The Ravens shot up power ranking boards following their win over the Patriots last weekend. With matchups against the highly-respected Bills and Bengals on the horizon, Baltimore will have plenty of chances to boost the rising expectations surrounding the team. Let’s take a look at some news surrounding the team as they prepare for a difficult stretch.
Oz the Mentalist Visits Ravens, Envisions Super Bowl Win Over Falcons
Earlier this year, the Ravens hosted a surprise guest at one of the team’s meetings: well-known mind-reader Oz the Mentalist. His routine was filled with tricks that shocked the team, from guessing which card Kevin Zeitler was thinking of to knowing the time that Marcus Peters’ son was born. However, according to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com, it was his final act that got the team excited. After bringing Lamar Jackson to the front of the room, Oz asked Ja’Wuan James to name any team in the NFC before having Jackson pick a score and Binjimen Victor select any artist. When Jackson opened up a sealed envelope with a printed sheet of paper describing that the Ravens would beat the Atlanta Falcons (James’ pick) by a score of 35-14 (Lamar’s pick) with Kodak (Victor’s pick) performing at halftime, the meeting room erupted. It was a moment of fun to help bring the team closer together, but also a chance for the Ravens to set a goal for the year: a Super Bowl victory. As Mink notes, if his prediction comes true, Oz the Mentalist may surpass former GM Ozzie Newsome as the most beloved “Wizard of Oz” in Baltimore.
Greg Roman Leading Potent Ravens Offense
Over the past few seasons, Ravens fans have become known for taking every chance they get to take shots at offensive coordinator Greg Roman. However, according to Sports Illustrated’s Todd Karpovich, Roman has done more than enough over the last few weeks to silence his critics. Not only is Baltimore the highest scoring team in the league, but they rank fourth in total yards and third in both passing and rushing yards per attempt. Lamar Jackson’s MVP-level performance certainly deserves some of the credit, but Roman’s creative play calling has played an equally important role in the team’s offensive success. Karpovich notes that head coach John Harbaugh took time during his weekly press conference to acknowledge Roman’s work and praise him for “taking what [we] have and putting it together in a way that makes it really tough to defend”. It should be noted that the offense’s ability to move the ball down the field is not just a product of facing weak opponents. In the last two weeks, the Ravens have put up 38 points against a Dolphins defense that shut down the Super Bowl-favorite Buffalo Bills and 37 points against a Patriots team that had allowed just 34 points in its first two games combined. The next few weeks should reveal if Roman has truly turned a corner, or if he has simply reaped the benefits of a few “Lamarvelous” performances.
Given that the Ravens were tied for the most draft picks selected this offseason, it was inevitable that the team was going to rely on some first-year players out of the gate. Week 3 was the most clear example of this yet, as according to Dustin Cox of Baltimore Beatdown, six different rookies saw significant playing time in Foxborough. The team’s first overall selection, Kyle Hamilton, was the star of the group, forcing a crucial fumble and putting up a 92.6 PFF grade in his 16 snaps. Fellow first-round pick Tyler Linderbaum continued his streak of strong performances, allowing no pressures and helping to create holes in the running game. Offensive tackle Daniel Faalele and defensive tackle Travis Jones each saw their first action of the year, and while neither recorded impressive stat lines, Cox claims they both showed flashes of talent. Tight end Isaiah Likely and cornerbacks Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion “Pepe” Williams also all saw limited action, though none made significant contributions. It’s exciting to see how much trust the Ravens have put in their young players and it should pay dividends as the season continues on.
Ravens Announce Five Roster Moves
Just like each of the last few weeks, the Ravens have made a flurry of roster moves as they prepare for Sunday’s game against the Bills. According to Nate Bouda of NFL Trade Rumors, Baltimore released wide receiver Makai Polk and cornerback T.J. Carrie to make room for guard Zack Johnson and outside linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu on the practice squad. Johnson has spent time with Green Bay, Arizona, and Denver and has yet to make an appearance in his three years in the league. Attaochu, on the other hand, has enjoyed a long and successful career as a pass rusher, tallying 20.5 sacks and 114 solo tackles in 79 career games. The team also released defensive back Daryl Worley, who failed to make an impact in limited snaps this year. The good news is that none of these moves involve adding players to the IR. Offensive tackle Patrick Mekari, pass rusher Justin Houston, and defensive tackle Michael Pierce all went down with injuries on Sunday, leaving fans to fear the team could be adding to their long-list of unavailable players. Fortunately, reports have already come out saying that Mekari and Houston shouldn’t be out for long. Pierce may miss significant time, though it’s a good sign that he has yet to be added to the IR at the time I am writing this article. Update: Pierce suffered a torn bicep and may miss the rest of the season.
Buffalo Bills injuries will again impact next game: What to know about Week 4 matchup
For the first time in well over a year, the Ravens may enter a game as the less-injured team. According to Sal Maiorana of Democrat and Chronicle, the Buffalo Bills suffered a slew of injuries in their game against the Dolphins on Sunday. In fact, at multiple times during the game, Buffalo was missing eleven starters, including well-known players like tight end Dawson Knox, defensive tackle Ed Oliver, and safety Micah Hyde. Monday, head coach Sean McDermott spoke to the media, stating that many of the injuries were due to the Miami heat and humidity. That being said, the Bills will still be missing a number of important players when they arrive in Baltimore. Among that group will be cornerback Christian Benford (broken hand, offensive tackle Tommy Doyle (torn ACL), wide receiver Jake Kumerow (high ankle sprain), and potentially others. Superstar quarterback Josh Allen also had an injury scare when his hand hit the helmet of a Dolphins player, but according to Maiorana, he should be ready to suit up on Sunday. In what should be a thrilling contest between two of the NFL’s most electric offenses, fans can only hope the injury bug stays away from both locker rooms this weekend.
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.