This hasn't been an overly impressive start for Joe Flacco, who has as many interceptions as touchdown passes and is averaging just 6.3 yards per passing attempt. Flacco's career low for a full season is 6.4 in 2013. The Ravens keep talking about taking more deep shots, but opposing teams are negating them by using zone defenses and Flacco isn't getting protected well enough. After a quiet start, Steve Smith Sr. has 16 catches for 198 yards and a touchdown in his past two games.

Was the team's 130-yard performance on the ground last week an indication that things are about to turn? The Redskins struggle to stop the run, just as the Oakland Raiders do. At the very least, the Ravens' release of Justin Forsett leaves a more dynamic and explosive backfield. Coming off a 113-yard day with a touchdown, Terrance West will remain the starter, but rookie fourth-round pick Kenneth Dixon figures to have a significant role in his NFL debut.

The Ravens faced the NFL's second most-productive running attack last week and held the Raiders to 62 yards on 19 carries. For the season, the Ravens are allowing only 80 rushing yards per game, fifth lowest in the NFL. The Ravens have also surrendered only two rushing scores through four games. With Brandon Williams and Timmy Jernigan manning the middle, teams are gaining some traction running outside, but not much.

Allowing 256 total yards per game, the Ravens enter the week with the league's top-ranked defense. That's not to say there aren't concerns with this group. The Ravens have nine sacks, but their pass rush is still not making enough of a consistent impact, especially from off the edge. The secondary has not played well the past two weeks, with cornerback Shareece Wright allowing four touchdown passes. Wright has to play better or he'll be replaced by Will Davis or rookie Tavon Young.

It has to bother coach John Harbaugh and special teams coordinator Jerry Rosburg to see this unit struggling to maintain consistency. Justin Tucker is 11-for-11 on field-goal tries, but punter Sam Koch is not having the type of year he had last season and Devin Hester Sr. has put the ball on the ground in back-to-back weeks. He recovered his muff against the Raiders, but the leash has to be getting shorter. The Ravens can't keep giving up long returns, either.

Nobody expected this Ravens team to be a finished product, but the fact that the same problems keep popping up every week has to be a bit concerning for Harbaugh and company. Under Harbaugh, the Ravens are 49-17 at M&T Bank Stadium and 20-12 against NFC teams. However, the Ravens need to cut down on their penalties — they committed 10 for 105 yards last week — and get off to better starts. The Ravens have been outscored 27-12 in first quarters this season.

Kirk Cousins leads one of the NFL's more explosive passing attacks. The Redskins average 287 passing yards per game, which ranks fifth. DeSean Jackson remains one of the game's best deep threats, and tight end Jordan Reed is an emerging star. Pierre Garcon and Jamison Crowder are nice secondary targets, with Crowder being extremely elusive after the catch. When protected, Cousins can make all the throws, but he has a penchant for making a few poor decisions each game.

Matt Jones had his best game of the season last week against the Cleveland Browns with 117 rushing yards and a touchdown. The second-year running back runs hard and doesn't usually go down on first contact. The Ravens will have to gang-tackle him. Backup Chris Thompson has two touchdowns, one on the ground and one through the air. The Redskins rank 20th in the league in rushing, but like the Ravens, they found a rhythm last week.

Tackling has been a major concern for the Redskins, who allow 133 rushing yards per game. Only the Raiders and San Francisco 49ers are surrendering more. The Redskins have also allowed eight rushing touchdowns, which ties the New Orleans Saints for a league high. The Browns rushed for 163 yards against the Redskins and 64 of them came after contact, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Will Compton and Mason Foster lead the team in tackles.

The statistics don't paint a pretty picture. The Redskins are allowing the opposition to convert 57.4 percent of its third downs. They are surrendering 280.5 passing yards per game, which ranks 25th in the NFL, and 28 points per game. They also rank 31st in the NFL in yards allowed per play. Washington has forced five second-half turnovers over the past two games. Top corner Josh Norman against former Carolina Panthers teammate Smith would sure make things interesting.

The Redskins' Dustin Hopkins and the Ravens' Tucker are the only two kickers in the league who are perfect this season on 10 attempts or more. Hopkins has made 16 attempts in a row dating to last season and was a nice find for a Redskins team that had struggled at the kicking spot. Tress Way has punted only eight times all year, and four of them have landed inside the opposing 20-yard line. Crowder is a dangerous punt returner.

The Redskins started the season with back-to-back home losses, generating plenty of questions about Cousins' future. Much like the Ravens, they haven't been overly impressive in winning their past two games, but they've made some plays late to get to 2-2. The Redskins are dealing with a plethora of injuries and are among the most-penalized teams in the NFL. This will be the Redskins' second regular-season game ever at M&T Bank Stadium.