The Baltimore Ravens are set to take on the New Orleans Saints in their regular-season home opener on Sunday as heavy favorites, but injuries to multiple key starters could level the playing field. Here is how Baltimore Beatdown’s staff thinks the matchup will play out:
Nikhil Mehta
The Ravens’ injuries have thrown a major wrench into their Week 2 matchup with the Saints. Starting Carson Vinson at left tackle and either Andre Vorhees or Emery Jones at left guard will force Lamar Jackson to stay in rhythm and trust
his quick passing game – which will be even harder with Zay Flowers also sidelined. Baltimore will need their other pass-catchers to step up, particularly Rashod Bateman after his goose egg in Week 1. Trey Hendrickson was quietly the straw that stirred Baltimore’s pass rush in Indianapolis, but a finger injury could impact his black belt-certified hand usage. Still, even having him on the field will draw the Saints’ attention and open up opportunities for the rest of the D-line. Baltimore still seems to have the coaching and talent advantage, but injuries could quickly take them out of the groove they found in Week 1 and create a much tighter contest than initially expected.
X-factor: TE Mark Andrews. When Jackson needs a completion – to get back in rhythm, to convert a third down, to reach the end zone – he will probably go back to his faithful tight end. Andrews had a rough start in Week 1, but finish the game with 49 yards on 4 catches, suggesting he has a bounce-back season in him. This Sunday will be an excellent opportunity to get it going.
Score prediction: Hand-wringing about injuries aside this is still an extremely talented Ravens team with a coaching staff that seems less vulnerable to the early-season trap games of the John Harbaugh era. Ravens 27, Saints 16.
Stephen Bopst
With it looking increasingly likely that LT Ronnie Stanley will be out this week, the Ravens are getting their first taste of injury adversity in the Jesse Minter/ Declan Doyle era. Personally, I think if there was a week for the Ravens offensive line to be down a few men – it would be this one. The Saints don’t have a strong interior defensive line and their one good pass rusher, Chase Young, is hobbled with a calf injury. This combined with Doyle’s ability to get Lamar Jackson out of the pocket via play-action, should minimize Stanley (and possibly John Simpson’s) absence. Additionally, with Zay Flowers out, some of the other Raven receivers will get their chance to make an impact. Because of the rapid ascension of Ja’Kobi Lane, we haven’t heard much about rookie Elijah Sarratt throughout camp and the beginning of the year. With both Flowers and Lane out, I’m very curious to see if Sarratt can make a meaningful impact.
X-factor: DB blitzes. The Saints offensive line has struggled protecting against blitzing defensive backs which happens to be one of Jesse Minter’s play-calling strengths. I expect Minter to get creative this week on 3rd and long, dialing up a few blitzes that could lead to turnovers.
Score prediction: This feels like a bad matchup for the Saints (regardless of injury). They aren’t effective at running the ball and relied heavily on QB Tyler Shough to play hero ball last week against a weak Lions secondary. The Ravens will force multiple Saint turnovers this week en-route to a 35-17 win.
Zach Canter
Despite the Ravens already dealing with injuries in Week 2 of the season, I don’t see it slowing down this new era of football in Baltimore at all. The offense will have some new struggles with Zay Flowers down and Ronnie Stanley looking like he won’t be playing. But I’m actually excited to see what offensive coordinator Declan Doyle can do with time to prepare and the wide receiver room in particular. Rashod Bateman will get a chance to lead the room with guys like Tez Walker, Elijah Sarratt filling in the rest of the top three. LaJohntay Wester can fill in some of the movement/motion roles that Flowers does and we saw veteran Chris Moore make a play last week when needed. I think Doyle will have a gameplan dialed up to get the ball out quick with Carson Vinson going up against Chase Young. Bateman could have a huge day as guy who’s release package allows him to win off the line quick. Expect Tez Walker to get multiple deep shot looks off of play action and Sarratt could fill in some of the big slot, steady hands role that Ja’Kobi Lane filled.
X-factor: TE Matthew Hibner. This could be a huge breakout spot for the Ravens rookie. Hibner has some explosive receiving ability and with the Ravens missing Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane, this could be the game to get Hibner on the move catching the ball for some explosive plays for a tight end.
Score prediction: Ravens 30, Saints 17
Dustin Cox
Without two of their top three wide receivers in Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane, I expect a heavy dosage of Derrick Henry from the Ravens against a Saints’ defense that surrendered 165 rushing yards to the Lions in Week 1. Baltimore’s ground game looked as dangerous as ever with Henry and Lamar Jackson in Week 1 and I do not expect that to slow down this week, even if Ronnie Stanley is missing from the offensive line. Under center play action should once again be effective this week if Henry is rolling on the ground, which should help boost the passing attack in the absence of Flowers. Don’t be surprised if Jackson hits a big play to the speedy Devontez Walker off of play action in this game.
X-factor: Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. The Ravens’ top cornerback duo will need to be on the top of their game again this week against Chris Olave. New Orleans’ star receiver exploded for 182 yards on 10 catches last week against Detroit. If the Saints fall behind early, then it will be Olave that second-year quarterback Tyler Shough will look to for explosives in the passing attack to get back into the game.
Score prediction: Ravens 33, Saints 13.
