With the Ravens winning their third straight game in a 23-7 final at Denver on Sunday, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Entering Week 4 with just five sacks all year, the pass rush overwhelmed the Broncos to the tune of five sacks and 11 quarterback hits. Perhaps Teddy Bridgewater could have regrouped after intermission had he not been concussed, but Drew Lock had no chance handling Baltimore’s line games.
2. Aside from Denver’s only touchdown drive that included the 31-yard Javonte Williams run that certainly won’t go on Marlon Humphrey’s career highlight video, tackling was much better than in Detroit a week ago. Patrick Queen still missed a couple, however.
3. There was little running room as Pro Football Focus charted 50 of Latavius Murray’s 58 rushing yards coming after first contact, but you don’t see much explosiveness from Murray, Le’Veon Bell, or Devonta Freeman. Ty’Son Williams being a healthy scratch was surprising, but we’ll see how Week 5 plays out.
4. Running backs were stuffed on each of the first three third downs of three or fewer yards to go. It was telling to see Baltimore pass on the next three third-and-short opportunities with two converted. It’s almost like the ball should just be in Lamar Jackson’s hands in such situations.
5. After a quiet start to the season and a tough outing in Detroit, Tyus Bowser came up big with two sacks and was very disruptive from the second level of the defense. You always wonder how guys will respond in an expanded role, so that was an encouraging performance.
6. Calais Campbell continues to play outstanding football as he finished with three quarterback hits and five tackles to dominate Denver’s interior line. Given the absences they’ve had along the defensive line, Campbell and rookie Odafe Oweh are the Ravens’ most valuable defensive players through four weeks.
7. After only one reception for 14 yards in 37 offensive snaps over his first 16 NFL games, James Proche has six catches for 103 yards in 37 offensive snaps over his last two games. Even with Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin returning, I hope Proche continues getting some opportunities.
8. Anthony Averett rolled his ankle on Thursday, but you wouldn’t know it by how he performed as he was targeted in coverage seven times with two completed and another intercepted in the end zone. He may lack Marcus Peters’ dynamic upside, but Averett’s earning some money in Baltimore or elsewhere.
9. Brandon Stephens made his first career start filling in for DeShon Elliott and finished with three tackles and held up well despite surrendering a Noah Fant touchdown catch. “Conscientiousness in a safety is really important,” John Harbaugh said Monday. “That’s how you keep the ball in front of your defense.”
10. Noting that Andre Smith was “definitely breathing hard” in his first extensive NFL action since Week 9 of the 2019 season, Harbaugh was likely doing the same watching the 34-year-old filling in for the injured Alejandro Villanueva. Smith did OK, but him protecting Jackson’s blindside was far from ideal.
11. It’s all been really silly and I said my piece that irked some who apparently revere a streak nobody had ever heard of as if it were 2131, but I’m still curious to know who liked that final run but was outraged over J.K. Dobbins’ injury in the preseason finale.
12. The AFC North sports three 3-1 teams tied for first place with all three entering Monday ranking in the top 10 in Football Outsiders’ DVOA, which measures overall efficiency. Pittsburgh is very clearly not one of them. Strange times.
Here's a look at the new DVOA Top 10 based only on 2021 performance. You'll also find new playoff odds updated here: https://t.co/6W7lZLJ2GY #BillsMafia #AZCardinals #DallasCowboys #Browns #RamsHouse #RavensFlock #Saints #ChiefsKingdom #Buccaneers #Bengals pic.twitter.com/yTOkGYxY9I— Football Outsiders (@fboutsiders) October 4, 2021
