Here are 10 players to watch during the Ravens' third preseason matchup against the Detroit Lions Aug. 27.
1. QB Joe Flacco
Now is the time to truly see if the veteran quarterback's relatively quick return to the field and his sharp-looking camp appearances can truly translate into a real, live game against a first-string defense. Flacco has shown all the arm, mobility and field vision he had before, but his return has been one of the most underplayed stories of the summer, probably due to Flacco's usual matter-of-fact, laid-back approach. Even in a game in which starters play into the third quarter, don't look for Flacco to be extended nearly that far.
2. LT Ronnie Stanley
With the intensity ramped up during the third preseason game, it's time for Stanley to step up his game even further. The rookie first-round pick from Notre Dame has more than held his own throughout the first two August contests; in fact, according to Pro Football Focus, he has graded out better than any rookie at any position in the league. There's a reason players like this are solid, safe picks, lacking the sizzle and color fans might look for in other prospects: it's because they know their job, they've done it against top-flight competition and they can adjust to the speed of the pro game.
