Detroit Lions recreation vs Baltimore Ravens: Scouting report and prediction – Detroit Free Press

Quick information: 8:15 p.m. ET, Sept. 22; M&T Financial institution Stadium, Baltimore; ESPN; WXYT-FM (97.1).
Line: Ravens by 4½.
The coaches: Lions — Dan Campbell (45-36-1 general, 40-29-1 with Lions); Ravens — John Harbaugh (173-105 general)
Final assembly: Oct. 22, 2023, Ravens won 38-6.
It isn’t going to seize as many headlines because the matchup between Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen did in Week 1, however the matchup between Jackson and Lions quarterback Jared Goff is one other tilt between elite NFL passers.
Goff? Elite? Yup, here is the proof. After ending fifth in MVP voting in 2024, Goff, by way of two video games, leads the NFL in completion share (80.6%), is tied for first in passing touchdowns (six) and is second in quarterback ranking (82.1) in 2025. However who’s first in quarterback ranking in 2025?
That might be Jackson (83.3), the long run Corridor-of-Famer whose six passing touchdowns tie Goff for essentially the most within the NFL this season. And whereas Jackson hasn’t been almost as prolific on the bottom to this point in 2025, his 10.4 yards per carry are essentially the most of any participant with at the least eight makes an attempt to this point this season. Not essentially the most of any quarterback, thoughts you, however essentially the most of any NFL rusher.
This will probably be a distinction of kinds between a conventional however highly-effective pocket passer and a do-it-all playmaker, who’s efficient contained in the pocket, exterior the pocket, downfield and in every single place between. It isn’t controversial to say the Ravens have the sting within the quarterback division, however the man the Lions have taking snaps has been almost as productive because the two-time MVP — at the least to this point in 2025.
The Lions’ passing assault was particularly efficient down the center of the sector in Sunday’s 52-21 win over the Chicago Bears, with Goff discovering open swaths of discipline for midrange passes to tight finish Sam LaPorta, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and particularly on deep throws to broad receiver Jameson Williams. Leveraging the center of the sector goes to be vital as soon as once more for the Lions to take advantage of a gifted however weak Ravens’ secondary.
However the Ravens aren’t the Bears, which suggests the Lions might need to work much more to open up the center on Monday evening than they did final Sunday.
Enter: working again David Montgomery, who the Lions wish to get going towards the Ravens. Montgomery’s capability to break down defenses along with his inside working does not should be the focus of the Lions offense, which has loads of different weapons. But when the specter of Montgomery carrying the ball can get All-Professional linebacker Roquan Smith to step ahead on play-action passes, that may depart sufficient room for LaPorta and St. Brown to work their magic down the center.
It is simpler stated than carried out, in fact, particularly because the Lions have not actually gotten the working recreation going at its peak, excluding a number of explosive performs from working again Jahmyr Gibbs final Sunday. But when Montgomery’s gravity opens up the sector, it could possibly be one other pass-fest for the Lions on Monday.
Here is one massive query that continues to be concerning the Lions’ offense after getting again on monitor in Week 2: Did the offensive line actually repair its communication points from a Week 1 loss in Inexperienced Bay? Or did friendlier confines at Ford Subject masks a difficulty that can creep up once more on the street in Baltimore?
It is unclear proper now what the reply is, but when a new-look offensive line that options first-year starters Tate Ratledge and Christian Mahogany can move block for Goff in addition to it did towards the Bears, this Lions’ passing assault has a transparent edge over Baltimore’s secondary.
In any case, the Ravens have given up 298 passing yards per recreation in 2025, which is the second-worst mark within the NFL. That stat may be a bit of deceptive, because it consists of the 389 passing yards they gave as much as Allen and the Payments in Week 1. Then once more, it might be predictive, because the Lions look to have a extra prolific passing assault than the Payments, even with out the reigning MVP at their disposal.
As for the speeding recreation, that is the place the Ravens might need the benefit, with stars reminiscent of Roquan Smith and Professional Bowl defensive deal with Nnamdi Madubuike as a part of a hefty set of run-stoppers (it is price nothing that Madubuike didn’t follow on Thursday and has been coping with accidents this season). However the Lions do not want Montgomery and Gibbs to be nice — they simply want them to be ok to maintain the Ravens’ entrance seven on its toes. The O-line could have a lot to say on that entrance.
If the Lions’ offensive line performs prefer it did on Sunday, then the Lions have the sting over an admittedly gifted Baltimore protection. And if Monday’s recreation results in a shootout, that edge might show to be pivotal. Edge: Lions.
The Ravens speeding offense, that includes arguably essentially the most unstoppable set of runners the NFL has ever seen, would possibly have the ability to do no matter it needs on Monday.
That is going to rely upon how rookie defensive deal with Tyleik Williams plus a banged-up linebacker corps responds to Jackson and All-Professional working again Derrick Henry, who already has 192 speeding yards on simply 29 carries this season (a cool 6.6 yards per try). Campbell this week emphasised the Lions’ protection swarming the ball and gang tackling to assist neutralize Jackson and Henry, however there’s solely a lot the Lions can comprise towards what’s, on paper, essentially the most gifted speeding offense within the NFL.
And if the Lions can someway restrict Baltimore’s run recreation, the Ravens can nonetheless strike by way of the air, with Professional Bowler Zay Flowers and veteran DeAndre Hopkins lining up out broad. That is a matchup nightmare for the Lions secondary, which allowed Bears receiver Rome Odunze to place up 128 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven catches on Sunday.
The perfect hope the Lions protection has is thru turnovers. Jackson is not precisely weak to interceptions, with an absurd 41-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2024. But when the Lions can choose off Jackson simply as soon as or recuperate only one fumble, that would swing the benefit to the Lions. However that is rather a lot to ask for, particularly for a protection that has seemed good, however not nice, towards lesser offensive items. Edge: Ravens.
It is potential the Lions mounted the whole lot that ailed them with their Week 2 beatdown of the Bears and nonetheless stand among the many league’s greatest groups, however two points stay for Detroit’s upcoming Monday evening recreation: the Ravens have extra expertise on offense, and the Ravens are enjoying at house.
Here is one win situation for the Lions: the Ravens cough up a fumble on particular groups and Jackson throws his first interception of the season, giving the Lions two further possessions towards a drained Ravens protection. They beat the Ravens at their very own recreation with short-yardage good points from Gibbs and Montgomery adopted by explosive performs to St. Brown and Williams that rack up the factors on the street. And although the Lions protection struggles to comprise Jackson and Henry, affected person possessions and purple zone conversions from the Lions offense discover the sting in a barnburner, with the Lions taking a 48-45 win on the street.
However that might require so many issues to swing within the Lions favor, which, sadly, simply is not probably towards what may be the perfect workforce within the NFL. The Ravens are the higher workforce, and in addition extremely motivated to show it at house in entrance of a nationwide viewers. The choose: Ravens 42, Lions 30.
The Lions bought again on monitor in a giant means final week towards the Chicago Bears however have their fingers full this week with the workforce I regard as the perfect within the NFL. The Ravens are averaging 40.5 factors by way of the primary two weeks and have the league’s greatest speeding assault with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
They are not invincible: Henry has two fumbles and Josh Allen had his means with Baltimore’s move protection within the Buffalo Payments’ Week 1 comeback victory. However enjoying a Monday evening recreation on the street is one other stern check for the Lions’ younger offensive line.
The Lions took a butt-kicking final time they went to Baltimore. Dan Campbell’s team has typically been all-in in revenge video games, however I do not see them strolling away victorious in a possible Tremendous Bowl preview. The choose: Ravens 31, Lions 27.
You’ll be able to attain Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

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