Pittsburgh between traditional AFC North rivals. The improved Ravens are aiming to snap a three game losing streak against the resurgent Steelers. Mike Tomlin holds a slim 12-to-11 edge over John Harbaugh in head-to-head meetings.After both teams earned impressive victories in Week 3 http://www.ravensfootballauthentics.com/brent-urban-jersey-authentic , Pittsburgh is currently a 3-point home favorite and oddsmakers expect a high scoring affair with the point total set at 51. Trends favor Pittsburgh, the Steelers have won 13 of their last 19 games at home, 24 of 32 as a favorite and are 11-1 within the division recently. Furthermore, Baltimore is just 3-10 as an underdog and 6-10 on the road since 2016.With a couple marquee players unavailable due to off-the-field issues and several other key contributors questionable due to injury, these five key matchups will determine who emerges from this grudge match victorious:DT Brandon Williams vs C Maurkice PounceySeveral Ravens run defenders will be playing through injury, if they suit up at all. The defense needs their well paid nose tackle to elevate his game in order to contain back James Conner. Fortunately, many of Williams’ best games have come against the arch rival Steelers.Pouncey, a six-time Pro Bowler, is the rock in the middle of their stout offensive line. If Williams can hold his ground against Maurkice and guard Ramon Foster, it will allow rookie linebacker Kenny Young to shoot gaps and make plays in the backfield. Perhaps more importantly, stuffing the Steelers rushing attack will enable the Ravens to devote more players into coverage against a dangerous receiving corps. LT Ronnie Stanley vs OLB Bud DupreeStanley bounced back in a big way against Von Miller and company following a poor outing against the Bengals. Still dinged up with knee and elbow injuries, the team’s most irreplaceable player revealed his resilience. Matchups such as this are exactly the reason why Baltimore spent a top-6 overall draft pick on their blindside protector.Pittsburgh will blitz with all four of their linebackers and both defensive ends Cam Hayward and Stephon Tuitt can get after the quarterback. Dupree has also been an impact player thus far with five hits on the quarterback, two sacks, two pass deflections http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/brandon-williams-jersey-cheap , an interception and a forced fumble. The Ravens need Stanley to anchor their pass protection against a Steelers defense that is currently tied for the second most sacks in the NFL.CB Brandon Carr vs WR JuJu Smith-SchusterFollowing a strong start to the season, Brandon Carr turned in perhaps his worst performance as a Raven last week against the Broncos. Demaryius Thomas and Courtland Sutton beat his coverage throughout the second half. Carr allowed completions on seven of eight targets for a total of 88-yards. Meanwhile, Smith-Schuster has emerged as Ben Roethlisberger’s go-to man so far this season. The second-year wideout has already amassed over 350-yards on 27 receptions in 2018. Nonetheless, with Jimmy Smith serving a suspension and Marlon Humphrey expected to mark Antonio Brown on most plays, the Ravens will be forced to trust their veteran corner against JuJu. Minimizing chunk plays will be the main objective.WR John Brown vs CB Joe Haden‘Smokey’ has been the linchpin behind the Ravens passing offense’s improvement. He provides a vertical element that opens up the middle of the field for Joe Flacco and his 12-222-2 stat line includes multiple highlight reel contested catches. Baltimore will probably need to connect on a couple deep shots to their top playmaker in order to keep pace on the road.Starting corner Artie Burns struggled to contain the Bucs receivers last week, but top cover man Joe Haden had a successful return from injury. However, the former top-10 overall draft pick does not have the top speed necessary to chase Brown. Flacco should be able to effectively spray the ball around to his other receivers and tight ends, especially without Ryan Shazier roaming the middle of the field. Still, with the Steelers likely to to stack the box and stonewall Baltimore’s rushing attack, they could certainly use some splash plays from Brown.S Tony Jefferson vs TE Vance McDonaldJefferson has fared much better under new coordinator Don Martindale than he did in 2017. Last week, Tony blanketed Jake Butt on a crucial fourth-down stop. While coverage will never be his specialty, Tony has proven he the skills to limit middle-tier tight ends.McDonald has been considered a major disappointment since