NFL Game of the Week: Denver Broncos vs. Baltimore Ravens

It’s Week 9 of the NFL season already, and this week will be a tough act to follow after a crazy 1 p.m. slate last Sunday.

The 5-3 Denver Broncos, sitting second in the AFC West, head to Baltimore to face the Ravens following a two-game win streak where they’ve outscored the Saints and Panthers by a total of 61 to 24.

Broncos quarterback Bo Nix was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month for October after a 66.7 percent completion rating on 123 pass attempts with seven passing touchdowns and only one interception.

The last player to win such an award for the Broncos was running back Clinton Portis in 2002, according to this tweet:

The run game for Denver needs to step up as their rushing yards leader, Javonte Williams, places 31st in the NFL in that category, according to ESPN.

The key to success for the Broncos is their shutdown defense, whose 30 sacks are second in the NFL.

Denver is also third in the NFL in total yards allowed per game with 282.6.

Their defense allows a third-lowest 15 points per game, while their offense places 20th in points per game with 21.6.

Individually on the defensive side, cornerback Patrick Surtain II is tied for fifth in the NFL in interceptions with three. His 128 return yards lead the league, which included this 100-yard pick-six from Week 5 against the Raiders:

The Broncos are 0-1 against AFC North opponents this season, with their lone game being a 13-6 home loss to the Steelers in Week 2.

Denver is 3-1 on the road this season, with wins coming against the Buccaneers, Jets and Saints. Their lone road loss came against the Seahawks in Week 1 by a score of 26-20.

The 5-3 Baltimore Ravens, sitting second in the AFC North, host the Broncos following a last-minute loss on the road to the Cleveland Browns by a score of 29-24.

The Ravens have recently added wide receiver Diontae Johnson in a trade with the Carolina Panthers.

The biggest current storyline for Baltimore is their quarterback, Lamar Jackson, missing his second consecutive practice because of a back and knee injury, according to NFL.com.

Jackson is currently fifth in the NFL in passing yards with 2,099 through eight games, and his 115.4 quarterback rating leads the league.

The Ravens’ run game has not lacked at all either, seeing that running back Derrick Henry leads the NFL in rushing yards with 946 heading into Week 9. The next-highest rusher is Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who is 180 yards behind Henry at 766.

Baltimore’s defense has not been up to code since linebacker Patrick Queen left for the Pittsburgh Steelers, however, the Ravens’ 24 sacks tie for fourth in the NFL.

The Ravens are 25th in the league in total yards allowed so far this season with 361.3, a major step down in comparison to placing sixth at the end of the 2023 regular season with 301.4.

Their defense allows 25.8 points per game, which is 26th in the NFL, while their offense scores an NFL second-best 30.3 points per game.

Individually, Baltimore linebacker Kyle Van Noy ties for fifth in the league in sacks with seven.

The Ravens are 2-1 at home this season, with wins over the Bills and the Commanders. Their lone home loss was to the Raiders in a 26-23 result in Week 2.

Baltimore is 0-1 against AFC West opponents this season, with their lone game being against the Raiders in Week 2.

This game will definitely be an exciting matchup between a team with a great offense and terrible defense with the Ravens, and a team with a slow offense and a shutdown defense with the Broncos.

Bryan Portney is a first-year broadcast journalism major. To contact him, email bep5295@psu.edu.