The Baltimore Ravens improved to 10-3 on the year, with a 24-10 victory over Indianapolis. The Ravens did exactly what you want to see a quality team do against an inferior opponent – take control early. Scoring on their first three possessions, Baltimore grabbed a 17-0 lead and the game was effectively over with 10 minutes left in the 2nd Quarter.

The Good:

1) Love when your Defense starts on the field, and you still immediately grab control of the game. Baltimore forced the Colts into a 3 and out, complete with a Redding sack on 3rd down.

2) Nice return from Webb on the subsequent punt, allowing Baltimore to start in good field position at the Indianapolis 40.

3) The Ravens took advantage of Webb’s return, marching down the field on their first series, culminating with a Flacco TD throw to Smith.
3a) In the 3rd Quarter, Smith had a good block on a Rice run to the outside.

4) Nice pass from Flacco to Dickson on the Ravens 2nd series. I liked how the 2nd year TE got to the middle of the field, turned and provided an excellent target. On Rice’s TD which gave the Ravens a 17-0 lead, Dickson had a good block.

5) Baltimore’s 2nd drive consisted of 13 plays over 66 yards, chewing up nearly 7 minutes of clock time.

6) On the Ravens first three offensive drives, Rice converted a 3rd down on each of those series. Rice would finish with 103 yards rushing, and 46 yards receiving.

7) Flacco missed Pitta on 1st and 10 on the Ravens 3rd series, on a play that nearly was picked off. What I liked was that Flacco came right back to Pitta on the next play and picked up 16 yards. Late in the 2nd Quarter, Flacco would find Pitta again to move the chains. In the 3rd Quarter, Flacco would extend the play and find Pitta in the end-zone.

8) The Ravens were not able to recover, but in the 2nd Quarter Suggs was able to get around the Rookie Castanzo on the edge and strip Orlovsky. There would be a repeat of this in the 3rd Quarter, with Suggs causing Orlovsky to fumble, and again be credited with a sack. Suggs would get his 3rd sack (13th of the year) and Orlovsky fumble in the 4th.

9) Lee Evans was able to keep his feet in play, to make an outstanding 21 yard grab along the sidelines in the 3rd. As Steve Tasker said on the CBS telecast, if Smith comes on he adds another dimension to this Baltimore offense.

10) Standing strong in the pocket on 3rd and 11, Flacco hit Boldin for a 26 yard gain to end the 3rd Quarter. In the 4th Boldin came down with a pass that went off of Dickson’s hands.

11) Coming up to make the tackle, Pollard was in good position to grab a pick in the 4th.

12) The Colts would tack on that last second TD, but they were held to 165 total yards, and just 12 first downs. Indianapolis was just 2 of 14 on 3rd down.

The Bad:

1) Coming off Baltimore’s initial TD, Webb was called for a face mask on the subsequent defensive series.

2) The Ravens 2nd offensive drive stalled when Pitta was called for a false-start on 3rd and 8 on the Colts 13 yard line. Baltimore was forced to settle for a FG.

3) He was getting rid of the ball quick enough that it did not matter, but I thought Flacco was staring down his receivers and telegraphing where he was going with the ball.

4) On the Ravens 3rd series, Smith was not able to corral a pass on 2nd and 9 from the Ravens 49 that he should have had.

5) After going up 17-0, Baltimore allowed Lefeged to return the Kickoff 51 yards, which resulted in the Colts starting in Ravens territory.

6) Following that KR, the Colts went on a 7 minute drive from the Ravens 48 to the Baltimore 4. Indianapolis picked up a 4th and 3 from the Baltimore 40, and a 3rd and 7 from the Ravens 25 during that series to keep the possession going.

7) With just over a minute left in the 1st half, the Ravens were facing 3rd and 7 from their 46. Flacco would be sacked, when Freeney went inside and pushed Grubbs on his backside. The first Ravens series of the 2nd half would end similarly when Freeney beat McKinney to get to Flacco on another 3rd down.
7a) In the 4th Quarter, Mathis would beat Oher disrupting a Flacco pass on 2nd down. This put the Ravens into a 3rd and 8 situation, where Flacco would be picked off. (Replays showed Boldin could have either made a better play on the ball, or played better ‘defense’.)

8) An Edgar Jones penalty would wipe out another good Webb PR in the 3rd.

9) Up 3 TD’s with 10 minutes left in the 4th, the Ravens were stuffed on 4th and 1. There was little doubt at that point that Baltimore was going to win, but that individual play was another chance to make a statement and move the chains. Did not like seeing the Colts get penetration against the Ravens line.

The Ugly:

None. It was not a perfect game for Baltimore, but the Ravens were in complete control from beginning to end.

Chris Stoner
Chris Stoner

Owner

Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.

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