Sunday was a big day for the Ravens flock. Not only did Baltimore take down Cincinnati on Sunday Night Football, but the Steelers and Browns both lost once again, leaving the Ravens in sole possession of first place in the AFC North. This weekend, they’ll head to East Rutherford for the second time this year, but rather than taking on the Jets, they’ll be faced up against the 4-1 New York Giants. So, as the Ravens get ready for a clash with one of the NFC’s hottest teams, let’s take a look at some news surrounding the team.
Justin Tucker Gives Outstanding Postgame Interview After Dominating Performance
There weren’t many things that were easy about Baltimore’s win over the Bengals, but Justin Tucker’s four field goals were as effortless as they come. There was never a doubt whether any of them would go through, not even the 58-yarder he nailed early in the second half. But, according to Jimmy Traina of Sports Illustrated, what made Tucker’s performance so memorable were his reactions and celebrations afterward. First, Tucker held out his arms, asking for applause and seemingly basking in his own glory after making his second kick of the day. Then, after hitting the game-winner, he gave one of the most unique and amusing post-game interviews I’ve seen in a long time, claiming that when everything goes right he’s just a “system kicker” and “the ball kicks itself”. If you haven’t seen the clip, it’s definitely worth taking a few minutes to watch. Tucker has had his fair share of memorable moments as a Raven, but going four-for-four with a 58-yarder and a 43-yard game-winner against a division opponent on Sunday Night Football and making headlines with your celebrations in the process has to be among the best of them.
Ravens place Marcus Williams on IR, release Daryl Worley
According to Myles Simmons of NBC Sports, the Ravens secondary underwent some changes on Tuesday. The more significant move saw safety Marcus Williams head to the IR with a dislocated wrist. Williams had been enjoying an excellent start to the season, leading the team in solo tackles, passes defensed, and interceptions. Fortunately, Simmons reports that the injury will not be season-ending. Still, losing a key player like Williams will make it difficult to build upon what was the secondary’s best performance of the season on Sunday night. In his absence, first-round pick Kyle Hamilton and third-year safety Geno Stone should see their roles expand significantly. The Ravens also released cornerback Daryl Worley for the second time in the last month (he had been waived in September before being re-signed to the practice squad). Worley played five snaps on special teams and recorded one tackle against the Bengals.
8 potential trade deadline targets for the Baltimore Ravens
With the NFL trade deadline just a few weeks away, it’s time for teams at the bottom of the league to start selling assets and teams competing for a playoff spot to add that missing piece. The Ravens fall into the latter category and earlier this week, Spencer Schultz of Baltimore Beatdown took a look at some of their potential targets. The list includes five wide receivers (Robbie Anderson, DJ Moore, Jakobi Meyers, Jerry Jeudy, and Tyler Lockett), two edge rushers (Montez Sweat and Clelin Ferrell), and one interior lineman (Da’Ron Payne), all positions of need for the Ravens. That being said, some seem much more realistic than others. Anderson, Moore, and Lockett are all obtainable targets who likely wouldn’t cost more than a second or third round pick given that the Panthers and Seahawks are both desperately in need of a rebuild. Alternatively, I’d be surprised to see Meyers or Jeudy dealt since the Patriots and Broncos are still in the playoff race and both players are still very young. On the defensive side, adding Sweat makes the most sense to me given his age, potential, and small contract. Payne is likely out of the Ravens’ price range and I don’t see Ferrell making a significant enough impact to be worth giving up draft picks for. Still, don’t be surprised if any of these players end up in Baltimore before the deadline passes on November 1st.
How the Eagles are proving the Ravens need to open their wallets for a star wide receiver
On the topic of acquiring new players, Cody Benjamin of CBS Sports released an article this week detailing why the Ravens should invest in an elite wide receiver. While Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay have shown flashes of potential, the Ravens receiving corps lacks a true playmaker. Regardless of whether it is through a trade like the ones described by Schultz above or through a free agent signing like Odell Beckham Jr, Baltimore could benefit greatly by acquiring another threat on the perimeter. Throughout the article, Benjamin cites the Eagles as a template for how the Ravens could do this. By trading up to draft DeVonta Smith and shipping two picks to the Titans to bring in AJ Brown, Philadelphia built a receiving corps that has helped them get out to an impressive 5-0 start. Can you imagine what Lamar Jackson could do with that kind of talent around him? The Ravens are currently spending less than 4% of their salary cap on the position and if they want to take their offense to the next level, that will need to change.
Stopping Saquon Barkley Is Next Challenge for Ravens Defense
As the Ravens prepare for this weekend’s matchup with the Giants, Clifton Brown of BaltimoreRavens.com believes that the emphasis is on slowing down star running back Saquon Barkley. Despite enduring a number of lower-body injuries over the last two seasons, Barkley leads the NFL in scrimmage yards with 676. His ability to find holes and make cuts in the open field are among the league’s best, leading John Harbaugh to dedicate time during his weekly press conference to praise the fifth-year running back. The Ravens have done relatively well against opposing running backs so far this season. They have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher and prior to last week, hadn’t even allowed a 75-yard rusher. That being said, Barkley is a different animal who, as Brown notes, has yet to go up against the Ravens in his career. Game planning for his unique combination of size, speed, and agility with no prior experience will be challenging to say the least, but given the lack of playmakers surrounding him, stopping Barkley means stopping the Giants offense entirely.
Luke Rollfinke is a student at Vanderbilt where he is pursuing a career in sports journalism. A recent graduate from the Friends School of Baltimore, Luke has spent his entire childhood in Charm City and is a devoted Orioles fan. In the past, he has written for SB Nation and has worked closely with Ravens columnist John Eisenberg. From nights at Camden Yards to Sunday afternoons watching NFL Redzone, Luke eats, sleeps, and breathes sports. He is excited to bring his perspective to BSL.