Lions will try to keep Baltimore's pass rush at bay in a matchup with a stingy Ravens defense

2023-10-20 02:15

No team in the NFL has more sacks than Baltimore with 24 but the Detroit Lions have allowed only 10

DETROIT (5-1) at BALTIMORE (4-2)

Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, Fox

OPENING LINE: Ravens by 2 1/2, according to FanDuel SportsBook.

AGAINST THE SPREAD: Lions 5-1; Ravens 4-2.

SERIES RECORD: Ravens lead 5-1.

LAST MEETING: Ravens beat Lions 19-17 on Sept. 26, 2021, in Detroit.

LAST WEEK: Lions beat Buccaneers 20-6; Ravens beat Titans 24-16.

LIONS OFFENSE: OVERALL (3), RUSH (8), PASS (4), SCORING (4).

LIONS DEFENSE: OVERALL (7), RUSH (1), PASS (18), SCORING (T-9).

RAVENS OFFENSE: OVERALL (11), RUSH (5), PASS (24), SCORING (T-15)

RAVENS DEFENSE: OVERALL (2), RUSH (10), PASS (2), SCORING (4)

TURNOVER DIFFERENTIAL: Lions plus-2; Ravens minus-1.

LIONS PLAYER TO WATCH: RB Jahmyr Gibbs. The rookie, drafted No. 12 overall, missed two games with a hamstring injury but should have a chance to show what he can do because starting RB David Montgomery is banged up. Gibbs had season highs with 17 carries and 80 yards rushing in a win over Atlanta and seven receptions for 39 yards in a loss to Seattle.

RAVENS PLAYER TO WATCH: K Justin Tucker. Some of the biggest highlights of Tucker's outstanding career have come at Detroit's expense. He set an NFL record with a 66-yard FG to beat the Lions two years ago. He also kicked a 61-yarder to win a meeting between the teams in 2013. Right now, the Ravens aren't scoring many TDs and aren't allowing many, so Tucker's leg could be even more important. He made six FGs in the win over Tennessee last weekend.

KEY MATCHUP: Detroit's OL vs. the Ravens' pass rush. No team in the league has more sacks than Baltimore's 24, and the Lions have allowed only 10. The Ravens have been successful against the pass so far this year, but Detroit QB Jared Goff could put them to the test if the Lions protect him.

KEY INJURIES: Montgomery (rib cartilage) is expected to miss the game. ... Lions rookie DB Brian Branch (ankle) may return to play for the first time since Sept. 28 at Green Bay. ... G Jonah Jackson (ankle) was inactive last week for Detroit. ... Baltimore LB Odafe Oweh (ankle) was able to practice this week after missing the past four games, but S Marcus Williams (hamstring) missed practice time.

SERIES NOTES: In between the two meetings Tucker won late, the Ravens trounced Detroit 44-20 in Baltimore in December 2017. ... Baltimore coach John Harbaugh is 4-0 against Detroit. The Lions and Tampa Bay are the two opponents to whom he has never lost.

STATS AND STUFF: Detroit is 3-0 on the road for the first time since 2011, when it began 4-0 away from home. ... The Lions have had 350-plus yards of offense and at least 20 points in their first six games for the first time since 1954, when the two-time defending league champions went on to reach the NFL championship game. ... Detroit has scored 20-plus points in a team-record 15 straight games, the longest active streak in the league. ... The Lions have won four games in a row by at least 14 points for the first time since 1969. ... Goff was selected the NFC offensive player of the week after completing 30 of 44 passes for 353 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover against the Buccaneers. ... Detroit rookie LB Jack Campbell had a season-high seven tackles at Tampa Bay. ... Baltimore returns to M&T Bank Stadium after three straight games away from home. ... The Ravens are 15-1 against NFC teams with QB Lamar Jackson as starter, including 7-0 at home. ... Baltimore has the NFL's top active streak with 27 consecutive games with a sack. ... The Ravens have allowed only six TDs this season. No other team has yielded fewer than eight. ... Baltimore has rushed for at least 100 yards in 22 straight games, the longest active streak in the league. ... Jackson has completed at least 70% of his passes in five of his first six games. Since the 1970 merger, only Drew Brees in 2018 and Kirk Cousins in 2019 has completed at least 70% of his throws in six of his team's first seven games of a season.

FANTASY TIP: The Ravens have struggled in the red zone the past couple weeks, which has hurt TE Mark Andrews' value after he scored three TDs in his first three games this season.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL