Baltimore Ravens: Justin Forsett will be X-Factor in Week 3

By Nick Ziegler | Sep 26, 2015

The Baltimore Ravens are off to a poor start in 2015 after a nice season in 2014 that resulted in a trip to the playoffs.

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In the first two weeks of the 2015 season, the Ravens have lost both of their games to AFC West teams. In Week 1, the Ravens’ offense was unable to get going against the Denver Broncos, and that resulted in a 19-13 loss. The loss to the Broncos also came with a huge causality, as Terrell Suggs suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

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The loss of Suggs is a crushing blow to the Ravens’€™ defense, but it isn’t one that should automatically end their season. In recent years, the Ravens have become much more of a balanced team in terms of having both a good offense and defense.

The emergence of Joe Flacco as a very good quarterback has changed some of the philosophy in Baltimore, as he was paid very handsomely for his part in helping them win a Super Bowl.

In Week 2, the Ravens offense woke up after a slow first week of the season, but that wasn’€™t enough to win.

The NFL didn’€™t do the Ravens any favors when they made their schedule starting this season, as they were right back on the West Coast in Week 2 against the Oakland Raiders. In a classic trap game due to the travel, the Ravens were defeated in a shootout by Derek Carr and the Raiders.

One of the keys for the Ravens in the 2014 season was the play of running back Justin Forsett. The Ray Rice saga left the Ravens with a running back by committee to start the 2014 season, but it was Forsett who emerged from the rest of the pack to become their every-down back.

In 2014, Forsett totaled 1,266 rushing yards, eight rushing touchdowns, and a 5.4 yards per carry average. Forsett’s original role in 2014 was to be the third-down back, and he continued to be a good receiver out of the backfield as a starter, as he totaled 44 receptions, and 263 receiving yards.

September 20, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Justin Forsett (29) warms up before the game against the Oakland Raiders at O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Ravens 37-33. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The unexpected production from Forsett really helped the Ravens’€™ offense last season, and it also helped the bank account of Forsett. In the offseason, the Ravens re-signed Forsett to an affordable three-year, $9 million deal to be their starting running back once more in 2015.

Like the rest of the Ravens, Forsett struggled against the talented defense of the Denver Broncos, as he totaled 43 rushing yards and 13 receiving yards in a disappointing showing. Forsett did a bit better in Week 2 against the Raiders, as he totaled 68 rushing yards on 15 carries, but it was a bit of a disappointment after what the Cincinnati Bengals’€™ running game did to the Raiders in Week 1.

Week 3 will be a bit of a do-or-die game for the Ravens, as they will be facing off with the 2-0 Bengals at home. The Bengals are off to a good start in 2015 with wins against the Raiders and the San Diego Chargers. A loss to the Bengals would mean the Ravens would be 0-3 and virtually dead in a division that has the Bengals and the Pittsburgh Steelers in it.

If the Ravens are going to avoid the dreaded 0-3 start, they need Forsett to find the success that he had in 2015 to help the Ravens control the game.

Next: 5 reasons why the Ravens will make the playoffs

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