Where The Detroit Lions Have An Advantage Over the Baltimore Ravens

Jackson v. Goff: A Showdown Between Two NFL Greats

Lamar Jackson, a two-time MVP, holds the title for the most rushing yards ever by an NFL quarterback. Including post-season stats of 1,753 passing yards with 10 touchdowns and 641 yards rushing with three touchdowns, Jackson currently has 6,897 rushing yards and 37 scores in addition to 22,246 career passing yards and 182 touchdowns. Those are impressive statistics for the league’s premier dual-threat quarterback. 

The eight-year veteran also shows absolutely no signs of slowing down. Jackson’s elite speed and mobility make for a very elusive target to defend. According to ESPN, Jackson is currently ranked the number-one quarterback after two weeks with an 83.6 QBR, completing 68.8 % of his passes for 434 yards with six touchdowns. He has another 83 rushing yards and a touchdown on eight carries. 

Perhaps the most underrated quarterback in the NFL, Jared Goff, was just named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week. He is ranked number two on the ESPN list with an 81.7% passer rating. Goff earned an 80.6 completion percentage for 559 yards with six touchdowns and one interception. Last week, in the 52-21 blowout against the Chicago Bears, Goff had one carry for six yards. 

Entering his tenth NFL season, Goff has recorded an outstanding 35,617 career passing yards with 228 touchdowns for a 65.8% passer rating. He has another 555 rushing yards with 12 touchdowns.  The former number one draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams can also add post-season stats of 2,450 passing yards with nine touchdowns.   

Advantage: As much as Jackson provides a dual threat in the air and on the ground, Goff’s pinpoint accuracy in delivering the football makes this a draw.    

Ravens v. Lions Are Favorites At Home

The last time these two teams met in Baltimore was on Sunday, October 22, 2023. The Ravens dominated to beat the Lions in a blistering 38-6 contest. Ahead of Monday night’s game, Las Vegas betting odds give the Ravens a 5.5-point advantage. But the Lions have grown accustomed to being the underdog, and when Dan Campbell’s team has its back against the wall, they come out fighting. It should come as no surprise that Vegas is predicting a high-scoring shootout with these two potent offenses, with the over/under line at 51.5 total points. 

A Showdown Between the NFL’s Greatest Rushing Talents 

A year ago, the Ravens acquired the superlative rushing talents of Derrick Henry to complement Jackson in the ground attack. During his 10 years in the NFL, “King Henry” has broken records and garnered awards at a tremendous rate.  To date, Henry has 11,615 career rushing yards with 108 touchdowns and 175 receptions for 1,664 yards with five touchdowns.  

The 5-time Pro Bowl player and 2020 NFL Offensive Player Of The Year also shows no sign of slowing down, even as a 31-year-old veteran.  PFF.com named him the number one running back heading into the 2025 season, ahead of last year’s NFL rushing leader, Saquon Barkley.  

However, someday Jahmyr Gibbs, one-half of the league’s top RB duo, may be the one to shatter King Henry’s record. In his first three years in the NFL, Gibbs recorded 2,470 yards compared to the 2,293 yards Henry posted in his first three years. “Sonic” has 27 career rushing touchdowns with five receiving scores compared to Henry’s 22 rushing and one receiving during his first three years.   

In addition to Gibbs, the Lions have the second half of their talented rushing duo with David Montgomery. Powering through defenders and pushing for every single yard, Montgomery provides the brute strength and power to complement Gibbs’ speed.  In his six-year NFL career, “Knuckles” has earned 5,399 rushing yards with 51 touchdowns, plus 1,698 receptions for four scores.  

Advantage: The combination of Jackson and Henry is every bit as dangerous as the two-headed monster of Gibbs and Montgomery.  This battle of the rushing greats will come down to whichever team’s defense is the most effective at shutting down the run.  

Baltimore Ravens Receiving Group   

Talented third-year player Zay Flowers has established himself as Jackson’s preferred number one receiver. The addition of DeAndre Hopkins this season has provided Jackson with another top receiving option.  In Weeks 1 and 2, Hopkins turned both of his catches into touchdowns. However, Rashod Bateman has been a bit of a disappointment this season, contributing only four receptions for 25 yards. Second-year wide receiver Devontez Walker and veteran Tylan Wallace have seen only occasional targets.  

Veteran tight end Mark Andrews has been a very reliable option for Jackson with 438 career receptions for 5,537 yards and 51 touchdowns.  However, fellow TE Isaiah Likely has been sidelined with a foot injury over the last two weeks. He is listed as questionable for Monday night.   

Why the Lions Will Prevail on Monday Night 

One reason the Lions should prevail Monday night is the sheer variety of receiving options available to Goff. The Lions’ receiving room is a virtual smorgasbord of offensive weaponry. If Goff needs a guaranteed reception, there’s no better choice than Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose obsessive work ethic and relentless quest for improvement have made him an elite talent. One of the NFL’s top receivers, All-Pro St. Brown, has four consecutive seasons of 1,000-plus yards receiving with 36 career touchdowns.

Or, if OC John Morton’s playbook calls for a long pass, Jameson Williams can provide blistering speed and downfield efficiency. Last year, Williams joined St. Brown with a 1,000-plus yards receiving season. As a result, he was recently rewarded with a huge contract extension.  

Goff can also count on third-year TE Sam LaPorta.  He is the only tight end in NFL history to log at least 600 receiving yards and six receiving touchdowns in both of his first two seasons.    

In addition to Gibbs and Montgomery, tight end Brock Wright and running back Kaliff Raymond are solid pass-catching options. But perhaps the nicest surprise this season has been the insanely athletic one-handed grabs of rookie wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa. In two back-to-back games, TeSlaa has made gravity-defying receptions that led to scores.  The difference maker in this game could come down to the sheer volume of reliable receiving options.  

Advantage: Assuming the Lions’ offensive line plays as well as it did against Chicago, it will be hard for the Ravens’ defense to adequately cover all receiving options.