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 proportion (80.6%), is tied for first in passing touchdowns (six) and is second in quarterback score (82.1) in 2025. However who’s first in quarterback score in 2025?
That may 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 practically as prolific on the bottom up to now in 2025, his 10.4 yards per carry are essentially the most of any participant with no less than eight makes an attempt up to now this season. Not essentially the most of any quarterback, thoughts you, however essentially the most of any NFL rusher.
This can be a distinction of types between a standard however highly-effective pocket passer and a do-it-all playmaker, who’s efficient contained in the pocket, outdoors 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 practically as productive because the two-time MVP — no less than up to now 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 subject for midrange passes to tight finish Sam LaPorta, receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown and particularly on deep throws to large receiver Jameson Williams. Leveraging the center of the sector goes to be necessary as soon as once more for the Lions to take advantage of a gifted however susceptible Ravens’ secondary.
However the Ravens aren’t the Bears, which implies the Lions may need to work much more to open up the center on Monday night time than they did final Sunday.
Enter: operating again David Montgomery, who the Lions wish to get going in opposition to the Ravens. Montgomery’s capability to break down defenses along with his inside operating would not should be the point of interest 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, which may depart sufficient room for LaPorta and St. Brown to work their magic down the center.
It is simpler stated than completed, in fact, particularly for the reason that Lions have not actually gotten the operating recreation going at its peak, aside from a couple of explosive performs from operating 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 huge query that is still in regards to 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 Area masks a problem that may 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 cross block for Goff in addition to it did in opposition to 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 is perhaps a bit of deceptive, because it contains the 389 passing yards they gave as much as Allen and the Payments in Week 1. Then once more, it could be predictive, for the reason that Lions look to have a extra prolific passing assault than the Payments, even with out the reigning MVP at their disposal.
As for the dashing recreation, that is the place the Ravens may 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 can 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 dashing offense, that includes arguably essentially the most unstoppable set of runners the NFL has ever seen, may be capable 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 operating again Derrick Henry, who already has 192 dashing 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 include in opposition to what’s, on paper, essentially the most gifted dashing 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 large. 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 susceptible to interceptions, with an absurd 41-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2024. But when the Lions can decide off Jackson simply as soon as or get better only one fumble, that might swing the benefit to the Lions. However that is quite a bit to ask for, particularly for a protection that has seemed good, however not nice, in opposition to lesser offensive items. Edge: Ravens.
It is attainable the Lions fastened 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 night time recreation: the Ravens have extra expertise on offense, and the Ravens are taking part in 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 in opposition to a drained Ravens protection. They beat the Ravens at their very own recreation with short-yardage positive factors 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 include Jackson and Henry, affected person possessions and pink 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 in opposition to what is perhaps one of the best 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 decide: Ravens 42, Lions 30.
The Lions acquired again on monitor in an enormous method final week in opposition to the Chicago Bears however have their arms full this week with the workforce I regard as one of the best within the NFL. The Ravens are averaging 40.5 factors by way of the primary two weeks and have the league’s greatest dashing assault with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.
They are not invincible: Henry has two fumbles and Josh Allen had his method with Baltimore’s cross protection within the Buffalo Payments’ Week 1 comeback victory. However taking part in a Monday night time recreation on the street is one other stern take a look at 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 decide: Ravens 31, Lions 27.
You may attain Christian at cromo@freepress.com.

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