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The Baltimore Ravens appear to be waking up from a nightmarish start to the season. The Ravens appeared to be buried when they started the season with five losses in their first six games, but they have responded by winning their most recent two games against the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. Now they get the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings appeared to be on the road to a disappointing season when they lost consecutive games to the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers and fell to 3-4. They faced a major challenge in their Week 9 meeting with the powerful Detroit Lions at Ford Field, but the Vikings played their best game of the season and earned a 27-24 triumph.
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J.J. McCarthy played a key role in the upset victory over the Lions and he has recovered from the early-season high ankle sprain that caused him to miss five games. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell expects McCarthy to pick up where he left off this week when the Vikings host the Ravens. If the Vikings are going to make a run at a spot in the playoffs, they can’t let a home game against the Ravens slip through their grasp.
Nevertheless, the Ravens are 4-point favorites for the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. They have Lamar Jackson back in the lineup as well as power running back Derrick Henry. These are two of the best players at their positions in the NFL, and they are clearly a dangerous team when healthy. However, the Ravens defense has fallen badly this season, and the Vikings have the weapons to take advantage of the 28th-ranked pass defense in the league.
It begins with McCarthy and he should have a high level of confidence after his winning performance against the Lions in Week 9.
The Vikings are motivated to build a winning record and get back in the NFC playoff structure. McCarthy can spread the ball around to Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, tight end T.J. Hockenson and running back Aaron Jones. Those are his primary playmakers, and that does not include Jalen Nailor, who made the game-clinching catch in the win over the Lions.
Additionally, McCarthy has shown he can escape the pass rush and make big plays with his running ability. He scored on a 9-yard TD run in his return against the Lions, and the Vikings have the semblance of a running attack with Jones and Jordan Mason.
So, defending the Vikings appears to be a major challenge for a defense that has struggled so much this season. The first priority will be slowing down the McCarthy to Jefferson combination. Jefferson is among the best receivers in the league and he is motivated to have a huge game. So far he has been functional with 47 receptions for 649 yards and 2 touchdowns, but he has not had a monster game with...
