The Baltimore Ravens are coming off of a loss against the Green Bay Packers. Baltimore was dominated in every phase of the game Monday night and is coming in to Sunday’s game with Detroit reeling from injuries. If there’s a week that the Ravens should rest their injured players for the stretch one, it’s this week.
It’s not that Detroit isn’t improving, they are, but they are still brutally bad. The Lions were beat up by Cincinnati last Sunday and are going as far as resting rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford this week. This game is shaping up very badly for Detroit. The Lions are choosing to start Daunte Culpepper who hasn’t been on his game in years. Although the defense is getting better, they still may have trouble keeping up with the Ravens.
On Baltimore’s side, starters like Ed Reed, Jared Gaither, Jarret Johnson and Mark Clayton are all battling injuries. If I was John Harbaugh, I’d rest them for at least this week, possibly next week as well. Reed is dealing with a leg issue, Clayton has a pulled hamstring, Johnson and Gaither are just banged up. Terrell Suggs is also trying to come back from a knee injury. Suggs, in my opinion, should rest another week unless it is totally necessary for him to return. If Clayton doesn’t play, I’m going to be looking for Kelley Washington and Demetrius Williams to get the bulk of the time in Clayton’s slot.
The other player battling injuries, but continues to play and practice through it, is Joe Flacco. Flacco has been battling a hip and ankle injuries for some time now. If Baltimore gets up by enough, I say Harbaugh should take him out and put Troy Smith in. For one, it’ll give Flacco’s body a little more time recover for next Sunday. Secondly, just in case something does happen to Flacco, Smith will have had some playing time with the team and can knock off some rust.
Better defensive play and, hopefully, better red zone decisions and conversions, well lead to a 31-10 win over Detroit.
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