The New England Patriots are arguably the best team in the league, romping their way to 8-0. With the Baltimore Ravens looking to give them their first loss of the season and improve their standings for a playoff push, they’ll need all the help they can get.
I sat down with Lance Reynolds from Patriots Wire to get the inside scoop on what Baltimore can expect and how they might best attack New England to pick up a win. From quarterback Tom Brady to the Patriots’ impressive defense, I go in-depth to see what might happen in Week 9.
1) The Patriots defense is playing at a very high level this season. How should the Ravens attack them to get the best results?
Without a doubt, the Patriots defense has been the most effective defense across the NFL in the season’s first half. But their schedule definitely needs to be taken into consideration. All of New England’s opponents so far rank in the league’s bottom half for yards per game and points per game.
Baltimore presents the Patriots’ toughest test yet, and as long as they play a fundamentally sound game without any foolish errors (e.g., Cleveland in Week 8), this has the makings to be a top game this entire season in the NFL.New England struggled against Nick Chubb last week, so I definitely envision the Ravens to rely on their ground game between Lamar Jackson and Mark Ingram. If they are successful on the run, Jackson may find some separation room between his receivers and the Patriots’ stingy secondary.
2) New England traded for Mohamed Sanu, and he’s played in one game so far. What does he add to the Patriots offense that they were missing?
It was quite a surprise when New England decided to put Josh Gordon on injured reserve after they traded for Sanu last week. The trade itself for Sanu was not all that shocking since the Patriots have had quite a ride with their wide receiver unit this season, and it appears Tom Brady wants to avoid throwing to his rookie receivers.
Sanu adds a veteran slot receiver for Brady to target, and his presence should take some pressure off fellow slot receiver Julian Edelman, who is enjoying his most productive season yet. Last week, Sanu caught two passes for 23 yards, and as he and Brady build trust, the more productive Sanu and the entire Patriots offense will be.
3) How would you expect the Patriots defense to try to handle Lamar Jackson?
The most important thing for the Patriots defense to do this Sunday to stop Lamar Jackson is to prevent big chunk plays on first down. If New England can prevent Baltimore from getting multiple net-positive plays, they will force Jackson to generate offense through the air, which is a lot less scary than Jackson generating offense on the ground. Because once Jackson gets going with his legs, Mark Ingram also gets going. The Patriots need to find a way to force Jackson to try to beat them through the air.
4) Tom Brady is still crushing it, but are any cracks starting to form in his game at 42 years old?
Brady is having a decent season, especially at the age of 42. But he has yet to face an elite passing defense. There have been several times so far this season where some of his throws and decision-making have warranted some questioning. That could be because he is just not that confident with the targets he has had. With the addition of Sanu, however, Brady is in line for a strong second half.
5) What’s your final prediction for this game, and which Patriots player besides Brady is the key for a New England victory?
With Baltimore the toughest test New England has faced all season, this should easily be the closest game that the Patriots will have played in so far. … Points should be at a premium for both offenses. But when New England needs a key play late, Brady will deliver through once again.
Besides Brady, I would have to say James White is the Patriots player that is key for victory. Outside of Edelman, White is Brady’s most trusted target and he will be heavily relied upon to help generate offense, both through the air and on the ground. Patriots 24, Ravens 17
