Baltimore Ravens LB Jadeveon Clowney on Detroit Lions Offense 'Jared Goff Makes Them Go!'
The Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions are on a collision course Sunday and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney is ready to roll.
With Mike Macdonald's unit only allowing 15.2 points a game (ranks 4th) and the Lions offense, led by Jared Goff averaging 28 points a game (ranks 4th), something has to give.
For Clowney, who has 3.5 sacks on the year, Goff is the straw that stirs the Lions' drink.
"Jared Goff makes them go," Clowney said. "I think he's smart, smart quarterback," Clowney said. "Their run game has been very, very dominating so far. … It's going to come down to us up front like I said – dominate the line of scrimmage and get after the quarterback."
Clowney isn't wrong.
Goff has played good football and is a big reason why the Lions are 5-1 after six weeks.
Goff has thrown for 1,618 yards, 11 touchdowns, and just three interceptions while completing 69.5% of his passes. Additionally, the Lions' offensive line has only given up 10 sacks through six weeks, which is the 6th best in the NFL, so getting after Goff isn't an easy challenge.
But...the Ravens led the NFL in sacks along with the Buffalo Bills (24) so something has to give on Sunday.
Ravens defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (24) knows the importance of getting after Lions quarterback Jared Goff on Sunday.
Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
For Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, the Lions offense is getting things done to a high level...and it isn't just on the quarterback.
"They're executing at a high level. That starts with the quarterback – Jared's doing a great job with it," Harbaugh said. "He just knows how to run those plays really well. I think [the] timing is really good. The receivers are on the same page – the [running] backs and everything."
With both the Ravens and Lions showcasing their credentials through the first part of the season, the two meet in what could be seen as a "see where you're at game" on Sunday.
The Ravens offense has been up-and-down, but the defense has been superb. For the Lions, both the offense and defense have shown up in the first six weeks.
Baltimore dealt with its biggest challenge thus far this season in the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2 well as they managed a 27-24 win, but the Lions, who are currently riding the wave of a four-game winning streak will be a different proposition.
Both teams will have a chance to prove their playoff and potentially Super Bowl credentials on Sunday.
Buckle up.
