(Photo : Rob Carr/Getty Images) BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – Quarterback C.J. Stroud (#7) of the Houston Texans is pressured by Jadeveon Clowney (#24) of the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 10, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland.
The Ravens vs Texans Divisional Round recreation is a rematch from the primary week of the present season.
The Baltimore Ravens earned a bye for the playoffs, and they’re going to face a staff with nothing to lose on this spherical.
Their first match-up ended with a 25-9 victory in favor of the Ravens. They had been dominant in that recreation.
However, it’s not fallacious to say that the squad they met within the first week differs from the Texans they are going to meet on Sunday.
The recreation elevates within the playoffs, and within the NFL, there are occasions that expertise will get edged by coronary heart.
The Ravens are the favorites towards the Texans by -9.5. That is kind of excessive, however then once more, the Texans had been the underdogs towards Cleveland. Coach DeMeco Ryans can be underdogs the remainder of the way in which.
Still, Baltimore cannot sit on their laurels and should be extra aware of those areas of the sport to make sure a victory and attain the AFC Championship.
1. Texans’ secondary
Texans’ defensive coordinator Matt Burke has put up a defensive scheme within the secondary to restrict the choices for strong-arm quarterbacks, as proven of their recreation towards the Cleveland Browns.
Read extra: 49ers vs. Packers Divisional Round Odds, Spread, Betting Lines, Pick and Preview for NFL Playoffs
The secondary annoyed Joe Flacco tremendously, and the Ravens ought to study one thing about this a part of the sport from their opponents.
The endzone is when the Texans will put up a big combat.
Lamar Jackson, who may be the MVP this season, ought to be careful for the guests’ Derek Stingley Jr., who can shut down an opponent’s receiver.
Against the Browns, he restricted Amari Cooper to beneath 60 yards whole.
2. CJ Stroud
This is simply too apparent, and the Ravens in all probability have one thing ready towards the tremendous rookie.
He was 16 of 21 for 274 yards and threw three landing passes with zero interceptions.
The Ravens shouldn’t look again to Week 1, the place they restricted the 22-year-old rookie and had him sacked 5 instances. They held him to twenty-eight of 44 makes an attempt for 242 yards with zero TDs, zero INTs, and a 78.0 passer ranking.
He has extra choices within the upcoming Divisional Round recreation as Devin Singletary is ready to play after lacking Week 1.
Linebacker Roquan Smith is assured concerning the improvement they skilled from the primary week. “I think they’re definitely improved, but so are we when you look at it,” he mentioned.
“The offense is definitely clicking, but we wouldn’t want it any other way. We’re prepared for it, and we’re ready to go to war regardless of who it’s against, and they’re the team that’s coming in here. Business is business handled.”
3. Nico Collins
Collins is making Stroud’s job straightforward. With 593 receiving yards, the extensive receiver owns 40% of his staff’s 1,304 move yards since November.
Since Week 13, he averaged 16.02 burn yards per goal, the primary among the many 35 receivers who had been focused not less than 35 instances.
He confirmed he may wreck high-level protection towards the Browns within the wildcard spherical by making six catches for 96 yards and a landing.
Related article: NFL Divisional Round Ravens Vs. Texans – Balitmore Hopes to Shroud Stroud
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