Baltimore @ Carolina preview
Bank of America Stadium
Last Meeting ( Aug 11, 2016 ) Carolina 19, Baltimore 22
The Carolina Panthers aim for their ninth consecutive home victory when they host the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday in a matchup of playoff hopefuls searching for more consistency on offense. The Ravens have won the last two meetings, including a 38-10 romp in the most recent clash in 2014.
The teams went in opposite directions in the fourth quarter of close games last week, as Baltimore lost 24-23 against New Orleans when Justin Tucker’s potential game-tying extra point went wide right, while the Panthers rallied from a 17-point, fourth-quarter deficit for a 21-17 win at Philadelphia. While Carolina benefited from Cam Newton’s 17th career game-winning drive, the Ravens lost by fewer than four points for the second time in three games. “I think we’re playing really well, but good teams win those football games,” Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco told reporters. “We’re getting to the point where it doesn’t matter too much what you’re going to gain from things, it just matters (that you win). It doesn’t really matter how well you play and how pretty it looks either. You just have to win the football game.” Sunday's contest will feature five of the top six active players in career tackles - Thomas Davis (1,009), Eric Weddle (1,000), Luke Kuechly (871), Terrell Suggs (830) and Mike Adams (824).
TV: 1 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Ravens -2. O/U: 44
ABOUT THE RAVENS (4-3): Baltimore possesses the league’s best defense, as it is holding opponents to 14.4 points and 280.6 yards per game. The offense hasn’t been as consistent, due in part to an inability to establish the run. Flacco is averaging 295.3 passing yards while throwing 11 touchdown passes and four interceptions, but the Ravens' 3.4 yards per carry is the second-worst mark in the league.
ABOUT THE PANTHERS (4-2): Carolina did some damage through the air in the fourth quarter last week, but Newton’s passing numbers have been pedestrian. He averages 237.8 yards but adds 42.8 on the ground to complement the versatile Christian McCaffrey, giving the team the league's fourth-best rushing offense. The defense thrives on takeaways as it has forced nine turnovers in Carolina's four wins and only one in two losses.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Baltimore leads the league with 27 sacks, including 5.5 apiece from OLBs Suggs and Za’Darius Smith.
2. Carolina’s 65 points and plus-29 scoring margin in the fourth quarter both rank second in the league behind New Orleans.
3. The Ravens force opposing offenses to go three-and-out 28 percent of the time, which makes them the second-best team in the NFL in that category.
PREDICTION: Panthers 23, Ravens 20