The Baltimore Ravens’ Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints seemed like a potential trap game with an early 8.5-point line. A perfect storm of injuries, penalties, coaching miscues, and some poor officiating brought about a Ravens loss by seven points, representing a 15.5-point swing from the original line.
Week 4 seems significantly less likely to bring such surprises. The Ravens are 11.5-point favorites for their upcoming face-off with the winless Tennessee Titans (via FanDuel Sportsbook). Robert Saleh’s defense ranks 10th in points and yards allowed, but the Titans offense has mustered just 37 points and 748 yards through three games, both bottom-three marks in the NFL.
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Saleh has been in this position before. The last time he faced the Ravens, his 2022 Jets defense held Lamar Jackson to just 230 total yards and the rest of Baltimore’s backfield to just 46 rushing yards. New York’s offense, though, produced only two field goals, went two-for-14 on third down, and turned the ball over three times, leading to a 24-6 Ravens victory.
This week’s contest could go in a similar direction. The Ravens are scrambling for answers along their offensive line after “long-term” injuries to Jovaughn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic, the only centers on the 53-man roster or practice squad. First-round rookie Vega Ioane is likely the team’s immediate answer, but that will bring Andrew Vorhees into the starting lineup at right guard. Not only will Ioane have to pick up the center position after just a handful of snaps there during his 2024 junior season at Penn State, Vorhees will also have to bounce back after a rough 2025 campaign as the Ravens’ starting left guard.
Head coach Jesse Minter was optimistic about left tackle Ronnie Stanley’s status during his Monday press conference, but his ability to return from a toe injury also remains to be seen. 2025 fifth-round pick Carson Vinson held up in his first regular-season start and the Titans’ edge rushers have not been especially productive so far, so that may be less of a concern than the interior shuffle.
With Zay Flowers trending in a positive direction, the Ravens offense should still be able to put up points, but it may not be able to mount long drives and dominate every second of possession time. Baltimore’s defense, though, will have a chance for a confidence-builder against their easiest opponent of the season. Tennessee is dealing with similar injury issues at right guard after placing starter Fernando Carmona and backup Jackson Slater on IR. Their running game has been solid, but quarterback Cam Ward is averaging just 168 passing yards per game and 5.7 yards per attempt. If the Ravens can built any sort of a lead and force Ward to start dropping back, their defensive line and secondary could feast.
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