Week 2: Ravens-Eagles matchup
Baltimore at Philadelphia
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia - TV: CBS;
DirecTV: 712
*TV announcers: Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf
*Keys to the game: Long a team that lived and died behind its stout defense, the Ravens believe they now have the offense to be chameleon-like when needed, throwing up yards and points by the bushel to survive shootouts. The Eagles have big guns on offense but too often misfired in Week 1 with five turnovers, including four Michael Vick interceptions. He threw a career-high 56 passes -- about 25 more than the Eagles would like -- and the only TD drives he led were in the two-minute offense of either half. The Ravens smother teams that commit self-inflicted wounds, and the Eagles (38 turnovers last season) have shown that tendency. Joe Flacco's wide receivers bring speed to challenge deep, especially Torrey Smith, but intermediate options are more feasible when faced with the Eagles' speed-based pass rush. To slow down their waves of agile defenders, Flacco can chip away underneath to TE Ed Dickson and RB Ray Rice to demand the Eagles' maligned linebacker corps to make plays in the flat.
*Matchup to watch - Ravens NTs Ma'ake Kemoeatu and Terrence Cody vs. Eagles C Jason Kelce: At 280 pounds, Kelce holds his own against larger defensive tackles, but Cody (6-4, 349) and Kemoeatu (6-5, 340) are nicknamed after land formations. Inside penetration has made Vick a sitting duck behind an offensive line that is still jelling; Philadelphia allowed more than a dozen QB hits at Cleveland.
*Player spotlight - Eagles S Kurt Coleman: Coleman had his second career multi-interception game last week. He's heady, and usually around the ball, but consistency is the missing ingredient the Eagles want to see from their collective safety corps.
*Fast facts: Thirteen of Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin's 20 career touchdowns have come in the red zone. ... The Ravens are 8-8 on the road the past two seasons.
WHO WILL WIN AND WHY
The Eagles were stagnant in the opener and surviving the Ravens' rough and tumble defense is a major step up in competition. Baltimore's tendency to play down to the level of competition on the road -- losing by 20 at San Diego and at Seattle and Jacksonville last season -- tilts the scales in Philadelphia's favor.
*Our pick: Eagles 23-20
