The Baltimore Ravens (6-4) and New Orleans Saints (4-6) meet in a Monday Night Football matchup between two teams that both need a win to remain in the hunt for a coveted playoff spot. The Ravens are looking for their first playoff berth since 2012, while Saints are trying to reach the postseason for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
‘Monday Night Football,’ Ravens vs. Saints 2014: New Orleans looks to snap home skid against Baltimore
The Saints and Ravens both need a win to keep their postseason hopes alive.
Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
The Saints are only in position to make the playoffs because they play in the wretched NFC South, which could go down as one of the worst divisions in NFL history. For just the second time since the AFL/NFL merger, every team in a division is at least two games under .500 this late in the season. The first time was in 2010, when the 7-9 Seattle Seahawks won the NFC West. The Saints are currently tied atop the division with the Atlanta Falcons, who own the head-to-head tiebreaker after beating New Orleans in Week 1. The two teams will face off at the Superdome in Week 16.
The Ravens probably wish they could be in the NFC South, as their 6-4 record would give them a comfortable lead in that division. Instead they play in the chaotic AFC North, where every team is at least two games above .500 and the first- and last-place teams are separated by less than a game. According to playoff odds at Football Outsiders, the Ravens are projected to win the division, primarily because they have the easiest remaining schedule among the AFC North teams and also have the best point differential in the division through 10 games.
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The Saints typically have enjoyed one of the NFL's best homefield advantages, but that hasn't been the case recently. They have dropped their last two games at the Superdome and are trying to avoid their first three-game slide at home in a single season since 2005. The problem has been on offense, where the Saints have scored just 34 points in their last two home games combined. Prior to their 27-10 loss last Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Saints had scored at least 20 points in an NFL-record 28 straight regular season games at home.
New Orleans does have one long-standing streak still alive at the Superdome entering Monday night. The Saints have won 14 consecutive primetime home games (including the playoffs), by an average of almost 20 points per game. Drew Brees has also won seven straight home starts on Monday Night Football, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Peyton Manning holds all-time record -- which remains active -- of eight.
If the Ravens are going to slow down the Saints' high-powered passing attack, they'll need an improved effort from their mediocre secondary. Baltimore ranks in the bottom half of the league in opponent passer rating (19th), yards per attempt (20th) and completion percentage (23rd). The team has allowed four quarterbacks to throw for over 300 yards, including Ben Roethlisberger, who also torched the Ravens for six touchdown passes in a Week 9 loss at Pittsburgh.
Drew Brees has had some issues this season with turnovers (10 interceptions in 10 games) but still remains one of the most skilled quarterbacks in the league. He ranks sixth in Total QBR (73.5) and has a NFL-best completion percentage of 69.5 percent. However, he has not been able to solve the Ravens’ defense in his career. Brees is 0-3 vs Baltimore, the only team he has never beaten.
Who to Watch
Justin Forsett - The journeyman running back has a starting job for the first time in his seven NFL seasons, and based on his breakout performance this year, has no plans to ride the pine again. He leads all running backs in yards per rush (5.2), and is rated as the fourth overall tailback in the league by Pro Football Focus.
The Ravens need to get Forsett more involved in the offense down the stretch if they are going to make a late postseason push. He has carried the ball at least 20 times in a game just twice, despite the fact that he has proven to be one of the league’s most efficient rushers.
Jimmy Graham - Graham was targeted only three times last Sunday against the Bengals, a rare quiet game for the All-Pro tight end. It's a mystery why Brees did not look for his favorite wideout near the end zone in that loss last week. Since the start of last season, no player has more red zone touchdown catches than Graham (17).
Despite being hampered by injuries earlier in the season, Graham still leads all tight ends in receptions (59) and ranks third in receiving yards (623). He should easily pad those stats on Monday night against a Ravens team that has struggled in coverage against tight ends this season. Opposing tight ends are averaging 13.1 yards per reception against the Ravens (third-highest in NFL), and Football Outsiders ranks them 20th in pass defense against tight ends.
The Venue
The Mercedes-Benz Superdome opened in 1975 and has received significant renovations over the past decade, including $85 million in upgrades since 2010. It has hosted seven Super Bowls and is known as one of the premier facilities in the country for hosting big sporting events. The Superdome has long been considered one of the toughest places to play in the NFL, and one of the reasons is the deafening crowd noise that seems to be on the verge of blowing through the roof at any time.
How to Watch
Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
When: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
Announcers: Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden
Online streaming: Verizon NFL Mobile | WatchESPN
Odds
New Orleans is favored at home by 3 points over Baltimore, with an over/under of 50, per OddsShark.
Further Reading
For more on the Ravens, head over to Baltimore Beatdown.
To keep up on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles.
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