – can they comfortably morph into the kind of penetrating a number of entrance that provides the Ravens working recreation issues at instances? That’s a tall process on per week’s discover. Buffalo will get essentially the most run stuffs for little to no achieve within the NFL, whereas additionally permitting essentially the most explosive runs. Really feast or famine. Possibly they’ll come out and utterly change their Zubaz stripes, but it surely’s way more doubtless that if they fight to take action, somebody will get out of place. Which is all it takes to be staring in the back of 22 or 8 as they gallop to paydirt.

So long as Baltimore sticks with King Henry, Lamar, and a few Justice Hill, good issues will occur.

Ravens 27 Payments 17

Chris Schisler

In the event you’ve been following me this yr, you realize it takes so much for me to select towards the Ravens. The Ravens have the most effective participant on the planet in Lamar Jackson. They’ve an elite run recreation and the protection has roughly woken up from no matter that early season nightmare was. Typically, I consider that the one staff that actually ever beats the Ravens (on this iteration) is the Ravens. As a result of I consider Lamar Jackson is the MVP, give me the Ravens.

I feel this will probably be a more durable recreation than it was the final time. The Ravens blew the doorways off the Payments in Week 4, however in Buffalo within the playoffs, it’s a a lot totally different story. I feel this will probably be an awesome recreation and I feel Josh Allen is a good quarterback.

I might really feel extra assured if Zay Flowers was wholesome and able to go. The stakes and the latest postseason historical past make this recreation a bit nervous. It’s objectively a coin toss. I’m sticking with the concept the one factor that beats the Baltimore Ravens is the Baltimore Ravens and due to that they’ve each alternative to win this recreation.

Ravens 34 Payments 27

Tanner George

The NFL received the matchup it needed.

The league’s two main MVP candidates will sq. off as soon as extra within the 2024 season, this time in Orchard Park. Certain, the Ravens received the primary one by way of a 35-10 rout on Sunday Night time Soccer, however Payments will definitely have one thing to say concerning the lead to Week 4.

Buffalo was lacking a number of key items in that preliminary matchup, notably on protection, and so they added a stable broad receiver in Amari Cooper by a midseason commerce with Cleveland. Coming off of a powerful 31-7 thrashing of the Denver Broncos within the Wild Card spherical, Josh Allen has his guys rolling.

However I’m nonetheless taking Baltimore.

My reasoning right here is straightforward. This recreation will probably be frigid, and colder temperatures favor the run recreation. The Payments have a run protection that completed the common season within the backside half of the NFL in yards-per-carry, giving up a median of 4.5 a pop. That’s largely as a consequence of a smaller defensive position and coordinator in Bobby Babich that likes to run nickel packages. The Ravens, however, have the league’s greatest speeding protection in addition to the #1 speeding offense. And I can’t think about attempting to deal with Derrick Henry in freezing temperatures is a pleasing expertise. Benefit: Baltimore.

The Payments made loads of enhancements because the season progressed, however so did the Ravens. All credit score to Zach Orr for taking what was the league’s worst go protection and turning it into one of many NFL’s greatest. And, over the previous month or so, Todd Monken has seemingly remembered the three phrases that may carry his staff to a championship: run the ball. Lamar Jackson has been cool in high-stakes video games, and he at present holds the NFL’s greatest passer ranking in video games with freezing temperatures.

If the Ravens play their recreation and don’t kill themselves with silly errors, they are going to win this recreation, although will probably be shut. Within the MVP debate, a lot has been product of Josh Allen having zero All Professional teammates. Properly, on the finish of the day, it is a staff recreation, and I absolutely anticipate the higher staff will come out on high.

Some fast hits…

Lamar Jackson throws for simply 170 yards however provides 60+ on the bottom and has a pair of TD passes.
Derrick Henry rumbles for over 150 yards and a rating, together with a 40-yarder within the third quarter.
Mark Andrews and Isaiah Possible are steadily concerned as Monken opts to go play motion in some heavy appears to be like. Andrews will probably be on the receiving finish of a Jackson landing throw.
Kyle Van Noy and Nmadi Madubuike get constant strain all evening, with every recording a sack
Brandon Stephens is focused so much, and provides up a irritating 30+ yard landing.
Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey are stable in protection, with every of them recording a PBU.
Josh Allen outplays Lamar on the statsheet however nonetheless has an up-and-down evening, tossing two landing passes and speeding for an additional, though he’ll throw an ill-advised ball into the arms of Kyle Hamilton.

I feel Allen will attempt to put the staff on his again and be Superman for the Payments (maybe fueled by the flip in MVP odds), however that model of play doesn’t all the time fly within the postseason.

Ravens 27 Payments 24

Rob Shields

The Ravens head into this recreation because the Vegas favourite. They’re taking part in their greatest soccer of the yr. They’re the extra proficient staff. That stated, the Payments are extra proficient than individuals make them out to be and so they have the house discipline and the situations are going to suck.

These two groups are mirror photographs of one another. The Week 4 recreation, at this level, means nothing. Each groups are vastly totally different.

The one necessary harm is on the Ravens, as Zay Flowers isn’t more likely to play.

This isn’t more likely to be a recreation that’s received within the air however shedding Zay is necessary as you will get him the ball with quick fast passes and let him use his quickness in house. Not having that vs a mediocre Payments again finish hurts though it doesn’t damage as a lot as it could if the situations had been extra favorable.

Fascinating stat on Derrick Henry: He has performed in eight playoff video games. In 4 of these video games he was beneath 70 yards and the opposite 4 video games over 150.  Not that it’s particular that the development will proceed but it surely’s odd that he has both been “poor” (by his commonplace) or elite. There was no in between. The Ravens can’t afford to have the poor Henry present up on this recreation. He wants 20 or extra carries. Lamar wants double digit carries and he must take off and maintain from being behind the sticks on first and second down.

This recreation goes to come back all the way down to errors. Whether or not it’s a turnover, poor teaching selections, unhealthy punts, penalties, and so forth… Who makes the fewest errors?

Till this iteration of the Ravens exhibits me they’ll win a recreation like this (within the playoffs, in non-ideal situations), I can’t predict them to win, as a lot because it pains me. It’s simply so arduous to belief the teaching employees and the gamers to not have some type of a meltdown. Now, maybe Buffalo will even have one. This isn’t KC the place they by no means beat themselves.  Nonetheless, I must see it first.

Buffalo 20 Ravens 17

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