Eagles-Ravens Scouting Report
Eagles-Ravens Scouting Report
Recent history: The Eagles defeated the Ravens on Oct. 31, 2004 at the Linc, 15-10. The Eagles lead the series, 1-0-1.
Offense
Eagles: 363.8 yards per game (6th)
Ravens: 318.3 yards per game (19th)
Quarterback
Eagles: Donovan McNabb is going through one of those maddening periods again where he looks like he's never played before. In the last four games, he's completed just 53.8 percent of his passes and turned the ball over seven times. He's an abysmal 6-for-27 in the first quarter of those four games.
Ravens: Like Falcons rookie Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco has been aided greatly by a productive ground game that keeps pass-rush pressure off him and has given teeth to the Ravens' play-action game. Flacco is at his best in the pocket. While he has mobility, he hasn't been nearly as effective throwing from outside the pocket.
PICK: EAGLES
Running back
Eagles: Brian Westbrook is the straw that stirs the Eagles' offensive drink, and right now he's not stirring it very well. Knee and ankle injuries have affected his cutting ability. He's averaged just 3.8 yards per touch in the last three games. He has one 100-yard rushing game and one 50-yard receiving game this season.
Ravens: Ravens have three RBs – Willis McGahee, Ray Rice and 260-pound FB Le'Ron McClain – with at least 85 carries. McGahee gets the bulk of the carries when he's healthy, but that's been infrequent. Rice, a rookie, has a lot of Brian Westbrook in him. The 260-pound McClain is a beast in short-yardage situations.
PICK: RAVENS
Receiver
Eagles: This has become the quintessential spread-the-ball-around offense. The Eagles currently have no less than nine players who are on pace to catch at least 25 passes. No Andy Reid team ever has had more than six. Tight ends need to exploit the Ravens' 5-8 strong safety, Jim Leonhard.
Ravens: Derrick Mason has caught 85-plus passes in four of the last five seasons, and already has 53 this season even though he's playing with a separated shoulder. Doesn't have great speed, but is a first-down-making machine. An NFL-best 75.5 percent of his receptions (40) have moved the chains. Ravens lack a deep threat.
PICK: EAGLES
Offensive line
Eagles: This unit has done a very good job of protecting Donovan McNabb, who has only been sacked a career-best once every 25.5 attempts. But RG Shawn Andrews' absence has been felt in the run game, particularly short-yardage situations. Eagles' yards-per-carry average is down from 4.7 a year ago to 4.0.
Ravens: With the retirement of LT Jonathan Ogden, this unit looked like it might be a liability. But it has played well. Second-year man Jared Gaither has done a solid job as Ogden's replacement. The addition of former Bengal Willie Anderson has solidified the RT position, but he missed the Giants game with a knee injury.
PICK: RAVENS
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:
Eagles 24, Ravens 20
Hot and Not
HOT:
Eagles: MLB Stewart Bradley. Had 12 tackles and a forced fumble vs. Bengals and 14 tackles vs. Giants.
Ravens: FB Le'Ron McClain. Has six TDs and is a perfect 7-for-7 on third-and-1 attempts.
NOT:
Eagles: QB Donovan McNabb. Has a .538 completion percentage and seven turnovers in the last four games.
Ravens: PR/KR Yamon Figurs. He is averaging just 21.2 yards per KR and 6.5 yards per PR.
Key Matchups
1. Eagles RDE Trent Cole vs. Ravens LT Jared Gaither: Gaither is a 6-9, 350-pound monster. But Cole has had pass-rushing success against taller blockers. The run could be a different story. ADVANTAGE: EAGLES
2. Eagles TE L.J. Smith vs. Ravens SS Jim Leonhard: Leonhard, who is only 5-8, will be at a significant size disadvantage vs. Smith and the Eagles' other TE, Brent Celek. ADVANTAGE: EAGLES
3. Eagles MLB Stewart Bradley vs. Ravens RBs Willis McGahee, Le'Ron McClain and Ray Rice: Ravens are first in the league in rushing attempts per game and third in rushing yards per game. ADVANTAGE: EVEN
