Any fans of college basketball know that, come March Madness time, the mantra to live by is “survive and advance”. The Baltimore Ravens did exactly that at The Bank on Tuesday. No style points, no flawless victory, just a workman like effort, with a patchwork roster and some guys suiting up despite appearing not quite up to par, conditioning wise. They needed a win to stay alive in the AFC wild card race and they got that done on Tuesday night, doubling up the Dallas Cowboys, 34-17.
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Getting back in the win column was the number one objective. The other thing we were all curious to see was the return of Lamar Jackson from his one game COVID induced hiatus. We saw some of the maddening things that we’ve seen throughout the season; poor mechanics, dropping down to the side when not necessary, which caused a couple of throws to sail, a turnover on the first series (not entirely Lamar’s fault) and a couple of missed opportunities. However, Jackson also cranked out 94 yards rushing on 13 carries, including some key 3rd down escapes to extend drives and a beautifully designed, 37 yard touchdown scamper on a 4th and 2.
On Tuesday night, we saw glimpses of 2019, MVP Lamar Jackson. He was exuberant, energized and determined. In the face of a collapsing pocket and blanketed receivers, rather than forcing an ill-advised throw or taking a sack, he used his elusiveness and blazing speed to pick up positive yards with his legs. Lamar’s ability to create on his own afforded opportunities to the running backs, as well as opened up some play action. While I was critical of some of Lamar’s throws, I would be remiss if I left out the 2 touchdown throws. The first, on a well schemed and executed play fake to Miles Boykin and the second, an improvised, sandlot throw to Hollywood Brown in the back corner of the end zone.
It was not a perfect performance by any stretch but there was enough encouraging signs to believe that a December run is very possible. It certainly looked to me like Superman got his cape back and is ready to fly again.
On to Cleveland
It’s tough to figure what lies ahead on Monday night in Cleveland. The Browns do look to be on a roll, winners of five out of their last six. Albeit outside of last week’s win over Tennessee, those victories have come against lackluster opponents (Cincinnati, Houston, Philadelphia and Jacksonville) and all have been of the less than one score variety. Of course, you just play who is in front of you and never apologize for a win.
In the NFL, much like in investing, past performance is not always indicative of future results. In spite of a string of close games against mediocre opponents and barely holding off the Titans after piling up a 38-7 halftime lead, this upcoming Monday will be all about the matchups. I think the make or break story for this primetime contest will be how the Ravens defense stacks up against the Browns offense.
Cleveland the 2nd best rushing attack in the league, averaging a shade under 158 yards per game. The two head monster of Chubb and Hunt is tough to handle for sure. The good news for the Ravens is that Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell were able to play Tuesday night and knock off some rust. Having some snaps under their belts can only bode well for what promises to be a tough matchup with the Browns.
Baker Mayfield has been taking better care of the football thus far this season. He’s thrown 7 interceptions through 12 games; whereas in 30 games between 2018 and 2019, he tossed 35 picks. Also, he’s been protected fairly well, suffering 17 sacks to this point. By comparison, the Ravens have surrendered 27 sacks. Mayfield does have a knack for extending plays and getting outside of the pocket, sort of like a smaller version of Roethlisberger.
When it comes to getting after the quarterback, the results have been mixed for the Ravens in 2020. They currently sit in the middle of the pack with 28 sacks. The acquisition of Yannick Ngakoue has not produced tangible results as of yet and Martindale still has to employ blitzes from every angle to generate real pressure. The pass rush should get a boost from the return of Matthew Judon, who was just activated from the COVID reserve list on Wednesday afternoon. Having the starting defensive line intact for this game could go a long way in the final outcome.
It’s mid-December, it’s all about getting a W, however that happens. Can the Ravens survive and advance again?
Jamie has been a Baltimore sports fan since he can remember. He grew up in Gwynn Oak and currently resides in Hampstead with his wife and 2 kids. He graduated from UMBC with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He’s currently employed at Verizon Communications in Hunt Valley.