Ravens V Redskins - Beltway Brawl or Maryland Massacre?

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Originally Posted by NC_Skins

By the numbers:

Baltimore Offense:

Yards per game - 19th (343.2 ypg)
Points per game- 9th (25.5 ppg)



Redskins Offense:

Yards per game - 7th (383.7 ypg)
Points per game- 8th (26 ppg)



Baltimore Defense:

Yards per game allowed - 25th (372.2 ypg)
Points per game allowed - 8th (20.2 ppg)

Redskins Defense:

Yards per game allowed - 29th (390.5 ypg)
Points per game allowed - 23rd (25.1 ppg)



The two teams are pretty close to being even, but the one area that is huge between us and the Ravens is their points allowed per game. They are a stingy defense that really doesn't give up points easily. Which means we have to capitalize on the red zone trips. Moving the ball up and down the field isn't going to do jack shit for us. Don't game with the most amount of yards, you win it by points. Stating the obvious but still.

This is really interesting. The Ravens score more points than their yards/game would suggest, and give up fewer than the yards against them/game would suggest. This suggests that they are good at closing the deal on offense and bend but don't break on defense. One might characterize our team in the recent win streak in about the same fashion.

It seems to me that these teams are pretty evenly matched -- two strong, smash mouth RBs, we have a better QB, but they have a better defense. To me, this may come down to whose O-line holds up best -- protect RGIII and carve some holes for Morris, and we can control the ball and do well. Create some pressure on Flacco (which, let's face it, hasn't been our strong suit) and keep Rice from taking over -- in other words, beat up their O-line -- and we ought to win. I don't think they have skills players on offense to make up for shoddy O-line play. Good WRs, but not dominant ones. A very good back, but his numbers lag behind AM1's and a number of other backs in the league. And a QB who is hot and cold.

I am thinking Skins 23, Ravens 20.