Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco might want to have a bottle of aspirin readily available on Sunday.
The rookie signal caller could be in for another physical beating when the Ravens host the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium at 1 p.m. After allowing five sacks in a 23-20 overtime loss at the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens have a short week to prepare for the Titans, who are tied with the Steelers for second in the NFL with 15 sacks.
The Titans are led by tackles Albert Haynesworth (five sacks) and Tony Brown (3.5) and ends Kyle Vanden Bosch (three) and Jevon Kearse (1.5). The Titans (4-0) are off to the best start in franchise history after recording four sacks in a 30-17 win over Minnesota on Sunday.
“They are one of the best defenses in the league, period, and they definitely have one of the best D-lines,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “They’ve got four really good players up and it’s going to be a challenge for our offensive line.”
Flacco trusts his offensive line to stunt the Titans’ charge, even after he was hit more than six times by the Steelers, including when linebacker James Harrison forced him to fumble. It was recovered by LaMarr Woodley and returned seven yards for a touchdown.
“It’s always good for a defense when they can bring pressure from their front four and then drop back and cover,” Flacco said of the Titans’ defensive line. “But we have a good offensive line that’s been doing a great job all year. So, we’re going to expect those guys to be working hard this game and giving us time to throw.”
The Ravens (2-1) have the youngest average age of any starting offensive line in the NFL at 24 years, 6 months, ranging from left tackle Jared Gaither, 22, to right tackle Adam Terry, 26.
“I was proud of our performance,” Terry said. “Yes, we didn’t win and we had some mental errors, but overall we buckled down in the end and put together that drive. A lot of the other stuff we can correct, but you can’t correct heart. That’s something you’re born with.”
But pass protection could be the least of the Ravens’ troubles against the Titans. Since 1995, head coach Jeff Fisher’s first full year in Tennessee, the Titans have allowed just 38 players to rush for at least 100 yards. This year, the Titans have the eighth-ranked rushing defense, allowing 86.8 yards per game.
The Ravens also have questions at running back. Starter Willis McGahee suffered a chest injury against the Steelers, which limited him to one carry in the second half. McGahee, who is expected to play on Sunday, has 106 yards rushing on 28 carries. He is second on the team behind fullback Le’Ron McClain, who has rushed for 215 yards and three touchdowns on 52 carries.
“We’re taking steps, we’re getting better and we got better last week,” Ravens right guard Marshal Yanda said. “There’s tons of stuff we need to get corrected. But this will be the best front we’ve seen this season.”
