Ravens at Redskins
FedExField, Landover, Md.
Sunday, Oct. 15, 2000
AT A GLANCE: A rivalry is budding between these teams, though more so
for their geographic proximity than any on-the-field bitterness. The Redskins and Ravens
both are sitting atop their respective divisions heading into Week Seven.
|
| OVERVIEW: The Redskins and Ravens are beginning to
develop a rivalry. Not so much from the players’ perspective, but from within the
front office. There have been reports of tiffs between the Ravens’ and Redskins’
management over the marketing of the two teams, as Baltimore and Washington, D.C., are
located less than 40 miles apart. But all of the focus this week will be on the players
and coaches, as both teams will be looking to remain in first place in their respective
divisions.
Sitting atop the AFC Central with a 5-1 record, the Ravens are in great shape with a
5-0 record against division foes. Further enhancing their position is the fact they now
hold a season sweep over last year’s AFC Central champs, the Jaguars.
The Redskins appear to have turned their season around after a startling 1-2 start.
Washington has won its last three games and now shares the NFC East lead with the Giants.
Since the Ravens moved to Baltimore in 1996, these teams have met in the regular season
just once, with the Ravens prevailing 20-17.
WHEN THE RAVENS HAVE THE BALL:
The Ravens have been a bit erratic on offense and have had to rely on their stifling
defense to bail them out more than once.
In the past two weeks, though, the Ravens have had to rely on their defense and
placekicker. The Ravens failed to score a touchdown in Weeks Five and Six, yet they still
managed to win. PK Matt Stover kicked four field goals in Week Four and connected on five
last week to account for all of Baltimore’s scoring.
QB Tony Banks was shaky against a solid Jacksonville defense last week. He almost
looked like the Tony Banks of old, lacking confidence and making poor decisions. If the
Ravens are to be true contenders, Banks will have to step up his game. |
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|
| FedEx Field |
| Landover, Md. |
| Date: Sunday, October 15, 2000 |
| 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time |
| Type Of Turf: Natural |
| Meeting Of The Year: Only |
| Season Record: |
| |
Baltimore |
5-1-0 |
| |
Washington |
4-2-0 |
| Season Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
4-1-1 |
| |
Washington |
2-3-1 |
| Home/Road Record: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
3-1-0 |
| |
Washington (H) |
2-1-0 |
| Home/Road Record Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore (R) |
3-1-0 |
| |
Washington (H) |
1-2-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf: |
| |
Baltimore |
4-1-0 |
| |
Washington |
3-1-0 |
| Record On Natural Turf Vs. Spread: |
| |
Baltimore |
3-1-1 |
| |
Washington |
2-2-0 |
|
|
| Banks could become rattled this week, as the Redskins’ defense has turned it up a
notch this year under defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes. The Redskins are getting to the
opposing quarterback frequently, having recorded 19 sacks so far. A marquee battle to
watch in the trenches could feature veteran DRE Bruce Smith and OLT Jonathan Ogden, one of
the best tackles in the game. Ogden missed last week with an ankle injury but is expected
to go against the Redskins. The Ravens’ ground game has begun to steal the show
from Brian Billick’s famed passing attack. RBs Jamal Lewis and Priest Holmes —
nicknamed "the Priest and His Disciple" — have been very effective, in part
because opposing teams have been reluctant to stack the line with eight defenders out of
fear that Billick will open it up through the air. The Redskins’ defense has held its
opponent under 100 yards rushing in four of six games this season.
Rather than stretching the field, the Ravens’ offense has been more productive
with shorter passes to backs and tight ends. However, WRs Qadry Ismail and Travis Taylor
have the ability to get deep and make corners pay.
WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL:
Head coach Norv Turner likes to let Stephen Davis run at opponents, but the powerful
running back could have trouble against a Ravens defense that doesn’t let opponents
move the ball on the ground. Davis is averaging a very solid 99.5 rushing yards per game.
The Ravens’ defense, on the other hand, hasn’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in its
last 23 games. Baltimore is allowing an average of just 50.7 rushing yards per game this
season.
If the Ravens’ defense stays true to form against the run, QB Brad Johnson will
have to pick up the slack. One of the league’s most accurate passers, Johnson is
hitting on 65.9 percent of his passes this season. Most of those passes are of the short-
to mid-range variety, as the Redskins haven’t been consistent going downfield. Last
week the Redskins didn’t complete a pass longer than 20 yards.
