The Ravens at 8-3 are currently the top seed in the AFC with six games to go, after their 16-10 win against the Browns. The all important top seed grants just that one team a first round bye in the playoffs, and home field throughout. Before we get too far ahead of ourselves, here are five thoughts on last nights win.
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1. This game had a classic AFC North feel to it.
I feel like we’ve seen this type of game play out several times over the last two decades. Low scoring. Tough defenses on display. Prime time atmosphere, and high stakes on the line that in which this time, the Ravens cashed in.
Last night’s game reminded me of so many Ravens/Steelers games over the years, except it appears clear that the Browns are now playing the role of the Steelers. Appointment viewing nationwide when these two teams meet. Whereas Pittsburgh/Baltimore no longer gets automatic prime time treatment. Week 4 2018 was the last time the Ravens played Pittsburgh in prime time, not counting last years “COVID game” that was flexed out to a Wednesday.
Talk more about them later. But this game while ugly at times, was AFC North post-thanksgiving football through and through, as the Ravens pounded the ball on the ground 40 times.
2. The trenches decided this game.
Another trait of AFC North battles. The Ravens defense was as stingy as ever against the run.
17 carries for 40 yards (2.4 YPC) for Browns rushers on the night. Nick Chubb’s 16 yards is the lowest output by far this season. Cleveland entered the game averaging 156.8 Y/G on the ground. Best mark in the league. The Ravens were 2nd in the league in run defense allowing just 88.6 Y/G. Something had to give, and it wasn’t the Ravens.
On the Baltimore side, they never did get away from running the football, despite not having great success. Mentioned the 40 carries (omitting three kneel downs, only amounted to 150 yards (3.75 YPC). But they got the yards when they needed it the most. Salting away the clock on their final drive, eight of 11 plays on the ground, moving into Justin Tucker field goal range, so he could extend the lead to six, leaving the Browns with only 70 seconds to try to go the length of the field. Defense stood tall getting the four and out and the W.
3. Tyus Bowser is showing up a lot more of late.
Sometimes Bowser gets lost in the mix when you’re talking about hot young edge rusher Odafe Oweh, or veterans up front like Calais Campbell, or the major issues in the secondary. Bowser was a nightmare for the Browns, hitting Baker Mayfield three times, picking up a sack, and playing tight coverage all night. Including the tackle to win the game, bringing down his man in coverage, David Njoku, short of the first down sticks.
The sack gives him three in his last two games, and a team leading five on the year.
His coverage ability was more of the reason that Bowser was extended, and his Pro Football Focus grade in coverage this year is the highest mark of his career thus far. But if you start adding being a force in the backfield to his repertoire, we might start seeing him get noticed much more as the season rolls along.
4. Lamar Jackson’s four interceptions.
Still got the win. But Jackson clearly was not happy about his performance after the game. Understands he must do better.
A place to start might be not zeroing in on his favorite targets, Hollywood Brown and Mark Andrews, so much. They are good players, and deserve to get theirs, but 10 targets a piece accounted for nearly 2/3 of his attempts all night. That kind of ratio, the defense knows where you are going with the ball.
Rashod Bateman continues to be under-utilized. Targeted only four times and catching all four attempts for 31 yards. Of his 10 targets, Mark Andrews only caught four as well. Batemans four targets were a season low. I understand they committed to the ground game plenty in this contest. But 65% of your targets can’t go to two guys without defenders keying in on those guys.
Three drives in a row ended on interceptions, and all four of the picks thrown by Jackson, were intended for Mark Andrews. Nine guys were targeted, which is nice. But Jackson just seemed to force it too m any times to his safety blanket.
5. Don’t like the upcoming games, but what can you do?
Steelers week is coming up. However, the crazy way the NFL operates as a week-to-week league, I really hated to see Pittsburgh decimated 41-10 by the Bengals yesterday. I want the Ravens to do the decimating, and what are the odds Pittsburgh really is this bad two weeks in a row?
Ben Roethlisberger had a wet blanket game with two pick-sixes thrown and sacked three times. The kind of day that for the last five years or so he hints around retiring after a performance like that. Only thing missing was him getting carted off at some point for not having fun anymore, only to return like some kind of tough guy.
He had a bad day. Najee Harris only had eight carries for 23 yards. What the odds he is held in check to this level twice in a row?
The Steelers at 5-5-1 need a win stay above .500 and in the playoff hunt. Backs against the wall, severely beat down, that’s not the kind of team I’m looking forward to facing, and definitely not looking past based on their last three games.
Meanwhile the Browns will be on a bye and host the Ravens in two weeks. How on earth did the schedule makers figure that was fair? A week to prepare for the Ravens, then two weeks to prepare for…the Ravens. Seems like a huge advantage for the Browns. Will they, Brown? Or will they return the favor the Ravens just dealt them?
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.