Game Preview: Baltimore Ravens @ San Diego Chargers
by John Gennaro on Sep 18, 2009 12:11 PM PDT
18 comments
It's been an odd week, hasn't it? Chargers fans have run the gamut of emotions during, and since, the comeback win over the Oakland Raiders. Allow me to briefly sum up my feelings on that game. The Raiders looked bruising, Cesaire was greatly missed and the Bolts are 1-0 with a road win against a division opponent. Let's move on.
Can the Chargers escape week 2 still undefeated? The possible, but not as all probable, answers lie after the jump.
When the Ravens Have the Ball
The news of the week for me is not about the lack of health on the offensive line, but rather the stunning health on the defensive line. Considering Luis Castillo and Jacques Cesaire have been missing from this week's practice participation reports, I can only imagine they're ready to go on Sunday. Jamal Williams practiced on Thursday and should also be fine. Those three guys are the best chance the Chargers have of stopped the Ravens running attack.
After the first week, the Ravens rank 2nd in the NFL in total offense, 5th in passing offense and 2nd in rushing offense. Although they are a little banged up on defense, their offense remains quite healthy. Ray Rice, a guy who I think is a future Pro Bowler, had 108 yards on 19 carries against the Chiefs. Although the Ravens have great faith in Joe Flacco to throw the ball, they would prefer to win this game by grinding it out on the ground and winning the time of possession battle.
After their Week 1 battle against the Raiders, the Chargers are 25th in the league in total defense, 16th in passing defense and 25th in rushing defense. Quentin Jammer and Antonio Cromartie should do a decent job against Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton, but the key to stopping the Ravens passing offense will be getting pressure on Flacco and finding a way to cover Todd Heap. The Chargers were able to do neither in their Week 1 game, and they stand no chance of winning without doing it in this one. I think the Bolts need at least one interception that is turned into points to win this game.
Advantage: Ravens. The Ravens will test the Chargers defensive line with their power running game. Joe Flacco is not JaMarcus Russell and he will make the Bolts pay if they cannot get pressure on him.
When the Chargers Have the Ball
In a scene reminiscent of 2008, the Chargers offense was fairly ineffective in Oakland until the fourth quarter. Although the team can occasionally put 2-3 good plays together in the first half, they very rarely have long, successful drives and are left punting it more than they should. Mike Scifres is currently tied for the 4th most punts (5) this season after Week 1. Sam Koch, the punter for the Ravens, is tied for the 2nd least (2).
After Week 1, the Chargers rank 14th in total offense, 13th in passing offense and 20th in rushing offense. With Nick Hardwick and LaDainian Tomlinson possibly missing Sunday's game, the prospect of a balanced offense becomes even more difficult. The Ravens currently rank 3rd in total defense, 2nd in rushing defense and 7th in passing defense. So they're not going to make anything easy for Philip Rivers and Co.
If the Chargers are going to have success against the Ravens, they're going to have to find the mismatches. Their offensive line against possibly the biggest and strongest defensive line in the NFL is not a mismatch they'd want to go after. However, with a trio of 6'5" receivers they may want to attack Baltimore's short secondary (no CBs over 5'11"). These guys don't blow you away with talent either. The reason their CBs come off looking good is because the defense blitzes so much. If Rivers can get the ball in the air to Malcom Floyd, Antonio Gates and Vincent Jackson the Chargers should be able to move the chains consistently.
Advantage: Tie. The Chargers have to make a point to abandon the running game early if it's not working. Falling behind against a team that's this good and this aggressive is just asking for a Philip Rivers injury, and nobody wants to see that. Start hot, take what the defense gives you and don't get stubborn because they have the best run-stopping Nose Tackle in the league.
Don't forget to send in your Mailbag Questions to (maybe) be answered on Saturday. Your questions do not necessarily have to be related to the Chargers.
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Stats from Week 1 Never Say a Lot
Don’t forget that the Chiefs put up 17 points against the vaunted Ravens defense while missing their starting QB. I also do not think that KC O-Line was very strong, not saying the Chargers are going to be better, but they probably won’t be worse. If they can keep the pass rush down I think PR will have a big day.
Furthermore, and related to the 17 points, Chiefs offense barely touched the field (about 40 offensive plays) so it only makes sense that Ravens gave up very small amounts of yardage (Ravens O was on field for ~80 plays). I know SD defense has had problems getting of the field this year and in the past, but it certainly makes it easier on them if the O can sustain a drive, which was mentioned before.
