The Baltimore Ravens are coming off a needed bye week in week 11 of the NFL regular season as the Ravens face arguably their toughest road test of the season as they take on the New Orleans Saints.

For the Ravens, the season has been inconsistent. The team for example will follow up a week where they look great on offense and can't get a first down on a consistent basis the following week. The Ravens are very well in the AFC playoff chase however they if the season were to end today the Ravens would be on the outside looking in with a 6-4 record.

The Ravens can no longer lose important games against AFC opponents the rest of the way as they currently sit with a 3-4 record this season against AFC opponents. With matchups against the San Diego Chargers and the Miami Dolphins looming in the next three weeks for the Ravens, their season could be decided sooner than later which is why the Ravens matchup against the Saints is very critical despite the fact that the Saints are an NFC opponent. The Ravens have to treat every game from here on out like a playoff game.

The Saints enter week 12 with a 4-6 record with a legit chance to win their division as the Atlanta Falcons sit in first place in the NFC South at 4-6 with a tiebreaker over the Saints as the Falcons won the first of two matchups with the Saints earlier this season in week 1.

The Saints most likely have no options other than winning the NFC South if they want to enter the playoffs as the NFC Wild Card spots have teams in contention with at least two games above .500.

Ravens Offense - Saints Defense

On offense for the Ravens, it might sound cliche but the Ravens must make it a point to control the line of scrimmage against the Saints defense which hasn't been a hard task for the most part for other opposing offenses facing the Saints defense. For years under Saints head coach Sean Payton, the Saints have had a defense which relies on turnovers and never really stopping offenses in their tracks. The Saints defense this season is ranked 20th in the NFL in yards allowed, 20th in NFL in rushing yards allowed, 24th in the NFL in passing yards allowed and 21st in the NFL in points allowed giving up 25 points a game.

The Ravens offense is dealing with a below average defense in the Saints and there should be no excuses for the Ravens offensive line, quarterback Joe Flacco and Ravens receivers to set the tone early and put the Saints offense on their heels.

The Ravens offense enters week 12 scoring 26 points a game to go along with the 12th ranked offense in yards per game this season.

Edge on paper: Ravens

Ravens Defense - Saints Offense

While the Ravens offense shouldn't have a hard time moving the ball against the Saints defense, the opposite is true for the Ravens defense against the Saints offense. At this point in time, the Ravens defense is in no position to take any offense lightly. Yes, the Ravens only allow 18.1 points a game which is ranked fifth in the NFL. Yes, the Ravens have one of the elite run defenses in the NFL allowing under 88 yards a game rushing.

However, the Ravens pass defense ranks 21st in the NFL and going up against Saints quarterback Drew Brees with the Ravens best cornerback Jimmy Smith put on IR for the season is a match made in hell for the Ravens secondary.

With second year strong safety Matt Elam being benched in the last couple of weeks and newly acquired costless safety Will Hill getting used to seeing the field after being suspended for the first-six games of the season, the current events have created a situation where teams are not afraid to test the Ravens secondary down the field which is something the Ravens in general are not used to with the team having a legend in Ed Reed patrol the middle of the field from 2002-2012.

Opposing quarterbacks these days know better than to call running plays against a stout Ravens run defense. Opposing quarterbacks know the ticket to success is testing the Ravens secondary everywhere from screen passes to passing plays 20 yards down the field or more. The Ravens as a defense allow opposing quarterbacks to have a 92.7 passer rating this season. Brees by himself has a passer rating of 95.9 this season.

The Saints are dealing with a set back at the moment as rookie wide receiver Brandon Cooks will be out for some time with a hand injury. Pro bowl tight end Jimmy Graham with get extra attention from the Ravens defense but that easier said than done.

The Ravens know Graham will be Brees favorite target. That doesn't mean the Ravens can stop him. The deciding factor of the game will be the Ravens ability to get off the field on third down and there is a good chance that Brees throws the ball in those situations. The Ravens are ranked 20th in the NFL passing plays resulting in first downs allowed and the Brees is second in the NFL passing plays converted for first downs.

Edge on Paper: Saints


Final Score Prediction: Ravens 31-Saints 20

The Saints will get their points but the Ravens had an extra week to prepare and had a much needed rest. It won't be easy, but the Ravens handle their business on offense and keep the Saints offense off the field.

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