By Patrick Del Gaone, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
Oddsmakers have Baltimore as 6-point favorites against Philadelphia in the Eagles’ final road game of 2016. Per VegasInsider, 91 percent of betting slips have been cast on the Ravens thus far.
With Philadelphia facing the possibility of losing seven consecutive road games to finish the season, let’s take a closer look at this weekend's matchup.
Ravens’ offense vs. Eagles’ defense
If last week’s loss against New England is any indication, Ravens’ halfback Kenneth Dixon could be stepping into the role of featured back after accumulating a modest 81 total yards and one touchdown on 19 touches, including a team-high eight receptions. Witty head coach John Harbaugh elected to limit the former Louisiana Tech Ragin’ Cajun’s touches during the first half of the season as Dixon learned the intricacies of playing tailback in the NFL, including the night and day difference between pass blocking at the NFL level compared to Conference USA. While most first-year players are hitting the “rookie wall”, Dixon’s fresh legs have propelled the agile back into an integral role in the Ravens’ offense. Given the rainy forecast, look for Dixon and fellow running back Terrence West to receive ample carries against Philadelphia’s middle of the road run defense.
As always, slowing down the Ravens’ consistent offense starts with generating pressure against nearly unflappable quarterback Joe Flacco. The former Delaware Blue Hen is on pace for over 4,000 yards this season, but his 17 touchdowns rank well below elite signal-callers, while Flacco’s 12 interceptions have him tied with Carson Wentz for 8th most in the league.
After a subpar year in Minnesota, Mike Wallace is reemerging as an upper echelon wideout alongside sturdy veteran Steve Smith. Though Flacco likes to spread the ball around, Wallace is the team’s homerun threat. The Ole Miss product’s 903 receiving yards are 257 more than any other Raven. With the Eagles’ leaky secondary yielding long gains on a weekly basis, including an 80-yard bomb to familiar one-trick pony DeSean Jackson last week, look for “Joe Cool” to air out a few long balls to his favorite vertical threat.
One player the Eagles’ defense must be aware of is fullback Kyle Juszczyk. Against Cincinnati, Baltimore’s X-factor came across the formation to cut block a backside DE. The block propelled Juszczyk’s target into another Cincinnati defender, and as the domino effect ensued, Juszczyk rose from the turf to retrieve a screen pass with a convoy of blockers ahead. The Harvard product displayed tremendous agility as he dipped and dodged his way to a 21-yard gain on the play.
Eagles’ Offense vs. Ravens’ Defense
Allowing a miniscule 75.5 rushing yards per game, Baltimore boasts far and away the most vicious run defense in the NFL. Moreover, Harbaugh’s defense is as stiff as they come in goal line situations, having allowed only five touchdown runs the entire season (T-1st in NFL).
Complicating matters for Doug Pederson’s offense is a lengthy injury list, particularly in the backfield and along the offensive line. The Eagles’ placed RB Wendell Smallwood and OL Matt Tobin on injured reserve earlier this week, and ruled out OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (knee) and RB Darren Sproles (concussion) for Sunday’s game. Multifaceted lineman Allen Barbre (hamstring) is listed as questionable, while right guard Brandon Brooks is expected to return after missing two of the last three games due to an illness.
Given the depleted state of Philly’s hog-mollies, compounded by the Ravens’ relentless front-seven, and Pederson’s growing inability to stick with the running game over the past several weeks, expect the Eagles to give Wentz another heavy workload as he nears Donovan McNabb’s 2008 Eagles record for most pass attempts in a single-season (571). Over the last four weeks, the first-year quarterback has averaged over 47 pass attempts per game.
Baltimore uses multiple pressure packages in order to outnumber offenses from one side, while often dropping disguised blitzers from the opposite side into underneath coverage. Against the Eagles, look for the Ravens to overload the unsteady right side of Philadelphia’s offensive line, particularly if Barbre’s injury forces Isaac Seumalo into duty at right tackle.
Matchup to Watch: Terrell Suggs vs. Eagles’ offensive tackles
Player of the Game: Steve Smith
Prediction: Ravens win 23-17
