This week’s Sunday slate featured intriguing matchups like the Los Angeles Rams at Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos at Los Angeles Chargers, but neither compares to what Monday Night Football has in store for us. Coming off a 52-21 dismantling of the Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions are now tasked to visit the Baltimore Ravens‘ M&T Bank Stadium and walk out with a win.
It’ll be much easier said than done, as Lamar Jackson‘s offensive firepower has yet to be cooled off to any extent, and his defense’s weak spots look to have been sured up for the most part. Without further ado, let’s jump right into the three keys to the game to assist you in any fantasy matchups and betting propositions. Before that, be sure to check out my profile here for more similar NFL content.
3 Keys for Lions vs. Ravens Monday Night Football
1. How Well Can the Lions’ Front Seven Contain Lamar Jackson?
The number one key to stopping Jackson and the Ravens defense? Making him only do one thing well – run, or pass. Letting him dominate at both is nearly a death sentence for any defense. Through two weeks, the Lions currently rank 13th in rush defense. There have been examples of missed assignments that led to them giving up chunk plays, as seen recently against the Bears.
In 2024, the Lions gave up 454 rushing yards to quarterbacks, fourth most in the league, which is especially concerning for this week. While starting linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jack Campbell are both upper-tier starters, they simply don’t have the sideline-to-sideline agility to keep up with Lamar Jackson that Zack Baun or Fred Warner might. On top of that, their interior defensive line hasn’t been particularly impressive so far, meaning that Jackson should be able to pick and choose to escape the pocket whenever he likes.
2. Can the Ravens’ Secondary Continue Its Positive Trajectory?
Everyone was well aware of Baltimore’s glaring weakness in the secondary last year. From playing star safety Kyle Hamilton out of position to injuries and poor scheme, the Ravens’ defensive backs got exposed. Since then, they added veteran corners Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie, drafted safety Malaki Starks in the first round, and developed 2024 first-round pick Nate Wiggins, who’s turning into one of the best young cornerbacks in the league. The numbers have looked better for the most part, besides letting Josh Allen turn into prime Tom Brady in week one.
They’re improving at just the right time, as the Lions offense exploded for nearly 350 passing yards and 11.9 yards per attempt – almost five yards over 2024’s average of yards per throw of 7.09. Both Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams cleared the 100-yard mark and caught four total touchdowns, proving their case for being one of the league’s top duos. It’ll be a tough task walking into the Ravens’ home and putting up similar numbers, but if anyone has the weapons to do so, it’s Jared Goff.
3. Will Zay Flowers Be Able to Stretch the Field?
The Ravens may not have many extremely talented pass catchers, but there’s no doubt Zay Flowers ranks number one on that list. The third-year pro from Boston College has shown impressive development so far this year, racking up 218 yards on 14 catches and one touchdown through two weeks. There’s no doubt he’s been one of the top receivers to start the year so far, showcasing his ability to make defenders cover every inch of the field with his game-breaking quickness and speed.
Matched up against him will be prized offseason acquisition D.J. Reed, who’s mostly lived up to the hype so far, holding opposing receivers to 81 yards on seven catches thus far. Reed was never the fastest at his position, so he will likely need a consistent level of safety help to ensure Flowers doesn’t go over the top. Regardless, he should be able to keep Flowers somewhat in check.
Main Image: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images