Johnson will have to be at his sharpest this week, as the Ravens have been on a tear
when it comes to forcing turnovers. In the last two weeks, the Ravens have picked off six
passes and recovered four fumbles.
WR Albert Connell is Johnson’s No. 1 target. He is capable of getting deep, but he
is inconsistent in his route-running. Check the status of WR Irving Fryar, who injured his
neck last week.
If the game comes down to a field goal for the Redskins, there will be some fretting on
the Washington sideline. PK Michael Husted is just 4-of-8 on field-goal tries, but he has
nailed the game-winner two weeks in a row.
All game previews and depth charts were compiled as of Oct. 8, 2000 |
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
87 ISMAIL, 86 Davis, 80 Stokley |
| OLT |
75 OGDEN, 71 Folau |
| OLG |
64 MULITALO, 77 Vickers, 74 Bobo |
| C |
60 J. MITCHELL, 62 Flynn |
| ORG |
62 FLYNN, 77 Vickers, 74 Bobo |
| ORT |
70 SWAYNE, 71 Folau, 72 Williams |
| TE |
82 SHARPE, 81 Coates, 47 Jones |
| WR |
89 TAYLOR*, 83 Johnson, 84 Je. Lewis |
| QB |
12 BANKS, 8 Dilfer, 7 Redman* |
| RB |
31 JA. LEWIS*, 33 Holmes |
| FB |
30 AYANBADEJO, 32 Gash |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
90 BURNETT, 93 K. Washington |
| DLT |
95 ADAMS, 76 Powell |
| DRT |
98 SIRAGUSA, 91 Dalton |
| DRE |
99 McCRARY, 96 Thomas* |
| LLB |
58 BOULWARE, 51 Brown |
| MLB |
52 R. LEWIS, 50 Jackson |
| RLB |
55 SHARPER, 48 Davis, 57 Brigance |
| LCB |
22 STARKS, 35 Bailey |
| RCB |
21 McALISTER, 38 Trapp, 25 Love |
| SS |
20 HERRING, 43 Poindexter |
| FS |
26 WOODSON, 45 Harris, 42 A. Mitchell |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
5 RICHARDSON |
| PK |
3 STOVER |
| H |
5 RICHARDSON, 80 Stokley |
| KR |
45 HARRIS, 33 Holmes, 87 Ismail |
| PR |
84 JE. LEWIS, 80 Stokley, 87 Ismail |
| KC |
88 WAINWRIGHT, 62 Flynn |
* Rookie |
|
|
OFFENSE |
| WR |
86 FRYAR, 87 Thrash, 24 Bailey |
| OLT |
60 SAMUELS*, 64 Heck |
| OLG |
63 SIMS, 57 Leeuwenburg, 66 Moore* |
| C |
51 FISCHER, 57 Leeuwenberg |
| ORG |
57 LEEUWENBURG, 67 Fletcher, 77 T. Johnson |
| ORT |
76 JANSEN, 69 Ellis |
| TE |
80 ALEXANDER, 88 Jenkins, 89 Flemister* |
| WR |
83 CONNELL, 84 Reed, 13 Thompson |
| QB |
14 B. JOHNSON, 3 George, 8 Husak* |
| RB |
48 DAVIS, 22 Murrell, 20 Hicks |
| FB |
37 CENTERS, 45 Sellers |
DEFENSE |
| DLE |
99 COLEMAN, 90 Lang |
| DLT |
95 WILKINSON, 90 Lang |
| DRT |
94 STUBBLEFIELD, 74 N. Harrison |
| DRE |
78 B. SMITH, 72 Kalu, 75 Ham* |
| SLB |
55 ARRINGTON*, 54 Jones |
| MLB |
50 D. SMITH, 55 K. Mitchell |
| WLB |
59 BARBER, 53 Mason, 58 Givens |
| LCB |
24 BAILEY, 26 Drakeford, 41 L. Harrison* |
| RCB |
21 D. SANDERS, 28 Green |
| SS |
29 SHADE, 31 Terrell |
| FS |
27 CARRIER, 23 Stevens |
SPECIALIST |
| P |
6 BARNHARDT |
| PK |
4 HUSTED |
| H |
6 BARNHARDT |
| PR |
21 D. SANDERS, 87 Thrash |
| KR |
87 THRASH, 22 Murrell |
| LS |
85 ZELENKA |
* Rookie |
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