With the Ravens winning a fourth straight game to improve to .500 on the season in a 23-16 final in Cleveland on Sunday, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. From the great blocks by Patrick Ricard and Charlie Kolar to the backside fake from Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson, you couldn’t ask for better execution on Mark Andrews’ 35-yard touchdown on fourth down. Per Marlon Humphrey, John Harbaugh came up with the “Hurricane” play idea. Quite a collaborative effort.
2. It was fitting Andrews scored the game-winning touchdown on a day when he became the franchise’s all-time receiving yards leader. What the future holds for the 30-year-old pending free agent remains to be seen, but Jackson still tends to look his way in critical moments.
3. Even when Kyle Hamilton isn’t making the play himself, his presence so often contributes to another defender being in better position. Even as he seemed to be favoring his shoulder at a couple points, Hamilton’s final line in the box score was something else.
4. Myles Garrett showcased his game-wrecking ability in a statistical way that makes him the favorite for NFL Defensive Player of the Year, but Hamilton’s versatility makes him one of the league’s most valuable defenders. I’ll continue saying he has a chance to become the third-best defensive player in Ravens history.
5. The response to Harbaugh saying the offensive line is playing “pretty darn good” was predictable, but he acknowledged room for improvement and rarely dresses down players publicly. Save for Emery Jones possibly getting a late-season opportunity, Baltimore maintaining the same starting five says plenty about its thoughts on the backups.
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6. It was a forgettable passing day for Jackson, who received no favors from his protection. Excluding the game’s final kneels, Jackson didn’t run once after a designed rush and a scramble on the opening drive. It’s difficult envisioning this offense really taking off without Jackson’s legs becoming a bigger factor.
7. After looking a bit shaky of late, Tyler Loop connecting from 44 yards to tie the game with 4:59 to go in windy Cleveland was the biggest kick of his season to date. Especially considering this offense’s efficiency issues, the rookie will need to continue to come up big.
8. LaJohntay Wester and Keaton Mitchell are high-ceiling contributors, but being responsible for turnovers isn’t going to earn them more opportunities. On top of his fumble, Wester returning another punt from the 2 wasn’t what you want despite the outcome turning out OK in that instance.
9. Speaking of that fumble setting up Cleveland at the 6-yard line, Brent Urban’s tackle for a loss and Keyon Martin’s pass breakup to hold the Browns to a field goal made for one of the game’s more critical sequences. Role players continue to step up for this improving defense.
10. Expecting Kyle Van Noy to duplicate his 2024 production was never realistic, but it was still encouraging to see the 34-year-old flash to the extent he did with a sack and a season-high four pressures, per Pro Football Focus. The Ravens made life miserable for Cleveland’s rookie quarterbacks.
11. Though hardly surprising given their history and reputation, the Browns wasting their formidable defense with that level of quarterback play is a shame. I’d say I feel sorry for Garrett, but he rescinded his trade request last February to sign a huge long-term extension only a month later. Oh well.
12. The Ravens may not look like a Super Bowl contender, but which other AFC teams have convinced you they are? The upstarts with the top records are unproven while established heavyweights are no sure thing to win their division or even qualify for the postseason. Just keep winning and improving.
