2 min read • January 19, 2024
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Despite multiple defensive linemen battling lingering health issues, the Texans were able to rattle veteran QB Joe Flacco and hold the Browns to 14 points and 324 total yards in the Wild Card round win.
Rookie edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. is still not 100% from the high ankle sprain he suffered on Dec. 10 but had a better showing against the Browns, recording 2 solo tackles and his first sack since Dec. 31. Fellow edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is also battling an ankle issue and his only stat in the Wild Card round was a quarterback hit.
Houston has mixed in veteran Derek Barnett for both Anderson and Greenard after picking him up midseason off waivers. Barnett recorded a sack in the Wild Card round and had 2.5 sacks in 6 games during the regular season.
Greenard’s backup Jerry Hughes has been ruled out with an ankle injury and strong safety Jimmie Ward is on IR with a quad injury, leaving new addition Kareem Jackson to fill in.
Those injuries result in a defensive SIC score of 89 and a run defense score of 86.8.
On offense, the Texans have depth issues at wide receiver with both Tank Dell and Noah Brown on IR. Dell has not played since suffering a fractured ankle in late November, while Brown suffered a shoulder injury in the Wild Card round that landed him on IR.
Veteran wideout Robert Woods has played through a hip injury recently and logged just one catch for nine yards on two targets against the Browns.
The bye granted to the No. 1 seed Ravens allowed two key offensive players to get healthier, but our panel of docs expect only one will play effectively during the Divisional Round.
Rookie wideout Zay Flowers battled a calf injury in the final few weeks of the regular season, but should be near 100% for this matchup against the Texans. Meanwhile, star tight end Mark Andrews has been designated for return from his mid-November left ankle fracture, but will likely require at least another week before getting game action.
Andrews is listed as questionable, but our panel of docs do not expect he will be active for the game. If he is active, expect second year tight end Isaiah Likely to command a majority of the targets.
In the past six games – coinciding with the games Andrews has missed – Likely has averaged 53.7 yards on 3.5 catches per game and 4.7 targets per game.
Baltimore will get depth WR Devin Duvernay back on offense and in the kick return role after he missed the final four regular season games with a back injury.
They are still without J.K. Dobbins and Keaton Mitchell at running back, but ranked first in rushing yards during the regular season thanks to big contributions from MVP favorite Lamar Jackson, short-yardage back Gus Edwards and fourth-year rusher Justice Hill.
On the defensive end, the bye was not enough time to allow for the return of No. 1 cornerback Marlon Humphrey. The 27-year-old corner out of the University of Alabama has not played since reaggravating a left calf strain on Dec. 31 against the Dolphins.
In his absence, the Ravens will likely rely on a combination of Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin along with veteran Arthur Maulet playing a more prominent role.
Outside of Humphrey, the Ravens are healthy on defense as Jadeveon Clowney has filled the gap at outside linebacker following injuries to David Ojabo and Tyus Bowser.
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