The Baltimore Ravens don't have to look far for motivation entering Monday Night Football. Pride ought to be enough. This team has too many veterans to take a four-game losing streak casually. TheLos Angeles Chargers... They're in even worse shape. They are winless at 0-8, but Baltimore is more concerned with a 1-3 record at M&T Bank Stadium.
Home-field advantage hasn't been much of an advantage for the Ravens, who have given their fans little to celebrate this season. A primetime matchup against a struggling opponentoffers a chance to change that, but Baltimore can't afford to mistake the Chargers' record for a guarantee.
The Ravens have enough issues of their own to address. That's particularly true of the offensewith Jacoby Brissett preparing
for his first start. If Baltimore wants to give its home crowd a reason to believe again, it needs to take care of the details and make the most of the opportunities ahead. Here are several areas where Baltimore can create an advantage for itself and hopefully produce the desired outcome.
Ravens must capitalize on turnover opportunities
The Chargers entered Week 10 ranked 29th in turnover differential at minus-7. The Ravens weren't much better, sitting 22nd at minus-2. Both teams have struggled to win that part of the game, but Los Angeles has been particularly generous with the football.
Justin Herbert has thrown an interception in eight consecutive games, while the Chargers have fumbled 15 times and lost eight. Those numbers suggest Baltimore should have opportunities to create extra possessions, but opportunities and takeaways aren't the same thing.
The Ravens have to finish plays, secure loose footballs, and turn defensive stops into points. With Brissett making his first start, giving the offense additional possessions could be especially valuable. Baltimore doesn't need to manufacture a high-risk passing attack if its defense can create favorable situations and give the offense shorter fields.
Don't lose the field-position battle or surrender unnecessary penalty yards
Baltimore enters Monday Night Football having been penalized 74 times for 539 yards. That ranks 32nd entering Week 10. That probably isn't what the Ravens' coaching staff meant when they preached 'detail' all offseason.
Self-inflicted errors can quickly undermine otherwise productive drives. They have done so all season. Pre-snap mistakes and avoidable flags put the offense behind the chains, extend opposing possessions, and make life more difficult for a team already adjusting to a new starting quarterback.
Discipline also matters on special teams. Punting isn't necessarily a failure, particularly when the alternative is forcing a low-percentage play, but Baltimore cannot afford to consistently give the Chargers favorable field position. A clean performance in all three phases would help keep the game manageable and prevent Los Angeles from getting easy opportunities.
Keep the Chargers under 20 points and convert red zone trips into TDs
Los Angeles has scored more than 20 points only twice in eight games and hasn't reached 24 in any contest. That's a significant limitation for an offense led by a quarterback with Herbert's ability, and Baltimore needs to make sure this isn't the night the Chargers finally break through with an offensive explosion.
The Ravens' defense has to make Los Angeles earn every scoring opportunity. Limiting explosive plays, tackling consistently, and forcing the Chargers to sustain long drives should help keep the scoreboard manageable.Baltimore's offense may not be operating at full capacity during the quarterback transition, so a defensive performance that holds the opponent below 20 would give the team a realistic path to victory without requiring a shootout. The Chargers allowed the Houston Texans to score TDs on three of four red zone visits. That said, the Ravens may find some success of their own if they can drive into scoring territory.
Do whatever is necessary to ease the burden on Jacoby Brissett
Brissett acknowledged Thursday that his preparation has been a "crash course" since joining Baltimore. He even joked that speaking with the media was taking time away from preparing for Monday night. That's understandable given the circumstances, but the Ravens need to put him in a position to succeed rather than ask him to carry the offense immediately.
That starts with establishing the running game and giving Brissett manageable down-and-distance situations. He needs to make decisive throws, take the available completions, and avoid turnovers against a Chargers defense that entered Week 10 ranked 18th in opponent success rate. Los Angeles will look to pressure him, disguise coverages, and exploit any hesitation from a quarterback still learning the offense.
Brissett doesn't have to be spectacular to give Baltimore a chance. He needs to protect the football, keep the offense on schedule, and take advantage when the defense creates favorable field position. If the Ravens can get that kind of performance from their new starter, the rest of the team has a much better chance of doing its part.
Make a strong opening statement and finish the job
The Ravens need to establish control early rather than allow the Chargers to settle into the game. A productive opening stretch on offense, paired with a defense that makes Herbert uncomfortable, could put pressure on a Los Angeles team that hasn't found a winning formula.
Just as important, Baltimore has to maintain that urgency after halftime. A comfortable lead means little if the Ravens get conservative, surrender explosive plays, or let the Chargers hang around. The second half needs to match the first in execution, particularly if the offense is still finding its rhythm with Brissett.
Baltimore has spent too much of the season making life difficult on itself, particularly at home. Monday night offers a chance to change that narrative, but the Ravens have to show they can play with the discipline and consistency expected of a team with this much experience. The Chargers may be winless, but that won't make the opportunity any easier if Baltimore keeps getting in its own way.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Chargers: 5 keys to snapping Baltimore's four-game skid
