We have reached the month of December, the time when the best NFL teams begin
pulling away from the pack, and to that end: Look out for the Baltimore Ravens.
Jaromir Jagr Bruins Jersey .The Ravens have
won four of their past five games and sit a game outside of first place in the
AFC North?entering Monday nights showdown with the New England Patriots. While
the Ravens made news earlier this season by changing offensive coordinators, and
averaging 23.1 points per game since, the overriding force in their turnaround
is a defense that in some aspects is challenging the historic 2000 group that
led it to victory in Super Bowl XXXV.Largely unnoticed outside Baltimore, the
Ravens defense is destroying opponents running games and hasnt been much worse
against the pass. Lets take a closer look at the numbers, with a huge assist
from ESPN Stats & Information senior statistics analyst Jacob Nitzberg, as
well as some custom crunching from Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders.First,
just for kicks, well look broadly at what the Ravens have done this season
alongside numbers from that 2000 unit through 12 games.Comparing 2016?Ravens
defense to 2000 unitPoints allowed are the most important statistic for any
defense, and the Ravens are tied for No. 2 (with the Patriots) in the league
this season. When comparing that to 2000, keep in mind NFL scoring efficiency
has inflated over the past 16 years. In 2000, teams scored about two points
fewer per game than they have scored this season.But lets drill down on the
Ravens run defense in particular. It has allowed 101 fewer rushing yards than
the next-closest team, the Dallas Cowboys,?and opponents have attempted 23 more
carries against the unit. The Ravens 3.4 yards allowed per carry leads the NFL,
and though it is a half-yard higher than what their 2000 defense gave up through
12 games, its important to consider that through a contextual prism.Football
Outsiders DVOA statistic takes into account the strength of opponents, among
other data points, to level out comparisons. According to Schatz, DVOA judges
the Ravens 2016 opponents rushing games to be stronger than what the 2000 team
faced, and thus, their run defense efficiency rating is actually better this
season (-39.7 percent) than in 2000 (-36.9 percent). In fact, the 2016 Ravens
have the best run defense DVOA in Football Outsiders 27-year dataset. Its also
worth noting that the Ravens allowed an 85-yard rushing touchdown to Cleveland
Browns running back Isaiah Crowell in Week 2. On their other 259 attempts,
Ravens opponents are averaging 3.09 yards.Put simply, the Ravens havent allowed
opponents to use their running games in ways they are used everywhere else in
the league. (Note: The Titans, also listed below, rank second.)Rushing first
downs allowed, 2016You cant have a strong run defense without good tackling, of
course, and the Ravens have demonstrated that across the board. Linebacker Zach
Orr?is tied for No. 4 in the NFL with 112 combined tackles, and the addition of
free-agent safety Eric Weddle has added stability to the back end.The Ravens
arent allowing opponents to tack on many extra yards, whether thats against the
run or pass. They have allowed the NFLs fewest yards per attempt after contact
on rushing plays and are also tackling receivers after the catch quicker than
all but five NFL teams.Average yards allowed after first contactDont let the
focus on tackling and the run game cloud any perceptions about the Ravens pass
defense. When facing the Ravens, opponents have the NFLs third-lowest Total QBR
(57.0), and in an era when quarterbacks are throwing fewer interceptions than
ever, the Ravens have the leagues second-highest total.Team interceptions,
2016Opponents are averaging 9.53 yards per pass completion, the second-lowest
total in the NFL. The Ravens have been particularly stingy on the deep ball,
allowing the second-lowest completion percentage (32.5) on passes that travel at
least 15 yards downfield.Put it all together, and the Ravens are making
opponents earn their yards and points. They have allowed 67 explosive plays,
defined as a run of 12-plus yards or a pass of 16-plus yards, four more than the
NFL leader.Number of explosive plays allowed, 2016The 2016 Ravens defense
probably wont find itself next to the 2000 unit in the history books. But this
seasons edition of the Ravens defense is stronger than you probably realized and
the biggest reason the team is poised to return to the playoffs in 2016.All
numbers entering Week 14.
Kevan Miller Jersey . Louis. To which I would
say two things: 1. Where there is smoke, there is or perhaps has been a little
fire. Or, in other words, the two teams would appear to have at least spoken.
And spoken is defined as one calling the other to inquire, no more, no less.
Matt Beleskey Bruins Jersey . Brad Jacobs and
his Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., team took control of the game early.
http://www.thebostonbruinshockey.com/carl-soderberg-hockey-jersey/
. John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if
required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built
an 18-point lead. ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored 2:55 into overtime,
lifting the Edmonton Oilers over the St. Louis Blues 3-2 on Monday
night.Nugent-Hopkins scored on a wrist shot after getting a pass from Connor
McDavid.Nugent-Hopkins winner followed a tying third-period goal by Patrick
Maroon, a St. Louis native. He made it 2-2 with a goal 5:47 into the third.Cam
Talbot turned away 25 shots for Edmonton.Kyle Brodziak and Vladimir Tarasenko
scored for St. Louis, and Carter Hutton made 32 saves.PREDATORS 2, FLYERS 1,
SOPHILADELPHIA -- Filip Forsberg got the tying goal midway through the third
period and Ryan Ellis had the only score in the shootout, helping Nashville give
Philadelphia its second straight loss.The Flyers had won 10 straight before
losing to the Dallas Stars on Saturday.Nashville got its first win in extra time
and Ellis his first successful shootout conversion this season. The Predators
were 0-5 in overtime and shootouts.Nashvilles Pekka Rinne stopped 31 shots, plus
all three in the shootout. Steve Mason had 30 saves for Philadelphia.Defenseman
Andrew MacDonald scored for the Flyers midway through the first period.DUCKS 3,
MAPLE LEAFS 2TORONTO -- Cam Fowler scored a power-play goal in the third period,
giving Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle a victory in his return to Toroonto.
Jimmy Hayes Bruins Jersey. Carlyle was at Air
Canada Centre for the first time since he was dismissed as Leafs coach almost
two years ago.Anaheim had a pair of power-play goals, including Fowlers go-ahead
score. Ryan Getzlaf had the other man-up tally, and Nick Ritchie also scored for
the Ducks. John Gibson made 33 saves.Former Ducks goaltender Frederik Andersen
made 25 stops for the Leafs. Auston Matthews got his ninth goal in 12 games, and
Nazem Kadri scored his 11th of the season.RED WINGS-HURRICANES PPDRALEIGH, N.C.
-- A scheduled game between Carolina and Detroit was postponed because of
unplayable ice.A Freon leak in the cooling system at PNC Arena was discovered
earlier in the day. The issue was fixed, but not in time to restart the game.
NHL rules state a game cannot start less than 22 hours before a teams next
scheduled contest, and the Red Wings are set to play at Tampa Bay at 7:30 p.m.
on Tuesday night.Carolina announced a delay on Twitter about 15 minutes before
the scheduled start time of 7 p.m., then publicized the postponement around 8:45
p.m.Hurricanes President Don Waddell said a makeup date would probably be
decided on Tuesday or Wednesday.
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