Week 5 is a huge game between two 2-2 teams in the Baltimore Ravens and the Oakland Raiders. After starting year out at a cool 2-0, the Ravens and Raiders have crashed back to Earth in the last two weeks. Neither team is playing great football right now, but will need a win on Sunday to avoid a rough 0-3 skid.
Oakland will be without its star quarterback Derek Carr for the next two to six weeks, as he suffered a transverse process fracture in his back against the Denver Broncos in Week 4. That means it will be up to EJ Manuel to bring a victory home to the Silver and Black.
For the Ravens, it has been a struggle for most of the last few seasons offensively. Quarterback Joe Flacco hasn’t taken this team by the wings since winning the Super Bowl over the San Francisco 49ers in New Orleans. Baltimore is sound defensively, but the Ravens might have one of the worst offenses in football. They have been held under 10 points in the last two weeks.
This could be one of the ugliest games of the season for both teams. So don’t expect a barn burner, as this one could be a low-scoring affair in Oakland. Here are the five keys to victory for the Silver and Black on Sunday over the Ravens.
Win the turnover battle
The best thing the Raiders can do to take the Ravens out of the game is to win the turnover battle, preferably early in the game. Oakland is not doing a great job of forcing turnovers in the early part of the season, but Baltimore will give the ball away, so Oakland has to take advantage.
Knowing that this game has the feel of a low-scoring affair, taking care of the football is even more important than normal. Oakland doesn’t have to put up points on every offensive possession with Manuel in at quarterback. The Raiders just can’t be careless with the football to give Flacco and the Ravens a short field to work with.
If Oakland is say +2 in turnover margin, it will be hard for the Silver and Black to lose this game. Baltimore just doesn’t have enough firepower offensively to play from behind consistently and still find ways to win.
With the offense being short-handed with Carr out for the next month or so, it would be great for the defense to set the tone in this game. Forcing a few earlier turnovers can swing momentum entirely in Oakland’s favor throughout the ball game.