I just don’t think that if PR gets it going before halftime that Ravens D will be able to keep up with him. I think Chargers get that match up. Its gonna be a close game either way, I’m just praying for less injuries.
Don’t forget that the Chiefs put up 17 points against the vaunted Ravens defense while missing their starting QB.
Do not be fooled… the Chiefs offense only put up 10 points on the defense. There were 24 points total.
7 points came off the blocked punt. 7 points came on a 5 yard drive after an interception.
Even the field goal was a long shot… literally. It came after a fluke 50 yard pass put them in range… Croyle was running for his life, desperately threw the ball deep and was lucky enough to have the ball tipped to the receiver for a 50 yard gain. Their rookie kicker was able to kick a 53 yard field goal from that spot.
Please read: I AM NOT saying that those plays do not count. They certainly count and helped the Chiefs hang in the game. The point is that the Ravens defense DOMINATED the Chiefs. They could do nothing… There were a few weird plays that kept them in the game, but the stat sheet (and the game if you watched it) was dominated by the Ravens.
As a Steeler fan, I'm rooting for you guys this week-end
And i’m hoping you guys can find a weakness in Baltimore
Wonko's Preview
Todd Heap
Todd Heap
and more
Todd Heap.
Philip Rivers game winning drive.
Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.
by Wonko on Sep 18, 2009 2:11 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Pretty much.
I don’t care how we win, so long as we win. This isn’t a bad team where it would be worrisome if we didn’t dominate. This is a good team and I’ll be happy to escape with a win any way we can.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 18, 2009 2:47 PM PDT up reply actions
Raven's D.... Interesting
It looks like they allowed a bunch of yards to a suspect rushing team last week. Plus they surrendered a good bunch of return yards. Could we actually find a way to get ahead of this perennial defensive power house? Maybe… I hope, I hope…
The few challenges I think we face is that to win it we have to score from outside the red zone, and it doesn’t look like they gave up many deep balls last week.
And our run game would have to rival or surpass KC. Ordinarily that would be an obvious YES. But with the injuries and our results last week, I am not so sure.
With our return teams, I give the advantage to the Chargers Offense if they shoot it out.
The Ravens allowed 188 total yards last week.
That’s not “a bunch”.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 18, 2009 2:46 PM PDT up reply actions
Oops looking at the wrong table
Yeah they did stuff the run. I thought that was unnuasual.
They did give up the return yards though, maybe we get someting on special teams.
It will be tough to run against their D-line
anchored by Ngata.I think (hope) Rivers will be able to chew up the Baltimore secondary
Formerly Blount#9...
not a chnace
PR likes to look down the field. i would expect a QB with his experience to look off the safties, give a pump fake here and there, or just take what the defense gives you. granted inspite of all this, PR still manages to get it done. he’s still a franchise winnig QB. but the O-line seems to have trouble giving him that time to go long.
I'm not fairly optimistic about winning this game.
Due to the injuries on our offensive line and the state of our defense.
Right now, I think 2-2 going into the bye week is likely. Which is really not bad, considering the three games after our bye are at home vs. Denver, @ Kansas City, and at home vs. Oakland. That’s a recipe for being 5-2 going to New York. I’d be fine with that.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 18, 2009 3:50 PM PDT reply actions
I'll take 2-2
Hoping for better, but given the opponents and the earliness of the season, I’m okay with it.
Wisdom can not be cultivated through ignorance of information.
Agreed.
You’d like to think they could pull off 3-1, but as you said due to the earliness of the season and our injuries, 2-2 should be considered acceptable.
Greg Maddux for manager.
by Zach (maestro876) on Sep 18, 2009 7:12 PM PDT up reply actions
I think this game is very winnable.
The O needs to scheme to buy PR some time and open up the deep action. Otherwise, it’s hard to be too under-confident here. I’m not 100% sold on SD’s ability to turn this into a shootout, but if they can, the odds lie with the better air-war.
by Neoplatonist Bolthead on Sep 19, 2009 6:05 AM PDT reply actions
Don't expect me to think you will win, but...
…as the Ravens blogger your best chances will be to hope we make some mistakes and you get a big play plus great kickoff returns. Those intangibles could put you in position to win.
However, in a straight up well played game, the Ravens will be all over San Diego with overall better and healthier personnel.
aka 'Rexx'
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