Eight Players to Watch: Falcons at Ravens
As the Atlanta Falcons take on the Baltimore Ravens, keep an eye on these four players from each team that could make the difference in Sunday's game.
With five touchdown over 38-yards, RB Antone Smith has quickly been a center of attention for the Atlanta Falcons offense. Smith leads the team in touchdowns and is earning more reps on the Falcons offense.
Dealing with the Smiths? The Falcons defense will have its hands full with not one, but two Smith receivers. Leading the team in receiving yards and touchdowns, Ravens veteran wide receiver Steve Smith has been a top target for Ravens QB Joe Flacco and one of the Ravens biggest assets on offense.
The Falcons secondary will be dealing with another offense with numerous wide receivers that have put up the numbers this season. CB Desmond Trufant will have to watch their coverage on Ravens receivers that know how to make plays.
As a defensive linemen, the last stat you expect to lead in is interceptions, but DT Haloti Ngata has had two interceptions so far this season. Ngata is one of the leaders in the Ravens front seven that are known for being one of the best in the league and going against them will be a tough task for the Falcons offense.
With four tackles, two for loss, two QB hurries and his second sack of the season on Bears QB Jay Cutler, DE Jonathan Massaquoi has shown his ability to hurry a quarterback. The Baltimore Ravens have allowed seven sacks on QB Joe Flacco so far this season and Massaquoi will be looking to add to that number.
The Baltimore Ravens have a solid defense led by the front seven including 12-year veteran LB Terrell Suggs. With 1.5 sacks on the season and ability to create pressure on QB Matt Ryan, the Falcons offensive line will have to prove it can hold strong.
QB Matt Ryan and Ravens QB Joe Flacco have consistently been compared including both being from the 2008 draft class they have several comparisions. Ryan will be going against the 27th ranked Baltimore Ravens pass defense this Sunday and has the necessary weapons in Julio Jones, Roddy White and, most recently, Antone Smith, to have a big game on Sunday.
Ravens QB Joe Flacco has logged 1,596 passing yards so far this season and with numerous weapons on offense, including wide receivers Torrey Smith and Steve Smith, the Falcons will have to step up their game on defense to keep Flacco from having a big game.
