The Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saintsdon't cross paths often. Sunday's clash is the ninth meeting. M&T Bank Stadium provides the backdrop. This features plenty of intrigue beyond the final score.
Baltimore enters Week 2 as thefavorite and looks to build on an impressive season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts, while New Orleans tries to rebound from a hard-fought loss to the Detroit Lions. The Ravens hold a 6-2 advantage in the all-time series, but several key individual and schematic battles could determine whether Baltimore improves to 2-0.
Here are five matchups worth watching. Individually and as a game, they qualify as must-see television.
Kellen Moore vs. Jesse Minter
The head coaches will be on opposite sidelines, but this matchup goes beyond the traditional
coaching battle. Moore remains the architect of New Orleans' offense, while Minter directs Baltimore's defense. Both will call plays. Both are among the brightest young minds in football, and both made strong first impressions in Week 1.
The Saints generated explosive plays throughout their matchup with Detroit, while the Ravens forced two turnovers and made key adjustments during a convincing win over the Colts. Sunday's game could become a fascinating chess match between two coaches unafraid to put their fingerprints on every snap.
Derrick Henry vs. Saints run defense
Few players made a louder statement in Week 1 than Henry. The veteran running back powered Baltimore's ground attack and scored three rushing touchdowns as the Ravens piled up more than 200 yards on the ground. New Orleans now faces the difficult task of slowing down one of the league's most physical runners.
The Saints allowed 165 rushing yards against Detroit, ranking among the league's weaker run-defense performances in Week 1. If Baltimore controls the line of scrimmage again, Henry could be in line for another productive afternoon.
Travis Etienne and Alvin Kamara vs. Ravens run defense
One of the biggest questions coming out of Week 1 is whether Baltimore's run defense has an issue or simply ran into Jonathan Taylor. The Colts star rushed effectively throughout the afternoon, but now the Ravens must prepare for another talented backfield.
Etienne rushed for more than 1,100 yards last season and remains a dangerous threat as both a runner and a receiver. Kamara missed Week 1 with an MCL sprain but is targeting a return. If he plays, New Orleans will have another versatile weapon to test Baltimore's discipline and tackling.
Chris Olave vs. the Ravens secondary
Olave opened the season with one of the NFL's most productive receiving performances. The Saints wide receiver caught 10 passes for 182 yards against Detroit and consistently found soft spots in coverage.
Seven of those ten catches moved the chains for first-down yardage. He racked up 33 yards after the catch. Baltimore's defense relies heavily on communication and zone principles, making this a challenge for the entire secondary, not just one defender. Keeping Olave from generating explosive plays will be a priority all afternoon.
Davon Godchaux and Nathan Shepherd vs. Baltimore's interior offensive line
Baltimore's interior offensive line passed its first regular-season test, but another challenge arrives this week. Olaivavega Ioane showed encouraging signs in his first NFL start, while John Simpson and Jovaughn Gwyn helped the Ravens establish a dominant rushing attack.
Final analysis
Godchaux and Shepherd bring size, experience, and physicality to the Saints' front. If Baltimore's interior linemen win this battle, it could open the door for another big day from Henry and help keep the offense on schedule throughout the game.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Saints: 5 early matchups to watch in Week 2 matchup
