Eagles-Ravens 5 things: Banged-up Birds take on No. 1 run defense

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Eagles (5-8) vs. Ravens (7-6)
1 p.m. on FOX
Eagles +5.5

Facing incredibly long odds to reach the postseason, the Eagles head to Baltimore on Sunday to take on a Ravens squad still in the thick of a playoff race.

The Eagles can't afford to lose any of their three remaining games to keep whatever slim hopes they have alive. As for the Ravens, a win would keep them in the hunt for first place in the AFC North.

Needless to say, the Ravens have plenty of motivation to eliminate the Eagles once and for all.

1. It's all up to Carson now
Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is on pace to finish second all-time among NFL rookies for passing attempts in a season, so it's safe to say the team is relying on him already. Then again, there might not be much of a choice versus a Baltimore defense that ranks No. 1 in the league against the run.

The Ravens are holding opponents to a paltry 75.5 yards per game on the ground, almost eight full yards better than the next closest team. It's not purely a result of seeing less rushing attempts than other defenses, either, as the unit is also first while allowing 3.4 yards per carry.

The fact that Darren Sproles has been ruled out with a concussion and Wendell Smallwood landed on injured reserve with a knee injury only further limits the options in the backfield. Meanwhile, Eagles coach Doug Pederson admitted the short passing game may have to supplement the ground attack against this defense.

All of which points to Wentz reaching, and likely exceeding, his average of 38 pass attempt per game. That means if the Eagles are to have any chance on Sunday, the signal-caller will have to be sharp.

2. Offensive line woes
Of course, Wentz should have his work cut out for him behind a patchwork Eagles' offensive line that is losing bodies at an alarming rate.

Lane Johnson is serving the final game of his suspension, Halapoulivaati Vaitai is out again with a knee injury, Matt Tobin hit the IR this week, and Allen Barbre is questionable after he was unable to practice all week with a hamstring. Unless Barbre can go — and who knows what shape he'll be in — the Eagles will be down to their fifth right tackle in rookie Isaac Seumalo, which is a scary thought.

Meanwhile, Brandon Brooks has been a surprise inactive in two of the last three weeks due to anxiety, and at this point, who's to say if and when that will strike again. If the right guard can't go, either second-year pro Josh Andrews or rookie Dillon Gordon would make their first NFL start in his place.

It's got the potential for disaster, especially considering how frequently Wentz is likely to drop back on Sunday. Best case scenario, Barbre and Brooks are both able to tough it out, although the Eagles certainly can't count on that.

3. Familiar faces
The Ravens are not short on great coaches. Of course, that should come as no surprise to Eagles fans. Many of them served the franchise during the Andy Reid era.

There's head coach John Harbaugh, of course, who was the Eagles special teams coordinator from 1998 to 2006 and defensive backs coach in '07. There's offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg, who held the same title under Reid from '04 through '12. Offensive line coach Juan Castillo had the same job here for 13 of his 18 seasons with the franchise. Even Baltimore's defensive backs coach, Leslie Frazier, spent four seasons under Reid from '99 to '02.

Of the four, only Castillo has not served as an NFL head coach. There's a ton of wisdom and experience on the Ravens' sideline.

Of course, there's a bit of bling over there as well. Harbaugh went on to guide the Ravens to a Super Bowl win in 2012, so it's not just a matter of experience. He knows how to win, too.

4. Bombs away
Despite the emphasis on X-plays in recent years, the Eagles remain unable to stop the deep ball. The defense has given up 12 pass completions of 40 yards or more this season already, which is just one back for most in the NFL.

That is a particularly troubling trend this week, as Ravens quarterback and Audobon, New Jersey native Joe Flacco throws one of the best deep balls in the league. Not only can Flacco push the ball down the field, he has the weapons to do it, too. Steve Smith is still hanging around after 16 seasons in the NFL, Mike Wallace is having a resurgent year and 2015 first-round draft pick Breshad Perriman is one of the fastest players in the league.

Not surprisingly, the Ravens have connected on nine passes of 40 yards or more this season, which is tied for seventh. Based on the Eagles' track record, Flacco should have opportunities to add to his total.

Now 31, Flacco has been less reliant on the vertical passing game than in seasons past. Regardless, teams have had little trouble picking on Eagles corners Leodis McKelvin, Nolan Carroll and Jalen Mills throughout the season. Expect the Ravens offense to open it up a little and Flacco to let it fly against this group.

5. Previous encounters
If the Eagles are somehow able to overcome Flacco, a tremendous coaching staff, the No. 1 run defense in the NFL and all the absences along their own offensive line, the franchise could accomplish a first on Sunday.

This will be only the third time the Eagles have played the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium, a building where they have yet to come away victorious. The clubs played to an unremarkable 10-10 tie back in 1997, while a 36-7 loss to Baltimore in 2008 was memorable for all the wrong reasons — namely "financial apology" after Donovan McNabb was benched for Kevin Kolb at halftime — although that loss did spark a run to the NFC championship game.

The Eagles have fared better against the Ravens at home, winning both previous meetings, most recently in 2012.

Depending what transpires around the league on Sunday, a win in Baltimore might not be enough to save the Eagles' season. That being said, a road victory against a tough Ravens squad — not to mention the franchise's first at M&T — would be a huge positive in a season that's been very short on bright spots.

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