ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Commanders will take the shortest road trip of the season on Sunday for a huge showdown with the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens are winners of three straight games, and Washington has now won four in a row after a dominant performance against the Browns.
The Commanders' defense has shown improvement week to week, especially in the last two games, but they will have their hands full this weekend.
Baltimore is the only team that’s rushing for over 200 yards a game this season. Derrick Henry is the NFL’s leading rusher, averaging over six yards per carry. His quarterback, Lamar Jackson, ranks 8th with 363 yards on the ground.
“I think they’re the number one, leading, rushing team in the league for a reason," said defensive lineman Jonathan Allen. "I think for us it’s going to be controlling the line of scrimmage and that’s going to be the challenge this week and I know me and the other guys on the defensive line are going to take it personally.”
"They’ve got a special offense going on with both of them. You’ve got 8 moving around in the pocket. He’s a lot better at reading coverages and looking downfield for his receivers and whatnot," said linebacker Frankie Luvu. "It’s going to be a good preparation and challenge for our defense and especially our whole team. We’re up for the challenge and that’s how it goes."
Head coach Dan Quinn says the Commanders' scout team will try to replicate the Ravens offense this week but trying to simulate what the NFL's best running back, Derrick Henry, can do on gameday is a tough ask for anyone.
"Is it the same as playing him live? Hell no," said Quinn. "There’s no one we have on our team that can simulate him for practice. Nobody. But you can work technique and that’s what you have to do."
Quinn says a running back like Henry can give tacklers headaches in multiple ways.
"That’s, to me, what makes part of his superpower. The ability to have all three ways, to stiff arm you, lower his shoulder and then make you miss," said Quinn. "A lot of times the big guys may have, 'I’m going to run you over, stiff arm you and just play that powerful style', but when you put all the ingredients together, you better have a really good tackling plan against a player like that and any good running back. You want to make sure you’re having as few one-man tackles as you can."
Quinn says if you're too focused on the run, Baltimore can hurt you through the air. They average over 237 passing yards per game, which also ranks in the top ten in the league.
"Oh, by the way, they have some really good tight ends and Zay (Flowers) and some other guys as well, so it’s not a two-man show. You have to be really disciplined in the calls and have your eyes on the people to go and even when you do that, it’s still hard," said Quinn. "Games like this come down to tackling, ball-hawking and playing your style really well, because if you just focus on one person in the run game, they’ll rip you throwing it too."