Ravens eager for some home cooking

Nov 23, 2017 - 12:31 AM OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The last time the Baltimore Ravens played a home game, they were trying to keep their season from slipping away.

More than a month later, Baltimore has a new outlook and a favorable Monday night matchup against the Houston Texans, who have been hampered by injuries.

The Ravens own the sixth and final spot in the AFC playoff race.

Baltimore has not played at M&T Bank Stadium since a 44-0 victory over the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 26 that snapped a two-game skid. Now, the Ravens have a chance to win consecutive games since the opening two weeks of the season and move a game above .500.

"We have to play winning football," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "The formula begins to present itself as the season wears on here, as to what that is for us. We need to put that together for a string of football games."

Baltimore is in a favorable position to stay in the playoff hunt.

The Ravens play just two teams with a winning record over their final six games -- Pittsburgh (8-2) and Detroit (6-4). Baltimore also has four games at home over that stretch.

For the fourth time this season, the Ravens will play against an opponent's backup quarterback. However, they have only gone 2-2 over that stretch.

Baltimore beat Oakland's EJ Manuel and Green Bay's Brett Hundley. But the Ravens lost to Minnesota's Case Keenum and Chicago's Mitchell Trubisky.

The Texans will start Tom Savage, who is filling in for injured starter Deshaun Watson. Savage has thrown for 732 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions. Houston has gone 1-2 since Watson was injured

"I think he is getting better. I think the game on Sunday is probably the best game he has played since he has been playing for us," Texans head coach Bill O'Brien said about Savage's progress. "He does not have a ton of experience, so every game that he plays, it is really important for him to remember the things that went on during that game, so he can really use that experience to get better every single day and every game. I thought he did a good job of having a short memory on Sunday, and he really made some big plays for us to help us win the game."

After some uncharacteristic struggles, Baltimore's defense is playing at a high level. That unit is ranked sixth overall and has three shutouts this season. The Ravens also lead the NFL with 16 interceptions.

Baltimore is prepared to ride that dominant defense to the postseason.

"We've got to keep getting these wins," linebacker Terrell Suggs said. "I don't care if we give up 19 points, 35 points; as long as we are winning games, we will take that."

SERIES HISTORY: 9th regular-season meeting. Ravens lead series, 6-2. The teams last played in 2014, when Houston won, 25-13, at NRG Stadium. The Texans have won two of the past three matchups, but are 0-4 at M&T Bank Stadium. Baltimore won the only postseason meeting in the divisional playoff in 2013.

--The Ravens certainly like the bright lights of prime-time football.

Since John Harbaugh took over the team in 2008, Baltimore has gone 11-1 in night games -- the best mark in the NFL. The Ravens have also won nine consecutive prime-time games, also the longest streak in the NFL in five years.

"I'm excited for the fans - big time. I'm really excited for the fans," Harbaugh said. "Monday Night Football is a lot of fun, and we've been in a lot of stadiums - as you're alluding to - with the opposing crowd rocking. I'm looking forward to seeing our crowd in there shaking the place up a little bit. It should be fun."

--Each week, Ravens rookie cornerback Marlon Humphrey has earned more playing time because of his performance.

His emergence as a playmaker has come at a crucial time for Baltimore because fellow cornerback Jimmy Smith has battled a sore Achilles for much of the season. Last week against the Packers, Humphrey played more snaps than starter Brandon Carr.

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said it's been a luxury having three dominant cornerbacks.

"It's just the way it worked out," Harbaugh said about Humphrey getting more snaps than Carr. "All three of those guys (Smith, Carr and Humphrey) are considered starters, and they're all going to play probably different amounts, different games, (depending on) how they're feeling (and) what's going on. Sometimes, it might just be happenstance; I don't think there's anything to read into it."

Baltimore leads the NFL with 16 interceptions. However, that unit will face one of its toughest tests this week against Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who leads the NFL with nine touchdown receptions.

--Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week. Judon, who earned a starting role this season, finished with six tackles and two sacks in a 23-0 victory over Green Bay. It was the Ravens' third shutout of the season.

Judon is one of several young players, including defensive tackle Willie Henry and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, that are having breakout seasons.

"It is good to see guys you had hopes for," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "Those are young guys that we drafted that are practicing and developing. Maybe media and fans have not heard much about (them), because fans are not at practice every day. Then, you want to get guys to the games and see how they grow and develop once they get out there. Those are guys, and there are other guys, too. We have a good group of young players."

NOTES: LT Ronnie Stanley remained in concussion protocol this week. He was held out of the game Sunday against Green Bay. James Hurst took his spot at left tackle and struggled against the Packers' aggressive pass rush. Stanley has also been dealing with a shoulder injury that he suffered two weeks ago against the Titans. ... WR Breshad Perriman was a healthy scratch Sunday against Green Bay. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday it was possible that Perriman could play Monday night against the Texans. Perriman has struggled with drops this season. In addition, several balls have also deflected off him and turned into costly interceptions. Perriman has just seven catches for 54 yards and has yet to score a touchdown. ... CB Jimmy Smith was held out of practice Wednesday with a sore Achilles. He has missed several practices over the past month because of the injury, but has been ready for games. Smith came up with a key interception in the end zone and the Packers spent most of the game avoiding his side of the field. ... LB C.J, Mosley (ankle) did not practice Wednesday, but the injury is not expected to be serious, according to head coach John Harbaugh. Mosley hurt his ankle near the end of Sunday's game when the Ravens held a commanding 23-0 lead. "If he's hurt, we're the dumbest coaching staff in America," Harbaugh said about Mosley still playing with the game decided.