With the Ravens defeating Washington in a 30-23 final on Sunday to improve to 4-2 and remain in a first-place tie in the AFC North, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. Lamar Jackson looks as sensational as ever, ranking seventh in the NFL in passing yards, third in yards per pass attempt, fifth in touchdown passes, third in passer rating, sixth in QBR, eighth in rushing yards, and first in yards per carry (minimum 50 attempts). He’s been sacked seven times.
2. Derrick Henry has been outstanding, but his 3.4 yards before contact per attempt is overwhelmingly the highest mark of his career. He’d be the first to say he’s benefitting more from playing with Jackson than the other way around. The MVP “debate” some are peddling here isn’t one at all.
3. What makes late-game Henry toss plays so deadly? John Harbaugh said, “We pretty much [have] been able to attack the width of the field and the depth of the field with the run game and the run play-actions, so that just makes it tough. You spread them a little thin.”
4. The defense made Jayden Daniels and Washington earn it more than Cincinnati at the very least, but over routes continue to hurt this pass defense with the linebackers and safeties — other than Kyle Hamilton — faring poorly in coverage. Baltimore made Zach Ertz look five years younger on Sunday.
5. Though he may never “look the part” as a 6-foot-8, 380-pound right guard, Daniel Faalele is definitely showing growth. His pass protection remains ahead of his run blocking, but he moved quite well on the pull to help spring Jackson for a 33-yard run on third-and-2.
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6. Ar’Darius Washington will want that dropped interception back, but it was interesting seeing him cut into Eddie Jackson’s playing time next to Marcus Williams in two-high dime looks in the second half. Regardless of who’s playing, the Ravens need better play from those spots.
7. Though Washington playing more safety could lead to more snaps for Nate Wiggins, the rookie has struggled in three of the last four games with penalties and leaky coverage. The talented corner will be fine, but more snaps could go to a returning Arthur Maulet in the near future.
8. Ben Cleveland had never lined up on field goal block until Week 5 after telling Chris Horton he wanted to try. His block earned him a game ball. As Harbaugh noted, “When a guy wants to do something like that … and help the team, man, you’re fired up about that.”
9. Yannick Ngakoue being promoted to the 53-man roster was inevitable after he registered a sack and PFF credited him with three pressures in Sunday’s win. He doesn’t play the run as well as Baltimore prefers from its edge defenders, but he remains a solid situational rusher.
10. Though the superb play of Travis Jones hadn’t shown up via traditional stats through the first five games, his takedown of Daniels to conclude the Commanders’ opening drive was key in calming the early storm created by the interception. Jones has been Baltimore’s best defensive lineman thus far.
811. Brandon Stephens isn’t finding the ball in pass coverage as well as he did last season, but there’s little he could have done differently on Daniels’ second touchdown pass to Terry McLaurin. Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the opponent for making the perfect play.
12. Despite Washington’s running game being a non-factor without Brian Robinson and Baltimore’s pass rush keeping him hemmed in, Daniels drew praise from both Jackson and Roquan Smith for his performance. In defense of their struggling pass defense, the Ravens have played a difficult early schedule of quarterbacks — Gardner Minshew aside.
