The Brock Purdy hype train derailed on Christmas night, but given the opponent, that shouldn’t have been a surprise.
The Baltimore Ravens seem to have figured out Kyle Shanahan’s offense. And if they do to Mike McDaniel and the Miami Dolphins in Week 17 what they did to Shanahan and the San Francisco 49ers in Week 18, they’ll be the clear front-runners to win Super Bowl 58.
Miami Dolphins’ Mike McDaniel Faces Ultimate Test
“We play a brand of football people don’t want to play,” Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen said after Baltimore’s 33-19 victory over San Francisco Monday night. “Everybody want to be out here playing cute, playing basketball on grass & we ain’t with that.
“You can do all that stuff, you’re just gonna get hit in the mouth every play, honestly. We could care less about all the pretty stuff that you can do, gimmick stuff. You still got to line up and play football, you still got to get touched. That’s our mindset. That’s how we’re going to come out and hit people in the mouth.”
What a message by Patrick Queen.
“Everybody want to be out here cute playing basketball on grass and everything… you can do all that stuff you’re just gonna get hit in the mouth every play”
The Ravens defense took tonight personally.pic.twitter.com/rD9Iq5mz2V
— Ryan Ripken (@ryanripken) December 26, 2023
Let’s translate that for those who don’t speak trash talk: Queen thinks the Shanahan-McDaniel offense is a gimmick that can be mauled into submission.
And given Baltimore’s recent history, that take is justified.
MORE: Miami Dolphins Playoff Scenarios — How Likely Is a Bills-Dolphins Wild Card Matchup?
Two of the Ravens’ most impressive defensive performances of the season have come against Shanahan and a Shanahan disciple. (Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik before this year spent his entire career working for Shanahan.)
This Sunday will mark the fourth time in 16 games the Ravens have gone up against Shanahan or a former Shanahan assistant. Here’s how they faired, plus a brief overview of the Ravens’ top-ranked defense.
Week 1: vs. Houston Texans
- Offensive coordinator: Bobby Slowik
- Points per drive: .8
- Yards per play: 3.7
- Yards per carry: 3.1
- Yards per pass: 5.5
- Third downs: 38.9%
- Red zone: 0%
- EPA: -293
- Success Rate: 30.3%
- Dropback EPA: -.258
- Dropback success rate: 33.3%
- Rush EPA: -.397
- Rush success rate: 21.1%
- Quarterback hits: 7
- Tackles for loss: 5
- Turnovers: 1
Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Play caller: Sean McVay
- Points per drive: 2.2
- Yards per play: 5.6
- Yards per carry: 4.3
- Yards per pass: 6.6
- Third downs: 37.5%
- Red zone: 60%
- EPA: .144
- Success rate: 44%
- Dropback EPA: .193
- Dropback success rate: 37%
- Rush EPA: .065
- Rush success rate: 55.2%
- Quarterback hits: 10
- Tackles for loss: 8
- Turnovers: 0
Week 16: at San Francisco 49ers
- Play caller: Kyle Shanahan
- Points per drive: .9
- Yards per play: 6.3
- Yards per carry: 6.7
- Yards per pass: 6.2
- Third downs: 42.9%
- Red zone: 50%
- EPA: -.165
- Success Rate: 44.3%
- Dropback EPA: -.264
- Dropback success rate: 43.4%
- Rush EPA: .144
- Rush success rate: 47.1%
- Quarterback hits: 4
- Tackles for loss: 6
- Turnovers: 5
Baltimore Ravens Defensive Profile
- Defensive coordinator: Mike Macdonald
- Yards per play: 4.6 (second)
- Points per game: 16.3 (first)
- Yards per carry: 4.4 (22nd)
- Yards per pass: 5.1 (first)
- Interception rate: 2.8% (10th)
- Sack rate: 9.4% (sixth)
- Blitz rate: 21.5% (20th)
- Hurry rate: 3.5% (31st)
- Pressure rate: 18.8% (26th)
- First downs per game: 18 (fourth)
- Third down rate: 35.9% (fifth)
- Red zone rate: 38.6% (third)
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