Ravens Fast Five: Local Gang, Ravens, Beats Football Team

Is there a prize for most underwhelming headline?

Discuss your thoughts on todays 31-17 win over the Football Team on our message board.

The $98.75 million-dollar man jump starts the Ravens day.

Marlon Humphrey inked a five-year extension earlier in the week, and on the second drive of the game showed why the Ravens wanted to lock up one of the game’s best defensive playmakers. He held up Football Team running back J.D. McKissic long enough to strip the ball, with Patrick Queen taking him out of the play and Marcus Peters picking up the trash to regain offensive control. Two plays later the Ravens were in endzone thanks to a 1^st down deep ball to Hollywood Brown, and Mark Ingram punching it in from the 1.

No complaints at all about this signing. You have to lock in your elite players, players you deem irreplaceable. That short list would include Humphrey, Ronnie Stanley who missed this game, and Lamar Jackson. I know you want to keep all your good players but having a salary cap means you have to reload at some spots while you hang onto the elite. Such as not being surprised if Matt Judon, who picked up sacks number one and two on the season today, is allowed to become a free agent.

Glad to have Humphrey here for the long haul.

Action Jackson is back!

Lamar Jackson hasn’t exactly been limited on the ground game as he averaged a quarterback best 77 rush yards per game coming into this contest. But he didn’t have a highlight reel run this season to date, until now. He scored his first touchdown on the year with a career long 50 yards rush. Teams had been doing a good job of containing Jackson from being able to run outside to open spaces. Washington had containment when Jackson took off to the right, faked a handoff to J.K. Dobbins, then he cut back to the middle of the field making Footballl Team linebacker Jon Bostic over pursue. Then speed took over after that as no one could catch him.

Jackson was off target again on a handful of throws. But was on target for some big ones too and settled into the pocket when he seemed to bail early last week against the Chiefs, and to start the game even this week. Two long balls on the mark to Brown, a long ball on the mark to Mark Andrews for a TD, and a bullet up the seam for Andrews second score of the day.

Patrick Queen had a nice line today.

The rookie was all over the field making plays in the first half with eight tackles, all of them solo, and three of those tackles for loss. I mentioned laying the wood on the McKissic fumble to take him out of the play. He also stood up and knocked back Peyton Barber who tried to leap over the line on a goal line try.

Finished with 10 tackles to once again lead the team, but a scary moment occurred on an awkward flip when he ran into DeShon Elliot that left him unable to get up. Turns out he would return after just a few plays. He’s got work to do in the coverage game, but for a rookie with no preseason, have to be a little pleased with the effort so far. He’ll likely be tested in coverage when the Bengals come next week.

Big backs still overpower the Ravens defense.

It’s not a new trend. Nick Chubb, Derrick Henry, other “power” backs seem to have their way with the Ravens at times. Add to the list 6’3” 220 Antonio Gibson. Washington had been reluctant to let the rookie run free for a few weeks, but he was the center of attention today. He led the Football Team with 128 all-purpose yards on 17 touches, with a score. Could have been two but credit the D for stopping him on couple goal line attempts. It also could have been a bigger day if Washington wouldn’t do Washington things and make him the bell cow as he’s clearly the best offensive player on the team. He looks like a fantastic talent who will get lost in the Football Team black hole.

Look ahead at the Bengals.

Can’t afford to overlook this game as the worst team a year ago comes into town off of their first victory (1-2-1). The Bengals love to throw the ball and Joe Burrow is among the league leaders in pass attempts into the endzone. Only a matter of time until they convert some more of those and you hope it isn’t this week. They have a pair of speedsters in rookie Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd who we in Baltimore know too well. Not to mention A.J. Green likes to show up twice a year, usually against the Ravens.

Terry McLaurin had too much production for my liking today, 10 catches for 118 yards. Could see something similar from Boyd or Higgins if the Ravens don’t clean up the short pass coverage, including Queen being in better position, anticipating these better. HE was caught in no man’s land often in the Chiefs game (weren’t they all) and a couple times I saw today.

Speaking of big backs, Joe Mixon fits that bill and just went for 151 yards on 25 carries and scored three total touchdowns on the day.

Historically the Ravens have feasted on rookie quarterbacks, and hopefully it’s more of the same this time around. The Bengals O-line has let Burrow get pummeled back there as he’s been pressured more than any other quarterback. Burrow could end up having a career day if a team doesn’t get home on him. Only sacked once against Jacksonville today, finished with a line of 25/36 for 300 yards and a score, allowing Mixon to salt the game away.

Interested to see what the line is, as I don’t expect it to be the 14.5 points it was against Washington (in which, the Ravens won by 14. Vegas never loses). Divisional game, Cincy with some weapons, starting to find a grove, no home field advantages. Unlike the Ravens who took their foot off the gas halfway through the 4^th quarter, I don’t think they have that luxury next week. Though all signs point to them being victorious given how quick strike this offense can be when clicking, or even clicking a little bit.