Here's our honest take. The Baltimore Ravens should beat the Tennessee Titans on Sundays. They have the better coaching staff. They have the more accomplished roster and the advantage of playing at home.
That doesn't mean the outcome is guaranteed. The Ravens have already learned one painful lesson this season. Records and expectations mean very little once the game begins. Baltimore entered Week 2 as the clear favorite against the New Orleans Saints and lost. Now, Tennessee represents another challenge.
The Titans enter Week 4 at 0-3. While Baltimore should win this game, there are several reasons Robert Saleh's team shouldn't be overlooked. Here are three legitimate reasons that come to mind immediately.
Marlon Humphrey and Malaki Starks are potential liabilities in pass coverage.
One of Baltimore's goals should be forcing
Tennessee into obvious passing situations. If that happens, however, the Titans may find opportunities through the air.
According to Pro Football Focus, Marlon Humphrey has been targeted 19 times this season, allowing 12 receptions for 166 yards and 26 yards after the catch. Malaki Starks has also been tested frequently, surrendering seven receptions on seven targets for 88 yardsand 54 yards after the catch. As a team, Baltimore ranks 16th vs. the pass after three games.
Those numbers don't tell the entire story of either player's season, but they do illustrate that opposing offenses have found success attacking certain areas of Baltimore's secondary. If Cam Ward is forced to throw more often than Tennessee would prefer, those matchups could become points of emphasis.
Tennessee's defense has played excellent football quietly.
Much of the discussion surrounding the Titans centers on their offensive struggles, but their defense has given opponents problems. Jalen Hurts managed an 85.9 passer rating against Tennessee in Week 2, while Jameis Winston finished with a 77.5 rating and no touchdown passes in Week 3. Even Geno Smith, who enters Week 4 leading the NFL in completion percentage, failed to throw a touchdown against the Titans.
Lamar Jackson can produce against any defense in football, but Tennessee has consistently prevented opposing quarterbacks from posting huge statistical performances. Baltimore may need to be patient and willing to take what the defense provides. Doing so can lead to some favorable results.
Baltimore has not played a complete four quarters consistently
The Ravens escaped Brazil with a victory, but the final margin may have hidden some concerning trends. Baltimore allowed Dallas to erase most of a double-digit deficit in Week 3. This follows Baltimore's defense surrendering 15 unanswered fourth-quarter points in its loss to New Orleans.
Had the Cowboys finished one late drive with a touchdown instead of a field goal, the conversation surrounding the Ravens this week might sound very different. Jesse Minter's staff has repeatedly emphasized discipline, consistency, and attention to detail. Through three games, Baltimore has shown flashes of all three. It has also shown stretches where those traits disappeared.
Worth mentioning: This has all the ingredients of a potential trap game. The Ravens are coming off an emotional win over the Cowboys and have a nationally televised matchup with the Atlanta Falcons looming. Tennessee's record says 0-3, but Baltimore cannot afford to treat this game as a formality.
The Ravens cannot afford that type of slippage versus the Titans, whether they are favored or not. Letting any team hang around too long in a game they should lose is often costly at this level of football.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Titans: Why Baltimore cannot overlook 0-3 Tennessee
