Monday | 8:15 ET
In the matchup of the year, the 11-3, AFC leading Ravens will head to Santa Barbara to take on the 11-3, NFC leading 49ers. This is a potential Super Bowl preview. You can find both of these teams at the top of nearly every single important team stat. The Ravens have won four straight, while the 49ers have won six in a row. Both teams have a top-five offense and a top-five defense.
Led by QB Lamar Jackson, the Ravens offense is one of the best in the NFL. It is fourth in total points this season. Its rushing attack is lethal. The Ravens are second in yards per carry, first in total rushing yards, first in rushing attempts, and tied for second in rushing touchdowns. Baltimore usually grabs the lead early, and pounds the rock for the rest of the game. Like the Ravens, the 49ers are also usually winning. For this reason, the San Fransisco defense has faced the least rushing attempts and given up the sixth-least rushing touchdowns. Notably, it allows the 12th highest yards per carry. Considering that stat and the strength of the Ravens rushing game, RB Gus Edwards might be able to find some success.
In terms of passing, the Ravens are seventh in net yards per pass attempts. Emphasizing the run, they are 31st in pass attempts. This has allowed the Ravens to limit interceptions (thrown second least in NFL this season). WR Odell Beckham Jr. is in the midst of a career resurgence, and TE Isaiah Likely has been stepping up in the wake of Mark Andrews’ injury. However, Niners defense could rain on this parade. San Fransisco has given up the second-least total points this season, and the main reason for this is the way that it defends the pass. The 49ers allow the seventh-least net yards per pass attempts and are first in interceptions. Despite facing the second-most pass attempts in the NFL this season, this defense has given up the fourth-least passing touchdowns. It is fourth in passes deflected (CB Charvarious Ward leads the NFL), second in QB hits, and seventh in sacks. It does a great job of getting to the quarterback and affecting pass attempts. I don’t see the Ravens doing much through the air.
Switching sides, there are many similarities between each team’s respective unit. The 49ers offense is third in points, while the Ravens defense has given up the least points this season. San Fransisco is first in net yards per pass attempt, second in passing yards, and has thrown the second-least interceptions this season (7). Despite ranking last in pass attempts, QB Brock Purdy has thrown the most passing touchdowns in 2023. Purdy is currently the MVP frontrunner, but his teammate Christian McCaffrey also has a case. He leads the NFL in all purpose yards, and is tied for first in rushing touchdowns. While the Niners have the most efficient passing offense, the Ravens have the most stifling pass defense. Baltimore has allowed the least net yards per pass attempt and least passing touchdowns despite facing the third-most pass attempts this season. It’s also first in the league in sacks, led by Justin Madibuke with 11. Though, the 49ers have taken the third-least sacks this season. Both teams are fantastic at everything; I can not wait to see how the league’s best passing attack fares against the league’s best pass defense.
It doesn’t stop there; the Niners are fifth in yards per carry, third in rushing yards, and tied for second in rushing yards. McCaffrey is first in rushing yards, and it’s not even close (1292, second place has 968). The Ravens are normally leading, so the defense has only faced the fourth-least rush attempts. It’s given up the least rushing yards. However (similar to the 49ers), it gives up the 11th-highest yards per carry.
In all, both teams are obviously fantastic. Both pass defenses are phenomenal. Even with the strength of the Niners passing attack, I think that both teams will have to focus on the rushing attack. It will be a weird change-up for both defenses, which each have faced limited rushing attempts. Despite the running game being the identity of the Ravens offense, I think that McCaffrey and the 49ers have the slight edge in this department, especially with RB Keaton Mitchell’s recent injury. CMC will have a massive game on the ground and lead San Fransisco to a massive victory.