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Eagles-Ravens Scouting Report
Defense
Eagles: 292.6 yards per game (7th)
Ravens: 267.9 yards per game (3rd)
Defensive line
Eagles: The Eagles' lack of size at the DE position has hurt them against power-running teams like the Giants and Redskins that have attacked the edges. On the flip side, RE Trent Cole (six sacks) should be able to get under the pads of the Ravens' 6-9 LT, Jared Gaither, in pass-rushing situations.
Ravens: The Ravens primarily play a 3-4 scheme, but defensive boss Rex Ryan uses multiple fronts and moves his front seven all over the place. DT Haloti Ngata, who the Ravens took ahead of Brodrick Bunkley, is playing at a Pro Bowl level. The 345-pounder has been a force against the run and even has two interceptions.
PICK: RAVENS
Linebacker
Eagles: MLB Stewart Bradley has been in on 26 tackles the last two games. He is tied with Trent Cole for tackles for losses with seven. LBs must be alert for dump-offs to the running backs. A third of Joe Flacco's completions have been to Ray Rice, Le'Ron McClain and Willis McGahee.
Ravens: LILB Ray Lewis isn't the all-world player he was 4 or 5 years ago, but he's still very good. He's got three interceptions in the last two games. ROLB Terrell Suggs is the Ravens' best pass-rusher. RILB Bart Scott, who had 9 1/2 sacks 2 years ago, isn't blitzing as much as he has in the past, and isn't making as many big plays.
PICK: RAVENS
Secondary
Eagles: Jim Johnson has shuffled his personnel in his nickel package. Starting RCB Sheldon Brown goes off the field in the three-corner, two-safety nickel and returns in their four-corner, two-safety dime. Johnson used corner blitzes several times last week vs. Bengals. Brown and Joselio Hanson both registered sacks.
Ravens: Injuries have weakened this unit. They've lost a lot of their size and physicality with season-ending injuries to SS Dawan Landry and CB Chris McAlister. Making matters worse, four-time Pro Bowl FS Ed Reed has been slowed by a nerve problem in his neck and shoulder. Landry's replacement, Jim Leonhard, is only 5-8.
PICK: EAGLES
Special teams
Eagles: PK David Akers appears to have straightened himself out. He's made 12 FG attempts in a row, including three from 40-plus yards. Six of DeSean Jackson's last 10 punt returns have been for double-digits. P Sav Rocca is coming off a poor performance in which he sliced three of his last four punts out of bounds.
Ravens: John Harbaugh has not been happy with PR/KR Yamon Figurs' production. He's averaging just 6.5 yards per PR and 21.2 yards per KR. PK Matt Stover has made just 2 of 6 FG attempts from 40-plus yards and had a 32-yarder blocked last week vs. Giants. P Sam Koch is fifth in the league in net average (40.0).
PICK: EAGLES
Domowitch's prediction:
