The Ravens headed out West on Friday, and the team is confident heading into a nationally televised Sunday night matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Baltimore currently owns the AFC’s top record and No. 1 playoff seed, while the Chargers are trying to avoid falling entirely out of playoff contention after a 23-20 loss to the Packers in Week 11.
With kickoff fast approaching, we’re looking at one thing to watch from each defensive position group for the Ravens when Justin Herbert and the Chargers are on offense.
DE
The Ravens lead the NFL with 44 sacks, and Jadeveon Clowney (6.5) has been a major catalyst.
Originially signed as a linebacker, Clowney is now listed as a defensive end on Baltimore’s depth chart, and he’s a big reason Broderick Washington has seen his snaps decrease.
We’ll be watching to see Clowney’s matchup with Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater.
DT
We’re watching to see if Justin Madubuike can reach double digits sacks.
Madubuike is having a monster season with a career-best 9.5 sacks and 18 quarterback hits.
Madubuike has developed an elite knack for disrupting things up the middle, and we’ll be watching to see if he can add to his team lead in sacks.
Edge Rusher
Oweh is among the top ten edge defenders (who have played at least 100 snaps against the pass) in both pass rush productivity and pass rush win rate, according to Pro Football Focus.
We’ll be watching to see if he can log another sack, while continuing his breakout season.
LB
The Ravens are allowing the fewest points in the league (19.1 per game) and rank first in rushing yards allowed, red zone defense and third down defense thanks to the dynamic inside linebacker duo of Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen.
Will be watching to see if they can take Chargers RB Austin Ekeler out of the game, while playing a major role in the disrupting QB Justin Herbert and the passing game.
CB
Damarion ‘Pepe’ Williams is back and will be watching to see if joins an already crowded and talented cornerback group for Baltimore.
Brandon Stephens has been a steady presence, starting all 11 games and leading the team in snaps played (742). With Marlon Humphrey (calf) missing his fourth game of the season last week against the Bengals, Ronald Darby 31 snaps (51%), Rock Ya-Sin (19 snaps), Arthur Maulet (17 snaps), and Jalyn Armour-Davis (11 snaps) also saw an increase in action. Harbaugh said the Ravens hope to get Humphrey back for their Week 12 game against the Chargers, and this looks to be the deepest group in the NFL.
S
We’re watching to see if the dynamic and athletic Kyle Hamilton can put the clamps on the Chargers’ star slot-wide receiver, Keenan Allen.
Allen can produce and do damage from any spot, but it’s in the slot where the All-Pro pass catcher does the most damage.
Allen leads the NFL in receptions (83) and targets (113) and is fourth in receiving yards (1,011).
To prove his importance to Justin Herbert, Allen has 74 more targets than any other Charger with Mike Williams out for the season.
According to Pro Football Focus, Allen has been in the slot for 358 of his 595 snaps. Putting Hamilton on Allen, not Arthur Maulet, could be the move for DC Mike MacDonald.
