Ravens missing too many pieces of puzzle

The Ravens are missing their top tight end, running back and offensive lineman and that may doom them against the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.

Updated: October 29, 2004, 3:33 PM ET
By Ron Jaworski | ESPN Insider
Editor's Note: Much has been made of the Baltimore Ravens playing the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles. But most of the pregame hype has focused on the off-field issues concerning Eagles wide receiver Terrell Owens and his rejection of a trade to the Ravens during the offseason. ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski opened up his film vault at NFL films to see if there was more to this game than just hype.

Despite all the hype concerning the matchup between the Eagles and Ravens, this is going to be an intriguing football game. Both teams have excellent coaching staffs and strong defenses. The Ravens probably have the edge on defense, but the Eagles probably offset that edge with the big advantage they have offensively. This would be an interesting matchup even without the sideshow between Owens and the Ravens.

There's no question the Ravens have an outstanding defense, but that's just one side of the football. This season they've had a particularly difficult time sustaining any kind of offense, but defensively they match up very well against the Eagles. They're fast and quick and are able to maintain pressure on the quarterback.

The Eagles are clearly a passing team and coach Andy Reid will rely heavily on the passing game with the absence of running back Brian Westbrook. In the first half of games the Eagles call pass plays 67 percent of the time. Without Westbrook, Reid will use spread formations and the Eagles will try to attack Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis.


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Ron Jaworski

NFL analyst / writer
Ron Jaworski is one of the most popular and knowledgeable analysts covering the NFL today. Since joining ESPN in 1990, the former standout NFL quarterback has covered the league from virtually every angle -- sideline reporter, game-site reporter, host and both studio and game analyst. From 2007-11, Jaworski occupied one of the most coveted positions in sports as a Monday Night Football analyst.

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