Broncos @ Ravens: 5 Key Matchups The Ravens roller coaster

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It will be Denver’s first road test following comeback wins over Seattle and Oakland. This early season contest could eventually have AFC postseason implications. The Broncos have won both meetings since the Ravens epic 2012 divisional round marathon victory and lead the all-time series 7-6. Denver is 1-5 as a medium sized underdog and 5-11 on the road since 2016. Over the same span , Baltimore is 7-3 as a medium sized favorite and 12-5 at home. Both teams have fared well early in the season recently with a combined 13-3 September record.After a letdown in Week 2, and coming off a mini-bye, this is an important home game for the Ravens. Despite being forced to play shorthanded due to several impactful injuries, Baltimore can right the ship by prevailing in these five key matchups:RT James Hurst vs OLB Von Miller The Ravens could possibly reconfigure their line before the game. However, blocking Von Miller would be an arduous task for rookie tackle Orlando Brown. The much maligned Hurst was arguably Baltimore’s best lineman against Cincinnati. After allowing a handful of pressures to Carlos Dunlap, Hurst’s assignment will not be any easier this week. The perennial All-Pro Miller has not shown any signs of slowing down, he has already notched four sacks and a pair of forced fumbles in 2018. With Bradley Chubb and Shaq Barrett rushing off the opposite edge, the Ravens must give both of their tackles plenty of help in order to give Joe Flacco a chance to push the ball downfield.CB Tavon Young vs WR Emmanuel Sanders In his second game back from a torn ACL, Young predictably struggled to cover A.J. Green in the red zone last week. More concerning were his difficulties marking Tyler Boyd. However, with Jimmy Smith still suspended and Maurice Canady injured, Tavon is probably still the best option to man the slot.Sanders could do some damage against the the Ravens defense. The emergence of rookie Courtland Sutton across from Demaryius Thomas has allowed the veteran to find mismatches on the interior. Through the first two weeks of the season, Manny has amassed 231 yards and a score on 14 receptions.RB Alex Collins vs ILB Todd DavisDue mostly to game script , Collins has received only 16 rushing attempts this season. Fortunately, he has improved as a receiver, averaging over 15-yards per catch in 2018. Alex’s extraordinary tackle breaking ability will challenge Denver at the second level.Late blooming linebacker Todd Davis currently leads Denver in tackles and was recently promoted to defensive captain. Better against the run than the pass, Baltimore can find success in the short passing game by isolating Collins and Buck Allen on Davis. If coordinator Mornhinweg is able to keep the Broncos off-balance with his playcalling, this matchup favors the Ravens.ILB Kenny Young vs RB Phillip LindsayKenny Young finally saw extensive playing time with the starters after C.J. Mosley was sidelined last Thursday. The rookie did not disappoint, racking up seven tackles, one tackle for a loss, a quarterback hit and contested several passes in coverage. With Eric Weddle expected to relay the play calls, coordinator Martindale should use Young as the Ravens three-down ‘backer against Denver.Undrafted rookie Lindsay has stolen the spotlight from fellow rookie Royce Freeman. He has eclipsed 100 all-purpose yards in each of his first two games and is a dynamic playmaker both on the ground and after the catch. Assuming the Ravens can force the Broncos into passing situations, Lindsay will be featured, but Young’s speed gives Baltimore the means to counteract the scatback.WR Willie Snead vs CB Chris Harris Snead followed up his impressive debut by hauling in five of eight targets for 54 yards against Cincinnati’s rugged defense. If the Broncos roll coverage to Baltimore’s top playmaker John Brown, Snead will be heavily relied upon. His ability to create quick separation and maximize yards after the catch will be crucial against Denver’s top-5 pass rush.Harris has earned a reputation as perhaps the best slot corner in the game today. The multi-time Pro Bowler brings the skills to limit most slot receivers. Most of Amari Cooper’s 10 catches for 116 yards last week came against Adam Jones and Tramaine Brock , but Harris did allow a 20-yard touchdown reception to Seth Roberts. The battle in the slot will loom large on third down. The Baltimore Ravens have started to put together a defense without cornerback Jimmy Smith, who practiced Wednesday but won't be eligible to play in a game until October.Smith has been suspended for the first four regular-season games without pay for violating the NFL personal conduct policy. The suspension, announced Tuesday, came "following a long-running and difficult custody dispute" Smith had with his former girlfriend, the Ravens said.The 30-year-old Smith will be allowed to participate in all of the Ravens' preseason activities, including games. Come September 9, however, Baltimore will open at home against Buffalo without arguably their best cover cornerback.Fortunately for the Ravens, they're deep at the position. Also, they were forced to make a similar adjustment last season when Smith missed the final month with a torn left Achilles tendon."It's what I've been talking about all training camp. We have a lot of depth," first-year defensive coordinator Don Martindale said Wednesday. "Some guys are just going to have to step up early. We're still working on how we're going to do that."The final solution will probably remain under wraps until the season opener."I'm not going to tell the rest of the league, especially Buffalo , how we're going to it," Martindale said. "We'll just have to see. We've got plenty of players who can play."Tavon Young is listed behind Smith on the depth chart at right cornerback. Young started 11 games in 2016 before missing last season with a knee injury.Before the Ravens considered what to do in Smith's absence, the team discussed whether to bring him back at all.The Ravens were at the center of a domestic dispute in 2014 — one that led to the release of running back Ray Rice — and say they considered the circumstances surrounding Smith's suspension before making a decision about his future with the team.Team officials say a meeting involving "a group of Ravens men and women executives" was convened before the organization determined that Smith could return after his suspension."Jimmy has acknowledged his behaviors were wrong and accepts full responsibility for them," the team said in a statement.Smith apologized for his actions in a separate statement conveyed through the team.After practice Wednesday, the Ravens did not make Smith, coach John Harbaugh or leading players of the defense available to the media.Martindale said: "It's a serious matter. The organization had their statement and Jimmy had his. From the father/coach in me, I know there are mistakes made in life and he's going to have to deal with it."Seeking to end a run of three straight seasons without reaching the playoffs, the Ravens would have preferred to open with their defense fully intact. But playing without Smith is really nothing new — in his previous seven years in the NFL, he's participated in all 16 games only twice.His absence could help fourth-round draft pick Anthony Averett make the cut. Averett, a two-year starter at Alabama, is behind Young on the depth chart.

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