Jets Opponent Profile: NY Looks To Stop The Bleeding Versus Ravens In Week 7
By Abraham Gutierrez
A pair of head coaches feeling their seats getting warmer square off in Week 7, as John Harbaugh's Baltimore Ravens visit Todd Bowles' New York Jets in a game in where "Something's Gotta Give." MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey will be the site for this AFC North vs. AFC East contest. Opening kickoff is scheduled for Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. ET and it will be broadcast live on CBS.
The last time these teams met on the gridiron dates back to Nov. 24, 2013, when the Ravens defeated the visiting Jets by a final score of 19-3 at M&T Bank Stadium. Needless to say, this has been a one-sided series with Baltimore leading the way 8-1, and riding the momentum of an eight-game win streak over New York.
Ravens Season Record: 3-3
After a perfect 3-0 start, the Ravens have cooled down significantly and come into Week 7 of the 2016 NFL season losers of three straight ballgames. Nevertheless, Harbaugh & Co. find themselves sitting in second place in the AFC North, trailing only the division-leading (4-2) Pittsburgh Steelers.
Thus far this season, the Ravens have proven to play better away from M&T Bank Stadium, as they're 1-2 at home and 2-1 on the road. Baltimore is also 1-0 in intra divisional games, 3-1 against the AFC and 0-2 versus non-conference foes.
Ravens on Offense
The Ravens offensive coordinator is Marty Mornhinweg, who's also the team's quarterback coach. "Air Marty" employs a West Coast offensive scheme, which he perfected through the years under the tutelage of former San Francisco 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci and the Kansas City Chiefs' Andy Reid.
However, this season has gotten off to a sub-par start for quarterback Joe Flacco and this offense. Entering Week 7, the Ravens offensive unit ranks 24th in the NFL in points per game (19.5), 20th in total yards (347.0), 16th in passing yards (248.2) and 18th in rushing yards per game (98.8).
Ravens on Defense
Defensive coordinator Dean Pees is in charge of a Baltimore resistance that comes into Week 7 ranked in the top 10 in all four major statistical categories. Through six games, the Ravens defense is No. 1 in the league at defending the rush, yielding less than 70 yards per game (69.7).
This bruising defensive unit is also third in the NFL in total yards allowed (294.8), and ninth in both points (19.2) and passing yards per game (225.2). This year's results are thanks in part to the work Pees has done over the years. Thus, after much criticism, he's finally gotten this "bend but don't break" defense to respectable status for the first time since taking over the DC role in 2012.
Ravens Players To Watch
On the offensive side of the football, the Ravens player to keep an eye out for is quarterback Joe Flacco (164-of-264,1,589 yards, 5 TDs and 4 INTs). Despite getting off to a slow start, the ninth-year man out of Delaware still has the ability to take over games through the air.
On the opposite side of the rock, whoever starts at the quarterback position for the Jets must know where inside linebacker, C.J. Mosley is at all times. That's because the third-year man out of Alabama is currently tied for second place in the National Football League with three interceptions. With Ryan Fitzpatrick – who's projected to be the starter on Sunday – leading the league in interceptions (11), not accounting for Mosley could make for a long afternoon for the home team.
Ravens vs Jets (NFL Week 7) Outlook
Despite all the controversy happening in the Big Apple, NFL oddsmakers have listed the Jets (-1) as ATS betting favorites over the visiting Ravens (+1). The OVER/UNDER is set at a combined total of 41½ points and straight-up money lines go as follows: Baltimore Ravens (-110) vs. NY Jets (-110).