the Steelers acquired him from the 49ers. However, he just turned in his best game of his tenure on Monday night, including a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown that displayed his athletic gifts. Baltimore’s safeties must stay behind the Steelers tertiary receiving threat http://www.ravenscheapstores.com/patrick-onwuasor-jersey-cheap , especially when Roethlisberger improvises. The Ravens are looking to get back on track when they host the undefeated Denver Broncos. Over the course of two games, Baltimore has shown both brilliance and ineptitude. Coming off of a divisional road loss, how will the Ravens respond in Week 3?Sage’s predictions:The Ravens will score a defensive touchdown.Sign up HERE to take our weekly Ravens survey.In order to energize the home crowd and provide Joe Flacco and the offense with a little breathing room, Baltimore’s defense will intercept Case Keenum and return it for six. A franchise that has made turnovers their calling card will find the end zone for the first time this season, having recorded two picks in 2018 that were not run back for a score. John Brown will be Baltimore’s go-to offensive weapon. Ozzie Newsome signed John Brown this offseason to complement Michael Crabtree and Willie Snead IV. Through two games, Brown leads the Ravens in receiving and is averaging 19.4 yards per reception. Crabtree has been targeted 16 times — a team high — to Brown’s 14. In Week 3, anticipate Flacco to look to Brown more often, as he has proven he can haul in tough balls in tight coverage. Vasilis’ predictions:Lamar Jackson will not see the field in Week 3.Thus far, the Lamar Jackson package has been largely ineffective. If the goal was to give the opposition another facet to game plan for, then that has already been accomplished. The Ravens will aim to get Joe Flacco and Alex Collins in rhythm, at the expense of the rookie quarterback’s playing time.Kenny Young will record double digit tackles and an interception.The fourth-round rookie has been mighty impressive throughout the preseason and the first two weeks of the year. The Ravens scheme is designed to funnel the ball carrier to the inside linebackers, which should allow Young to rack up tackles. Case Keenum will underestimate Young’s speed and toss an interception underneath or in the flat.Dustin’s predictions:Alex Collins will rush for 100 yards and two touchdowns.Through the first two games of the season, Collins has only received 16 carries for 48 yards and one touchdown.The Ravens will show that they are in fact committed to the run game when they face the Broncos. Collins will no longer be neglected, and he should receive at least 15 touches http://www.baltimoreravensteamauthentic.com/james-hurst-jersey , amassing 100 yards and two touchdowns on the ground. The offensive line will hold Von Miller in check.Baltimore’s offensive line struggled immensely versus the Bengals pass rush in Week 2, particularly when matching up with Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap. Miller is potentially the best pass rusher in the game, but the Ravens will find a way to contain him. Regardless of whether James Hurst or Orlando Brown Jr. starts at right tackle against Denver, expect tight ends Nick Boyle and Maxx Williams to consistently provide help by chipping Miller on the edge. Baltimore deployed this tactic against Khalil Mack last season, and he was held to zero sacks.Frank’s predictions:Mark Andrews will be the Ravens leading receiver.The Broncos are fairly stout in pass coverage on the outside. However, they tend to struggle against opposing tight ends. In the first two weeks of the season, they faced Raiders tight end Jared Cook and Seahawks tight end Will Dissly. Cook and Dissly combined to catch seven passes for 154 yards. Ravens third-round pick Mark Andrews, who caught his first career touchdown last week, could be in for a productive outing. The Ravens hold Phillip Lindsay in check. Undrafted rookie running back Phillip Lindsay has burst onto the scene this season, leading the Broncos in rushing after two weeks. He has rushed for 178 yards on just 29 carries, good for an average of 6.1 YPC. Lindsay has separated himself from Royce Freeman and Devontae Booker in the Denver backfield. However, the Ravens have had over a week to scout him and recognize he has become a key cog in their offensive attack. Don Martindale should have a game plan in place to contain Lindsay, and it will work effectively. Lindsay will be held to under 50 yards from scrimmage. Have a bold prediction? Join the conversation in the comments section.
