Seahawks Ready For ‘Different Challenges’ vs. Ravens Defense

The Seattle Seahawks are going to face their biggest defensive test of the season when they battle the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

The Seahawks’ offense averages 24 points per game, but the Ravens’ defense ranks first in points allowed (15.1). Baltimore also has the NFL’s current interceptions leader in Geno Stone and also leading the league in sacks, it is going to be tough sledding for Geno Smith and the offense.

But despite the challenges that Mike MacDonald’s stout defense presents, Smith is more than up for the fight.

“It just comes down to what happens on game day,” Smith said. “We’ve got a lot of big-play playmakers. We believe that our guys can make plays against anybody. They have done a great job of shutting guys down and keeping things in front of them. Ultimately, it comes down to situations in the game. We know they’re going to present a bunch of different challenges. We know the game is going to be another tough game against two really good teams. It’s what we need at this point in the season. We need to be battle-tested and I look forward to this one.”

With both teams leading their respective divisions, they will each get a chance to extend their lead at the summit on Sunday.

For the Seahawks, after getting past the Cleveland Browns defense, which many claimed was one of the best in the NFL, the Ravens loom as a different beast.

With playmakers everywhere you look and with their offense capable of putting up points at will, often opposing offenses try to keep pace and this leads to trouble.

For Smith, there are some similarities between what the Browns did defensively last week to what he expects from Baltimore on Sunday.

“They play from more of a two-high shell, versus the Browns, they like to play a little bit more man, a little bit more single-high, but overall, just as effective,” Smith said. “They lead the league in sacks; they’re getting to the quarterback. They have some really stout guys up front, interior and edge guys.

“I think two of the best linebackers in the game when you talk about Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen. Guys who are out there just flying around making plays. Overall, just the way they play together, connected, not many mistakes, they take away big plays. I think they do a lot of things well. Another great opportunity for us to go out there against another really good defense.”

The Seahawks have been a team that has been steadily progressing through their first seven games, but that progression gets its ultimate test in the hostile environment of M&T Bank Stadium.

With both teams coming off wins in Week 8, they will want to continue that winning form. For the Seahawks and Smith, putting up points against this stout Ravens defense will be a tall order, but if they can limit the offensive mistakes and have sustained drives, then it might just be Seattle who emerges from this clash with the win.

Being one of the better teams in the NFC, if the Seahawks can slay the Ravens, then their place in the current NFC pecking order might warrant a revision.