Ravens are also desperate for a win
By Michael Wagaman
The Raiders and Ravens find themselves in very similar situations heading into Sunday’s game at the Coliseum.
Both are riding two-game losing streaks that derailed any momentum built from opening the season with backto-back wins. Both have struggling offenses and quarterbacks who have become easy targets for critics, particularly in Baltimore, where 2013 Super Bowl MVP Joe Flacco has been taking a lot of heat.
Both teams are also desperate for a win.
“They’re in the same position we’re in,” Raiders safety Karl Joseph said. “They lost their last two after winning their first two. They’re going to come in here ready with a game plan for us and try to win this game in our house.
We have to be ready.”
Oakland and Baltimore began the season on high notes but have since hit the skids.
“When you fall to 2-2, you have to get things going,” Ravens wide receiver Mike Wallace said. “You can’t wait till Week 14, Week 15 or Week 16. The time is now, and hopefully we can get it going this week.”
Sunday’s game will mark the third consecutive season in which the two non-divisional foes have played. The Raiders won the previous two behind fourthquarter touchdown drives led by Derek Carr.
That’s a luxury that Jack Del Rio’s team likely won’t have Sunday. Carr, who was expected to be out two to six weeks after suffering a broken bone in his back last week, is surprisingly listed as questionable after being limited in practice while backup EJ Manuel ran the firstteam offense.
Manuel played well in spurts after replacing Carr against the Broncos but is 6-11 in his career as a starter. He’s also facing a defense that leads the NFL with nine interceptions.
The good news for Oakland is that wide receiver Michael Crabtree is expected to play after sitting out the game in Denver with a bruised chest.
It would also help if the Raiders can get the running game going.
Marshawn Lynch and Co. have been muted in recent weeks. Lynch has gained 30 yards on 15 carries in the past two games while the Raiders have managed just 56 yards total on the ground.
“It’s going to be a great matchup for us,” Manuel said. “If we can get the running game going and everything like that, as well as the passing game, we’ll be in good shape.”
The game should also be a good litmus test for Oakland’s banged-up secondary, even though the Ravens haven’t had much success throwing the ball.
Flacco, who missed all of training camp with a back injury, is off to one of the worst starts of his career and has been the target of heavy criticism from fans and media.
Despite having receivers like Wallace and Jeremy Maclin, Flacco is averaging 150 yards passing per game, has a QB rating of 65 and has thrown two interceptions in each of his past two games.
“We have to get going and get clicking,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ve had some injuries and things like that that have made it challenging, not to mention that Joe was missing all of training camp. That’s not something that you can just ignore.”
The Raiders should be at full strength on defense after losing cornerback David Amerson to a concussion in Denver. Amerson was cleared after going through the NFL protocol and is expected to play, though he remains officially listed as questionable.