The Ravens look to start a win streak with three in a row heading to Minnesota. After a 10-day break following a Thursday night game, how should the Ravens be prepared to face the Vikings?
1) Be ready for the blitz
We all know the story of last time Lamar Jackson played Brian Flores. The infamous “cover zero” game in Miami became the new blueprint narrative to stopping Jackson. On a short week, Flores had his defense blitz on over 60% during Jackson’s dropbacks, and it worked. Of course, that was years ago in 2021 and with
a different offensive coordinator. Since then, Jackson’s talent and efficiency have grown tremendously, and new OC Todd Monken has given him much more control at the line of scrimmage to adjust his protection and be ready to go hot against blitzes. That has made him one of the best quarterbacks against the blitz, potentially driven by what happened in that game in 2021.
Now the Ravens play another Brian Flores defense, this time in Minnesota. Not much has changed, as Flores still loves to blitz whenever he can. The Vikings currently lead the NFL in blitz rate at 42.3% according to Sharp Football Analysis. Flores is going to blitz, simulate pressure, and present all sorts of crazy looks. It’s going to be on Jackson, Monken, and the offense to be prepared for it and have answers ready, unlike what happened in 2021. I’d really like to see Isaiah Likely and Rashod Bateman used against the blitz, in particular. Likely can line up anywhere to serve as a quick safety valve or on extended plays, and Bateman’s ability to win quickly at the line of scrimmage make him ideal for hot routes.
2) Mix up the defensive looks
Zach Orr and the Ravens defense should come prepared with a Flores-esque game plan against the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy has only played three games since he was drafted in April 2024 due to injuries; for all intents and purposes, he’s still a rookie. The Vikings are going to lean heavily on their run with Jordan Mason and Aaron Jones Sr., who practiced limited on Thursday and Friday and is officially questionable for the game.
There’s not a ton of film on the Vikings’ young signal-caller, but he’s not used to what Baltimore will throw at him, either. McCarthy, like most rookies, loves to hold on to the ball and is near the top of the league in time to throw in his small sample size. He’s also near the top of the league in average depth of target; in other words, he is willing to wait to try to push the ball downfield. Head coach Kevin O’Connell is going to want to do the opposite and make it easy for McCarthy to get the ball out early and on time. So the biggest priority for the Ravens is making McCarthy uncomfortable while holding the ball and baiting him into making mistakes. This will give the pass rush more time to get home and the secondary chances to make plays on the ball during scramble drills.
We’ve seen a lot of Kyle Hamilton in the box, playing nearly as an outside linebacker more than anything. While trading for Dre’Mont Jones should lessen the need for that, and keep Hamilton’s body a little healthier, I’d like to see Hamilton play everywhere this weekend. McCarthy has likely never seen a defensive weapon quite like Hamilton, so the Ravens should exploit that against the unseasoned quarterback. Put Hamilton as a deep safety, outside backer, down lineman, inside linebacker, slot, outside corner, everywhere, and make McCarthy think about it. Mix up the looks in his face and wreak havoc off it.
3) Use the running backs
We all know the Vikings are going to blitz. One of the best ways to beat the blitz is with running backs. Whether that means running the ball well on early downs to avoid obvious passing situations, specific run designs to attack the blitz, or using screens and running back hot routes to beat the blitz. The Vikings have allowed 119 yards or more on the ground in five of their eight games and more than 200 twice. In the other three games, they’ve allowed 65 yards or less. Running the ball well with Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell off the edge with sweeps and tosses can really help slow down the Vikings blitz. I’d like to see a lot of two-RB ‘pony’ packages with both Henry and Mitchell on the field near Lamar Jackson. With three dynamic runners available, plus Jackson’s arm, a defense won’t be able to pin their ears back as much with reckless abandon during a blitz, hopefully helping out a middling offensive line.
Also, using Mitchell and Justice Hill receivers out of the backfield will be pivotal. The Ravens have struggled to scheme checkdowns for Jackson in his career, instead relying on his legs to bail them out of busted plays. Jackson also tends to hold onto the ball to make a dazzling play on every down. While that is what makes Jackson such a special quarterback, he needs to take what the defense gives him against the blitz. I expect Jackson to push the ball down the field in this one, but having underneath options for him when his offensive line inevitably gives up pressure is vital. The Ravens have vastly improved running screens since 2024, and timing screen plays up well with Mitchell, Hill, Likely, and Zay Flowers is another way the Ravens can help their quarterback.
