A dream season continues for Ravens running back Justin Forsett as he was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week on Wednesday.
The 29-year-old rushed for a season-high 112 yards on 20 carries and scored two touchdowns in the Ravens’ 21-7 win over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. Forsett has already run for a career-high 721 yards — a total good for fourth in the NFL — and leads all running backs with a 5.4 yards per carry average. His five rushing touchdowns are more than he ran for in his previous four seasons combined (four).
His performance has left fellow running backs Bernard Pierce — who began the year as the starter — and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro to fight over the backup job. It’s quite a story for a player whose signing in early April was an afterthought as many originally predicted he’d be the odd man out once Ray Rice returned from his suspension.
Of course, things changed dramatically for the former Ravens running back and Forsett has since seized the best opportunity of his seven-year career.
“We know who our No. 1 is,” offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak said. “Our ‘one’ is playing really well. No. 29 has played extremely well.”
His two touchdowns against Tennessee epitomized how effective he’s been running behind an improved offensive line and fullback Kyle Juszczyk. On a fourth-and-1 play from the Titans’ 9, Forsett beat linebacker Kamerion Wimbley 1-on-1 on a pitch to the left to give the Ravens their first score of the game in the second quarter. In the third quarter, the veteran showed terrific patience and vision in waiting for a seam to develop between right guard Marshal Yanda and right tackle Rick Wagner before sprinting for an 11-yard touchdown.
With the Ravens holding a fourth-quarter lead, Forsett played the role of a strong finisher by rushing eight times for 67 yards in the final 15 minutes of the game.
After Sunday’s game, Forsett was thankful to be upon the bye week as he has plans for bigger and better things over the season’s final six games.
“It’s definitely going to be able to get a chance to rest,” Forsett said. “I want to be able to do more of this next half. There are always going to be doubters. There’s always going to be people that want to limit me and put me in boxes. It’s my job to go out and try to break them.”
