The Baltimore Ravens are coming to town this weekend for a much anticipated Week 3 grudge match with their AFC rival New England Patriots. Considering recent history between the two teams there’s less than no love lost. Though now it appears the Ravens will be bringing another adversary of Pats Nation with them, perhaps just in time to bolster their defensive front.
According to multiple sources, free agent defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul has agreed to a one year, $5.5 million deal to join the Ravens. The former All-Pro and three time Pro Bowler spent his career with the first eight years of his career with the NY Giants and the last four with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning a Super Bowl championship with each; one against and then one with Tom Brady.
Pats fans will remember JPP as a pivotal part of the Giants defense that upset the Pats in Super Bowl 46, pressuring Tom Brady time and again, the second of two NY Giants wins against Brady and the Pats on the biggest stage. Now he’ll be looked upon to add to a Ravens rush that hasn’t lived up to expectations on the season, a defense that was scorched last week in a shocking 42-38 defeat against the Dolphins.
Who knows how much Pierre-Paul has left in the tank (he’s coming off an injury marred 20921 campaign), or if he’ll even play this weekend in Foxboro? While Mac Jones has no history with him, the Foxboro Faithful know all too well how disruptive he can be. So if he’s healthy and there’s even a slight chance he can play JPP will have to be accounted for at all times. Just another layer of intrigue in what is a heated rivalry and a pivotal contest for two AFC teams look to earn a winning mark and keep pace in the wild AFC of 2022.