The Week 16 slate between the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Giants should prove to be an exciting one with high stakes on the line and both teams desperate to secure a postseason seat.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens are coming off a 40-14 lopsided victory against the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 15 proceedings. Their most recent victory helped stretch their win streak to three games and improved their record to a 9-5 tally. Currently sitting in third place of the AFC North, the Ravens should not feel safe as a spot in the playoffs isn't secured for John Harbaugh and his men yet.
On the other hand, the Giants are fresh from a 20-6 defeat against the streaking Cleveland Browns led by quarterback Baker Mayfield. With quarterback Daniel Jones out of the tilt, the Browns easily handled Big Blue en route to snagging their 10th win of the season.
With the loss, the Giants eventually slid to the third spot in the NFC East, sharing an identical record with the Dallas Cowboys while trailing behind the current division leader Washington Football Team by a game.
Here are four bold predictions for the Week 16 matchup between the Ravens and the Giants from a Baltimore standpoint.
1. Dez Bryant will ease into a larger role for the Ravens.
Wide receiver Hollywood Brown has been on a tear lately especially from Weeks 12 to 15 where he scored a touchdown for the Ravens in three consecutive games. However, his scoring streak ended in their most recent game against the Jaguars where he was limited to 98 yards on six receptions.
Brown also sustained a knee injury in the game which forced him out of their most recent team practice and could put his playing status against the Giants in jeopardy. With or without Brown at the helm, the Ravens should turn to a weapon to fill in his absence which could be Dez Bryant.
The three-time Pro Bowler scored a touchdown against the Jaguars for 11 yards and a reception. Despite being bothered with a thigh injury, Bryant still managed to see action in their latest team practice which could be a good indication that he will suit up on Sunday.
For John Harbaugh, now is the right time to give Bryant sufficient touches and allow him to get his rhythm back especially now that they are looking to book a seat in the playoffs.
2. A Ravens rusher will exceed 100 rushing yards in the game.
To compensate for their lackluster offense, the Giants' defensive rotation has been showing out with respectable performances in recent weeks. Big Blue has also been able to catch up on opposing offensive weapons on the run.
Despite the defensive line's capabilities, the Ravens are still a different squad when it comes to the rushing attack. Lamar Jackson himself is a dual-threat playmaker who is capable of posing a ton of problems for opposing defenses on the ground.
Ball-carrier Gus Edwards has also seen more action in recent weeks while forming a prolific duo with rookie rusher J.K. Dobbins. The former Ohio State standout has been leading the charge as he tallied a rushing touchdown in each of their last four matchups. He will look to aim to extend his scoring streak to five games and sneak a scoring drive through Big Blue's capable defensive rotation.
3. Patrick Queen will be disruptive on defense.
Another first-year pro who is making a name for himself is linebacker Patrick Queen who has been stifling on the defensive end of the field for the Ravens. The 21-year-old is currently leading his veteran-laden squad with his team-high tally of 97 tackles through 14 games played.
In their most recent game against the Jaguars, Queen stepped up and tallied a sack against quarterback Gardner Minshew while also recording four total tackles in the victory. He will look to increase his statistics in Week 16 and finish off his impressive rookie campaign with a strong performance especially in a must-win contest against the Giants.
4. The tilt will start on a tight affair but the Ravens will eventually pull away to grab their 10th win of the season.
The Ravens may possibly get caught up in the Giants' defense in the early parts of the game. However, it is fairly undeniable that head coach John Harbaugh still has a more cohesive team compared to their opponents.
With their backs against the wall, both teams know that they couldn't afford to go down with another disappointing loss at this point of the season. Despite the eagerness to win, desperation alone won't be enough for teams to lock in a postseason spot given the tight competition in their respective divisions.
After executing well in crunch time against a playoff-bound team like the Browns followed by a demolition job against the Jaguars, the Ravens are expected to handle their business once again, this time against the Giants. With Daniel Jones still getting his groove back after an ankle injury, all the odds are stacked against Big Blue and they might need to hope for a miracle to escape with a win in Baltimore.
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