The Baltimore Ravens should be an elite pass defense. That's especially true with safety Earl Thomas now on-board. However, through six weeks of 2019, that's not the case, as they've allowed the 25th-most passing yards in the NFL. That should be music to the Seattle Seahawks ears, specifically, Russell Wilson and rookie wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.
The Ravens have had issues with covering the deep-ball in 2019, giving up 24 20+ yard passes and six 40+ yard passes, both 28th in the NFL. Though they have allowed just six touchdowns, Baltimore's defense — before the addition of cornerback Marcus Peters — is susceptible to being torn apart via deep passes.
That should ring an alarm for both the Ravens and Seahawks. Why? Wilson may be the best deep-ball thrower in the NFL. According to Sharp Football Stats, Wilson is outstanding in all three deep levels, hitting a 128 passer rating to the left, 149 to the middle, and 119 to the right. For comparison's sake, Baltimore is allowing a 124 to the left, 96 to the middle and 77 to the right; less than ideal numbers.
So, Wilson can hit all the deep throws, while the Ravens struggle to defend them. What does that mean for Metcalf? It means he is in-store for a field day on Sunday.
Metcalf is built to be a deep-ball ace, perhaps, in a football laboratory. At a chiseled 6-3, 229-pounds, he's far too big to be unaccounted for. He's also far too fast, considering he did run a 4.33 second 40-yard-dash at the NFL Combine. In addition to his physical and athletic measurements, the rookie's specialty as a route-runner is those deep routes, i.e., streaks and posts, amongst others.
Metcalf's penchant is ripping apart defenses down the field. That is all too obvious through the first six weeks of his professional career. The rookie leads the NFL in yards per reception, with 21. He is also reeling in an incredibly high 15.8 yards before the catch. In all, he has 16 receptions for 336 yards and two scores.
We know Metcalf will face a defense that can't cover down the field, and he will be doing so with the quarterback that makes living shredding defenses with deep-balls. However, that's not the only reason Metcalf will thrive on Sunday. With tight end Will Dissley out (Achilles), the rookie now becomes Seattle's No. 2 option, alongside the just-as-speedy Tyler Lockett.
In all, Metcalf is going against a defense that statistically should struggle to cover him. He is also doing so with an uptick in targets in-store for him. Yeah, he is going to have a big week.
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