The Denver Gazette’s Chris Tomasson gives his scouting report for Sunday’s game between the Broncos and Ravens at MT&T Stadium in Baltimore:

Offense

Denver’s offense did what it needed to in the first half of last Sunday’s 28-14 over lowly Carolina, rolling up 21 points and 250 of its 400 yards. But the 5-3 Broncos are still seeking more consistency throughout games on offense. Rookie quarterback Bo Nix continues to look better each week. The running game remains up and down. But Denver is coming off a good game from its tight ends, with Adam Trautman leading the way with four catches against the Panthers for a career-high 85 yards and a touchdown. The 5-3 Ravens lead the NFL in total offense and are second in points scored as quarterback Lamar Jackson is heading toward a possible third MVP season. Jackson, the winner in 2019 and 2023, has thrown for 2,099 yards with 17 touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been helped by star running back Derrick Henry, who has 946 yards.

Advantage: Ravens

Defense

The Broncos, third in the NFL in total and scoring defense, will face their biggest challenge of the season as they look to control the Baltimore attack. The Broncos have 30 sacks on the season, including a team-high six by outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, who has gotten one in each of the past six games. Cornerback Pat Surtain II is having an All-Pro caliber season, which included picking off his third pass of the season against the Panthers. This is not a typical defense for the Ravens, who regularly have had one of the NFL’s top units. While they are No. 1 in the NFL in rushing defense, they are No. 32 and last in pass defense and No. 26 overall. But Baltimore does feature outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who has seven sacks, and Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton, who has a team-high 57 tackles.

Advantage: Broncos

Coaching

It’s a matchup of two of NFL’s top coaches this century. Sean Payton won a Super Bowl with New Orleans in the 2009 season and John Harbaugh led the Ravens to a Super Bowl win three years later. Payton, who coached the Saints for 15 seasons before taking 2022 off and coming to Denver in 2023, has gotten his Broncos coaching mark to over .500 at 13-12 with the Broncos winning five of their last six games. He is 165-101 overall in 17 seasons while Harbaugh is 165-102 in 17 seasons. There has been some grumbling about Harbaugh not being able to get the Ravens back to the Super Bowl since their win. But they have returned to a high level under Jackson, including going 13-4 last season and making the AFC Championship Game.

Advantage: Ravens

Intangibles

The Broncos are a 9-point underdog but feel they can prove they can compete with the NFL’s top teams. None of Denver’s five wins has come over a team that currently has a winning record, and those teams are 12-29 overall. The Broncos have been relatively healthy with safety P.J. Locke (thumb) their only player on the 53-man roster ruled out. Devon Key is in line to replace him for a second straight week. The Ravens figure to be ornery after they had won five straight games before being upset 29-24 last Sunday at Cleveland. After the Ravens were upset 26-23 at home by Las Vegas in Week 2, they embarked on their winning streak, a stretch in which they averaged 35 points per game. Baltimore has beaten Denver three straight times and leads the series 10-6.

Advantage: Ravens