Mink: If Cooper Rush is the Ravens' starter this Sunday (and that's still an if), Baltimore's offense will have a different feel and approach.
The scheme doesn't change. Rush has had all summer to acclimate himself to Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken's system. But the game plan would be tailored to Rush's strengths and would certainly be more "traditional." Rush is a high-level operator and proven winner with a 9-5 record as Dak Prescott's backup in Dallas.
I would expect Baltimore to lean more heavily on Derrick Henry and the ground game, which may be a sound approach regardless, considering he's had only 31 carries the past three weeks. Establishing some bully ball and having longer possessions would be good for this offense (and defense). It would also help keep Baltimore in favorable downs and distances for Rush.
In the passing game, Rush needs to be efficient in a more traditional drop-back offense. The keys are that he needs to make the right reads, get the ball out quickly to the Ravens' many playmakers, and minimize mistakes. He generally played well in the preseason but had three interceptions.
While Jackson hasn't been running as much this season (166 rushing yards), he's so dangerous in part because he extends plays to hit big chunks. Needless to say, Rush doesn't have nearly as much mobility.
However, the Ravens could also reduce the stress on their pass protection and take fewer sacks by using a quicker strike passing attack. That would also help neutralize dangerous Texans pass rushers Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr., who have a combined seven sacks so far this season.
Brown: Whoa, can we chill a little with the 1-5 talk? Things may not reach that point, and we've already seen how quickly things can change in the NFL from one week to the next.
But to answer your question, yes, I do think the Ravens could make the playoffs coming out of their bye at 1-5, particularly if they get healthier than they are now. However, it would be difficult. The Ravens' schedule looks easier on paper after the bye, but no victory will be automatic unless they perform more consistently on both sides of the ball.
Some of Baltimore's future opponents are starting to play better. The Chicago Bears (2-2), who the Ravens will see in Week 8, have won two straight and are averaging 28 points in their last two games. The Dolphins (1-3) suffered a major blow with Tyreek Hill's season-ending injury, but the Ravens will travel to Miami for a Thursday night game. The short week puts the road team at a natural disadvantage and the Dolphins just won on "Monday Night Football" at home.
The Ravens still have two games against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1), who they haven't swept since 2019, and the Week 17 game at Green Bay figures to be a stiff challenge.
It took 10 wins to make the AFC playoffs last year, and if the Ravens start 1-5, they'd have to go 9-2 the rest of the way to reach 10 wins. Not impossible, but that would be a tall order.
Brown: A good question.
Simpson played just 15 defensive snaps in Week 2, but he made the most of them by making four tackles. That played a large role in Simpson getting a high 89.6 grade from PFF in that game.
However, for more context on what's been happening at inside linebacker, let's go back to what Head Coach John Harbaugh said after Week 2 when asked about Teddye Buchanan. The rookie linebacker has played at least 72% of the defensive snaps over the past three weeks. The Ravens don't always have two inside linebackers on the field, and when they do, Buchanan's playing time reflects the coaching staff's confidence in him as a rookie.
"He's just playing really solid football," Harbaugh said. "He is in the right place doing the right things, [with] specific things that we were doing in this game.
"We just kind of keep going week-to-week and day-to-day. You just never know what direction it's going to go, but when guys play well, they continue to play. If there's someone that we need to take out, we would, but that's kind of just how it works."
Simpson played a season-high 50.7% percent of the defensive snaps against the Chiefs in a game that Roquan Smith (hamstring) left early. Simpson's only in his third year and he's one of the team's hardest-working players. His role may expand as the season progresses, especially if Smith doesn't return right away.
