Each Wednesday, blogger Matt Vensel highlights five stats that really mean something for the Ravens.
One — NFL players with at least 85 receiving yards in every game this season.
Torrey Smith has been the team's most consistent offensive player this season. Heck, he might be its only consistent offensive player at this point. But how consistent has he been? Smith is the only NFL player with at least 85 receiving yards in every game this season. Smith has caught at least four passes in every game, and with 27 catches for 556 yards, he is third in the NFL in receiving yards behind Jimmy Graham of the New Orleans Saints and Julio Jones of the Atlanta Falcons. And only DeSean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles has more receptions of 25 or more yards.
20 — pressures allowed by Bryant McKinnie this season.
With Eugene Monroe expected to start Sunday, McKinnie might have made his final start for the Ravens on Sunday. It was another poor performance for the veteran, who allowed quarterback Joe Flacco to get hit twice and hurried on four other plays, according to Pro Football Focus. McKinnie allowed just nine total pressures in four playoff games last season, but he has allowed 20 in five games this season, second most among full-time left tackles and 12th most among offensive tackles overall. Monroe also has something to prove, though, having allowed 15 pressures in four starts for the Jacksonville Jaguars before the Ravens acquired him in a trade last week.
22 — defensive stops for Terrell Suggs through five games.
With seven sacks in five games, including at least one in each game this season, Suggs ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks. But his dominance has extended beyond the pass rush. According to Pro Football Focus, Suggs has accounted for 22 defensive stops, which it defines as "solo defensive tackles made which constitute an offensive failure." Basically, whenever Suggs sacks a quarterback, blows up a running back near the line of scrimmage or tackles a receiver short of the sticks on third down, that's a stop. His 22 stops rank first in the NFL among 3-4 outside linebackers, and only Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has more among front-line defenders.
24.9 — yards per kickoff return for the Ravens since special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg was hired in 2008.
When John Harbaugh came to Baltimore, he hired Rosburg to be his special teams coordinator and assistant head coach. That move has literally produced big returns. The Ravens have averaged 24.9 yards per kickoff return since then, tops in the NFL, while also scoring four touchdowns on kickoff returns. A few different returners have had success for the Ravens, including David Reed, Jacoby Jones and now Deonte Thompson, who ranks third in the NFL with 28.7 yards-per-return average.
10 — straight home wins against NFC teams for Harbaugh.
I'm not sure why it happens or what it means for Sunday's game against the Green Bay Packers, but the Ravens have never lost at home against an NFC team under Harbaugh. His teams are 10-0 all time against the NFC, and the franchise has won 13 straight against NFC teams at M&T Bank Stadium dating to 2006. Even more surprising, seven of the 10 games under Harbaugh were decided by two touchdowns or more. We will see if history repeats itself again Sunday at The Bank.
Bloggers note: Have a nifty stat you want to share? E-mail me at matt.vensel@baltsun.com or tweet at me at @mattvensel. If I use it, I'll be sure to give you a nice plug on the blog.