Ravens bring road woes to Seattle

The Baltimore Ravens travel to Seattle riding a wave of momentum after sweeping the season series with AFC North rival Pittsburgh with a come-from-behind 23-20 win on the road.

Baltimore seeks its third consecutive win. But playing their second consecutive game on the road, the Ravens are hoping to avoid a major letdown at CenturyLink Field this afternoon against the 2-6 Seahawks.

All the Ravens have to do is go back in their memory bank for a recent example of a mental lapse against an inferior opponent, losing to 2-6 Jacksonville on the road three weeks ago, 12-7.

Baltimore’s only other loss this season was to 4-4 Tennessee on the road, 26-13, in the second game of the year.

“We’ve had this experience already and so we know that those records don’t mean anything,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ve already lost to two teams that had sub-par records. And the stars and the players on their team – our guys know all about those guys. I’m quite sure I’ll be very disappointed if we don’t have their full attention this week.”

Playing against the No. 2 ranked defense in the league, the Seahawks wouldn’t mind seeing the Ravens dial down the intensity a couple notches.

“This is a very, very difficult team,” Seattle coach Pete Carroll said. “(They have) a challenging style of play in all three phases with really good highlighted players with tremendous experience, so it makes it for a great challenge and great opportunity for us as well.”

Seattle offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell understands his offense will have its hands full with playmakers such as linebacker Ray Lewis, defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, safety Ed Reed and linebacker Terrell Suggs on Baltimore’s defense.

But Bevell said he believes the Seahawks offensively can build on the momentum they created by rushing for a season-high 162 yards against Dallas last week.

“I think early some of those runs went and you’re getting positive gains, so it’s a lot easier to go back to them,” Bevell said. “Some of them early were going for 9 yards, 4 and 5, then 9 again, so that’s real positive.

“If you can continue to come back, it helps to build some of the play-passes that we were able to hit as well, some of the explosive plays that we were able to get. It was nice to be able to blend those together.”

Harbaugh has a healthy dose of respect of Seattle’s bruising running back Marshawn Lynch, who rushed for a season-high 135 yards on 23 carries last week against the Cowboys.

“He’s one of the premier, if not – he’s definitely a top-two or three running backs in the National Football League,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a violent runner. You go back and you look at that playoff game against the Saints last year when he took the game over with his running style. It’s just incredible.”

But Seattle veteran linebacker Leroy Hill is not in awe of a talented team such as Baltimore. He said the Seahawks also are building a good, physical defense that can run, and so it will be interesting to see how Seattle’s defense compares with Baltimore this afternoon.

“They’re a good team, respected around the league and perennial playoff contenders,” Hill said. “So it will be a good measure. But it’s nothing special to me. It’s just another team. But for the young guys, I think it might be something more special for them.

“I think we need to come out and implement our game plan, because I think we have a good gameplan. And just go out and play. They’re a good team, but I think we can compete with them. And I think we’re ready to compete with them.”

Eric D. Williams: 253-597-8437
eric.williams@thenewstribune.com
blog.thenewstribune.com/seahawks

BALTIMORE (6-2) AT SEATTLE (2-6)

1:05 p.m., CenturyLink Field

TV: Ch. 7. Radio: 710-AM, 97.3-FM.

The series: This is the fourth meeting between the two teams. The Ravens hold a 2-1 edge. The Seahawks won the last meeting, 27-6, in Seattle on Dec. 23, 2007.

What to watch: Tarvaris Jackson (strained pectoral muscle) is expected to start at quarterback for Seattle. But Jackson has to take care of the ball – he’s turned the ball over 12 times in the past five games. … Jackson will face the No. 2-ranked defense in the NFL, led by 12-time Pro Bowl linebacker Ray Lewis, along with fellow All-Pros defensive tackle Haloti Ngata, linebacker Terrell Suggs and safety Ed Reed. Offensively, running back Ray Rice is the engine that makes the Ravens go. Rice has 532 yards and six touchdowns. Rice also is second on the team in receptions with 38 for 416 yards and two touchdowns. … Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco has thrown for 636 yards the past two weeks. … Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka would like to play well against his former team. The Ravens cut him in 2009. … Former Seahawks defensive tackle Cory Redding starts for Baltimore.

TNT pick: Ravens, 22-16.

PRIME NUMBERS

SEATTLE

No. Name (position) Ht./Wt.Year

15 Doug Baldwin (WR) 5-10/189First

With the Ravens likely shifting their coverage toward Sidney Rice, expect the Stanford rookie to get some passes thrown to him.

39 Brandon Browner (CB) 6-4/220First

CFL product will be a frequent target of Baltimore’s passing game.

75 James Carpenter (OT) 6-5/321First

Carpenter has given up six sacks this season, and he’ll be tested by Terrell Suggs.

92 Brandon Mebane (DT) 6-1/311Fifth

The Cal product has been one of the key players behind Seattle’s solid run defense.

BALTIMORE

5 Joe Flacco (QB) 6-6/238Fourth

He’s playing better of late, but Hawks will pick their poison and make Flacco beat them on the road.

29 Cary Williams (CB) 6-1/182Third

Williams has stepped up and played well with first-round draft choice Jimmy Smith still limited by an ankle injury.

52 Ray Lewis (LB) 6-1/25016th

The 36-year-old veteran leads Baltimore with 60 tackles.

82 Torrey Smith (WR) 6-0/205First

The rookie receiver out of Maryland is averaging 19.8 yards per catch, Hawks could have trouble matching up with his speed.

Eric D. Williams, staff writer