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Needed a win. Got the win.
Mentioned it last week. One look at the upcoming schedule and you knew this was a game the Ravens needed to win. It was a must to be 4-2 with Seattle on the road, and New England at home looming. The Ravens took care of business 23-17, but the game wasn’t really that close. A Bengals kickoff return to open it was 7 of the points. The Ravens defense held them out of the endzone until deep into the 4th quarter in desperation time.
Mission accomplished. 4-2. Four wins ties them for second most in the AFC behind the undefeated 6-0 Patriots. Worth noting the Chiefs are 4-2 after two straight home losses to the Colts and Texans. Unfortunate that in a head to head tie breaker come playoff time, KC would have that edge over the Ravens.
Lamar Jackson has a special day.
Since the Cardinals game in week 2, it seemed like teams were staring to contain Lamar Jackson’s running skills. In that week 2 game it was on a number of 2nd and 3rd downs, he was taking off and picking up 10+ yards on the ground with ease. The Steelers game, if Jackson took off, he quickly stepped back as someone filled the gap or set the edge.
Cincinnati couldn’t recreate what Kansas City, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh attempted to do as Jackson racked up well over 100 yards in just the first half. He became the first QB to throw for over 200 yards and rush for over 150. (236/152).
The Ravens put up 500 yards. The stat sheet says 497, because three kneel downs at the end for -1 yard a piece. 497, 500, whatever you want to say, and Lamar Jackson was responsible for 388 of that. He also completed passes to nine different receivers with Marquise Brown being held out of the contest with injury.
Still looking for consistent pass rushers though.
Andy Dalton typically is a quick release quarterback. He’s picked the Ravens apart in that way many times before. However, he came into the game being sacked 20 times on the year, third most in the league. Eight sacks he suffered two weeks ago against the Steelers who also harassed Jackson a bit last week.
The Bengals tackles are some of the worst in the league, injuries, guys out of position, and the Ravens didn’t generate a sack until the fourth quarter. It was Tyus Bowser who got home on a four-man rush for the team’s first sack of the day. Bowser who was put on notice a year and a half ago and was the one rusher spared while his draft day companion Tim Williams was recently released.
Ravens pass rush has to get after it with the very efficient Russell Wilson up next, and a QB proven that rattling him is a key to victory, Tom Brady.
The Seattle home field advantage…or is it?
The Seahawks home field is one of the loudest in the NFL. But in the age of earpieces in helmets, teams having silent counts, how much does that matter? Consider the 5-1 Seahawks are 3-0 on the road and 2-1 at home. In week 1, the same Bengals that are now 0-6 took Seattle down to the wire, losing by one point. A Teddy Bridgewater led Saints team should have been rattled in that environment…won the game, 33-27. Seattle avoided a second home loss when Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a game winning 44-yard field goal. Seattle wins by 1.
The point differential in Seattle’s home games is -6. They can be had. Their defense is middle of the pack in points per game allowed and yards per game allowed. Their offense, like the Ravens, is among one of the best for one reason…
…Russell Wilson.
After today’s action, Wilson sits with 14 passing TDs and zero interceptions on the season. He is the most efficient passer in the league, more so than Patrick Mahomes, reigning MVP. The Ravens sole focus has to be on stopping him. Chris Carson is a between the tackles runner. They grind it out with him for 20+ rushes a game, suck defenses in, and “DangeRuss” goes to work. He can make you pay with his legs too. One thing on the Ravens side, the defense practices against Lamar Jackson. How does that prepare them for facing a mobile QB?
I don’t doubt that this Ravens offense can make it a game up there in Seattle. But can the defense? In three of Seattle’s last four games, it was the first team to 30 that won. I feel like that will likely be the outcome in this contest as well. Hold Seattle under 30, and the Ravens can be in a position to win.
Ravens Analyst
Mike was born on the Eastern Shore, raised in Finksburg, and currently resides in Parkville. In 2009, Mike graduated from the Broadcasting Institute of Maryland. Mike became a Baltimore City Fire Fighter in late 2010. Mike has appeared as a guest on Q1370, and FOX45. Now a Sr. Ravens Analyst for BSL, he can be reached at mike.randall@baltimoresportsandlife.com.