Ravens passing game vs. Broncos pass defense

Quarterback Lamar Jackson has made good on his promise to look downfield more frequently (8.7 yards per attempt compared with 7.3 in 2021). But he’s also overreached at times, leading to three interceptions in his past two games. Jackson was a fascinating mixed bag in the Ravens’ 19-17 win over the Lions on Sunday, completing just 16 of 31 passes and taking four sacks but earning his highest Pro Football Focus grade of the year. Ravens receivers, most notably Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, failed to haul in some of his best throws. While Brown struggled in Detroit, tight end Mark Andrews had his best receiving game of the season with five catches on seven targets for 109 yards. Wide receiver Sammy Watkins has given Jackson the deep threat the Ravens hoped for, averaging 17.3 yards per catch. The Ravens’ pass blocking has been all over the place — disastrous in Week 1, stellar in Week 2, problematic again in Week 3. They need left tackle Alejandro Villanueva to play better than he did in Detroit, where he allowed nine pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. They’ll be tested by a Denver defense that has allowed just 4.3 yards per pass attempt, with four interceptions and eight sacks through three weeks. Von Miller (4 sacks, 6 tackles for loss) has resumed his place as one of the league’s best edge rushers after he missed all of last season. He’s backed up by an excellent pair of safeties in Justin Simmons and Kareem Jackson and a precocious rookie cornerback in Patrick Surtain II. One caveat: the Broncos have feasted on a pair of rookie quarterbacks and a struggling Daniel Jones, so we don’t know how they’ll hold up against a player of Jackson’s caliber.

EDGE: Broncos