The Baltimore Ravens are looking to improve their record to 3-0 against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
Baltimore is flying high after dispatching Cincinnati 27-24 on Sept. 17, much due to quarterback Lamar Jackson’s strong play. The sixth-year veteran went 24-for-33 on passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, along with 12 carries for 54 yards. Jackson hit eight different receivers including Nelson Agholor (five receptions, 63 yards and one touchdown), Zay Flowers (four catches and 62 yards) and Mark Andrews (five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown). The Ravens levied a blow to the Bengals’ defense in the running game, rushing for 178 yards as a team with a steady dosage of the aforementioned Jackson, Gus Edwards (10 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown), along with Justice Hill (11 rushes for 41 yards), Devin Duvernay and Zay Flowers.
Cincinatti was held to 4.9 yards per play by Baltimore’s defense, Geno Stone had an interception and training camp addition Jadeveon Clowney sacked Joe Burrow. Stone led the way nine combined tackles, followed by Patrick Queen’s eight. Baltimore hit Burrow five times during the game.
Indianapolis is entering the game 1-1, following the team’s 31-20 victory against the Houston Texans in Week 2. Colts starting quarterback Anthony Richardson began the game going 6-for-10 on passes for 56 yards. However, the 2023 first round selection left the game with a concussion and was replaced by journeyman backup, Gardener Minshew. Minshew went on to complete 19 of his 23 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown pass to Kylen Granson. The Colts tallied six sacks in their AFC South victory.
The Athletic’s James Boyd spoke with Baltimore Sports and Life on Thursday ahead of the Ravens matchup with the Colts, a team that he’s familiar with as its beat reporter.
Baltimore Sports and Life: What are your thoughts on the Colts’ play early on this season?
James Boyd: I think Anthony Richardson has been better than I’ve expected coming in. He was looked at as this green, inexperienced pro prospect, who only started 13 games at Florida, but with the help of Shane Steichen, a new head coach and the former play caller in Philly, he’s really coming to his own. The only thing with Anthony Richardson that’s been sort of a downside is the health factor. He was knocked out of his first game with the knee injury in the fourth quarter. He was knocked out of his second game left early in the second quarter due to a concussion. That is the conversation we’ve had this week is he’s showing he could potentially be a franchise quarterback. But in that same vein, can you be a franchise quarterback if you can’t stay healthy, if you can’t be available? And so he did not practice today for the second straight day, which hurts his chances significantly of being cleared to play in Sunday’s game at Baltimore. But regardless of that game in and of itself, the overall conversation has been, “How do we keep this guy healthy?”
BSL: How do you feel like Gardner Minshew can compete if Anthony Richardson is lost for multiple games? Hypothetically?
JB: I’ll tell you what it would be difficult this week, obviously going against the Ravens and their defense, which has been stout through the first two games of the year and gives opposing offenses different looks. I think that’s going be something that wreaked a lot of havoc. But if there is going to be any backup quarterback that gets their name called, he’s probably the best one.You look at his numbers and he’s been consistent throughout his career whenever he gets called upon. He has thrown 45 touchdowns against 15 interceptions in his career. So he’s a 3 to 1 touchdown-to-interception ratio through his first five years in the NFL, which proves that he’s not going to lose you games. And can he just do enough to win you some games or keep you in some games. He’s very efficient, not going to push the ball down field, doesn’t have a lot of big play ability, but he’s very efficient, very consistent and just very heady.
BSL: How do the Colts stop Lamar Jackson and contain his success in the running game, also the play action passing game because it seems like last week against the Bengals, the deep passing game was there and he was able to hit multiple targets that way as well?
JB: You can’t stop Lamar but you try to contain or try to force him to do things where he isn’t as comfortable and maybe that is trying to make sure that he doesn’t use his legs to break the game open and he has developed as a pocket passer. He is a really good pocket passer, in my opinion. But I think the challenge is making sure that he doesn’t have a way to beat you with both. You try to take one of those things away, whether it’s ok, “We’re gonna try to take away his legs so that he doesn’t have any rushing yards and play action passes and stuff like that become big plays.” I think a lot of it is trying to make sure that they [Colts] don’t fall for some of the misdirection stuff that he can do where he can utilize his legs and make a defense pay before he makes them pay with his arm. Ideally, you wanna keep him in the pocket, not let him run around forever and and get some pressure on them. That’s the key to stopping any quarterback is getting pressure on them and their defensive front has been good
BSL: What has impressed you about what [Zack Moss] could potentially do in the absence of Jonathan Taylor and how does this offensive line push forward that pile of the Ravens defensive line that’s been known for stopping the run?
JB: I think that the task will be much harder this week to get 88 yards. You know, as the bell running back against the Ravens as opposed to going against the Texans. Quentin Nelson missed his second straight practice today with the toe injury — the starting left guard. The starting center, Ryan Kelly, he missed his second straight practice with the concussion as well. You’re looking at two starters who are banged up on an offensive line who obviously would help in the case of Zack Moss.
BSL: What is your prediction for this game?
JB: I think that the Ravens win. I haven’t thought about a score, but I would say they probably make it a two possession game — two scores. I think that you’re going into a hostile environment, you’re playing against a dynamic quarterback who again, has better help. I think around him this year, the receiving corps and obviously [Mark] Andrews is still there. I think that the Colts defensive secondary is probably going to struggle against some of those down the field, intermediate throws that Lamar Jackson is sure to have. And so my prediction would be that it’s going to be a two score game. The Ravens win comfortably. They move to 3-0 on the season and the Colts fall to 1-2 without Anthony Richardson.
Kyle J. Andrews is a 2018 University of Baltimore and Mount Saint Joseph High School graduate, along with former sports reporter for the Centre Daily Times in State College, Pa., the Baltimore Sun Media Group, 105.7 The Fan, Baltimore Beatdown, and Fox Sports 1340 AM. He has covered the Orioles, Ravens, high school sports in the Baltimore area and Central Pennsylvania, minor league baseball, Penn State and Maryland athletics and more.