The Baltimore Ravens are getting set to take on the Seattle Seahawks in what should be a very fun matchup in Maryland this Sunday.
The Ravens will enter the game with a record of 6-2 and are riding a three-game winning streak. Meanwhile, the Seahawks are 5-2 and have moved into first place in the NFC West.
Baltimore is naturally favored to win the game at home, and one key X-factor for the club heading into the Week 9 clash is wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr.
Beckham is coming off of a miserable Week 8 performance in which he was targeted four times but failed to log a single catch in a win over the Arizona Cardinals.
On the season overall, Beckham has totaled just 14 receptions for 162 yards and no touchdowns, so he has not had the impact many hoped when he joined the Ravens during the offseason.
However, quarterback Lamar Jackson is insistent that Beckham will break out at some point, and why not this weekend against Seattle?
Is Beckham the same wide out from his New York Giants days? No. Everyone knows that. He has multiple injuries (including a torn ACL) in his rearview mirror, and he turns 31 years old on Monday.
Still, it seems hard to imagine that he can’t produce more than he has thus far in 2023.
The good news for Beckham is that the Seahawks’ pass defense ranks just 22nd in the NFL, so he may have a great chance of getting loose in this showdown. On top of that, Seattle’s run defense ranks eighth, so Jackson may be throwing the football quite a bit.
Plus, two weeks ago, Beckham showed some signs of coming out of his slump with a five-catch, 49-yard performance in the Ravens’ blowout victory over the Detroit Lions. Sure, those aren’t huge numbers, but they represented an upgrade over what Beckham had posted over his first five games when he topped out at three grabs (and only one time).
This could be a perfect opportunity for Beckham to come through in a very big game. The last time he made a truly significant impact was in the Super Bowl with the Los Angeles Rams two years ago. Obviously, he sat out all of 2022, so he hasn’t had much of an opportunity since then, but Beckham seems due for a strong outing this season.
If Beckham can shake off the cobwebs and make some big plays against the Seahawks, it could be all that the Ravens need to secure their fourth straight win.
Want the latest NFL analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click here. Interested in reading storylines and analysis about the NBA? Check out our partner NBA Analysis Network.
