Baltimore Ravens: 3 Bold predictions vs. Steelers, Week 5

The Baltimore Ravens are reeling after two straight losses but can get into the win column again emphatically with a Week 5 matchup against the Steelers.

After two weeks, the Baltimore Ravens were one of the buzziest teams in the NFL. They were unbeaten and, with an improved Lamar Jackson helming the offense, the word “contender” was being thrown around. In the two weeks since, however, the team and the hype has had plenty of cold water dumped on it.

The Ravens now enter a home matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5 coming off of two consecutive losses to the Chiefs and Browns. Playing a 1-3 team is certainly a gift for Baltimore but they also can’t overlook a divisional opponent that, for all their flaws, are coming off of their best outing of the young season.

Will Baltimore be able to capitalize on Mason Rudolph playing quarterback and a defense that has been porous through four weeks? This trio of bold predictions for the Ravens in Week 5 should tell the tale.

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3. Hollywood has first 100-yard day since Week 1

Since exploding in Week 1 with four catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns, Marquise Brown‘s production has dropped each week, including managing just 22 yards against the Browns last week. Even more curious, though, is that Brown has actually been getting more looks but hasn’t been able to capitalize.

Brown leads the Ravens in targets through four weeks with 34. If that trend continues against the Steelers secondary that, even with Minkah Fitzpatrick, still has plenty of shortcomings in coverage, Brown’s speed will put him in position for big plays. In Week 5, he’ll finally capitalize again and get his rookie year back on track with a 100-yard outing.

2. Humphrey gets a pick off Rudolph

Over the first four games, the Ravens defense has been called into question. And one of the primary concerns is that the team isn’t forcing turnovers, particularly with a secondary that has just three interceptions on the year. Up against Mason Rudolph, though, this unit will turn the tide — Marlon Humphrey in particular.

With JuJu Smith-Schuster potentially out for Sunday’s matchup, the Steelers receiving corps is going to be shaky at best and they have a second-string quarterback getting them the ball. That won’t work out well if he tries to attack a lockdown player like Humphrey and the corner will make him pay by taking possession away.

1. Jackson, Ingram combine for 250 rushing yards

While the improved passing of Lamar Jackson has been in focus to start the 2019 campaign, we should not overlook how explosive the Baltimore Ravens rushing attack has been thus far. Through four games, the team is averaging over 200 yards per game on the ground, with Mark Ingram having 328 yards, Jackson having 238 and Gus Edwards chipping in 148.

Meanwhile, the Steelers run defense has been quite lackluster in the 3-1 start to the year, conceding 122.8 yards per game on the ground thus far on the year. Ingram and Jackson are going to have a party against this weak linebacker group for Pittsburgh and dominate the action, combining for 250 yards rushing and perhaps both topping 100 yards individually.