The Baltimore Ravens may look like a heavy favorite on paper, but Sunday brings a much sharper test than the matchup might suggest.
The concern starts up front. Baltimore’s offensive line had its rough spots in Week 1, even in a dominant win, and the Saints have a front that can make those issues matter fast.
Lamar Jackson was pressured on 14 of his dropbacks, and while he handled that pressure well, the setup changes if Zay Flowers is likely sidelined. The Ravens also got a reminder that their interior protection is still a work in progress, with Vega Ioane and Jovaughn Gwyn struggling in pass protection.
That’s where Cameron Jordan comes in.
Listed as an edge rusher, Jordan is used all over the line and can move inside to attack weaker matchups. That flexibility gives New Orleans a clear path to test Baltimore’s young interior duo, especially with Ioane and Gwyn both making just their second career start.
Jordan’s experience is the kind of problem that can snowball for inexperienced linemen, and at 37 he’s still bringing real production to the table. The eight-time Pro Bowler finished last season with 10.5 sacks and remains a strong run defender as well.
He missed Week 1 with an injury, but he is set to play Sunday.
Baltimore’s issues don’t stop there. Ronnie Stanley and John Simpson are questionable after missing two practices earlier in the week.
Even if they suit up, they may not be operating at full strength. Stanley, in particular, had a rough opener, finishing with a 56.3 PFF grade.
If Jordan gets his chances on the edge, he could force either Stanley or backup Carson Vinson into a long afternoon.
And Jordan isn’t the only Saints problem the Ravens have to sort through. Chase Young and Kaden Elliss also give New Orleans more disruption in the front seven.
For Baltimore, the mission is straightforward: protect Lamar Jackson and keep the ground game moving with Derrick Henry. That’s easier said than done with the line situation the Ravens are carrying into this one.
The good news for Baltimore is that New Orleans allowed the Detroit Lions to put up 31 points and 369 yards, including 165 yards rushing. And Jackson and Henry have enough talent to overcome some ugly moments.
Still, the Saints have enough up front to make this uncomfortable. Cameron Jordan gives Baltimore’s doubt-filled offensive line a very clear test.
In Other News...
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For a team that wants to set the tone at M&T Bank Stadium, those concerns matter beyond one game. Flowers changes the way defenses have to line up, Stanley changes the way the line can hold up, and both situations could influence how Baltimore leans into its game plan against New Orleans. The opener still offers an early chance to build on Week 1, but it also comes with an obvious test the Ravens would rather not be managing this soon. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Suddenly Have One Big Week 2 Concern Fans Will Feel
The Ravens are heading into Week 2 with a little more uncertainty than they probably wanted after opening weekend, as several key starters have landed on the injury report while they get ready for the Saints. Zay Flowers, John Simpson and Ronnie Stanley were all limited in practice, and the groups availability could shape how Baltimore approaches a game that already carries some early-season pressure.
For a team built to start fast, the health of those names matters on both sides of the ball, especially with the Saints coming next. Baltimore is still sorting through the bumps and bruises of the first week, and the questions around Flowers, Simpson, Stanley and Trey Hendrickson give this matchup a more uneasy feel than the Ravens likely hoped for this early in the season. [Read more 🡒]