The Baltimore Ravens are a much better offensive crew than they had been final season, particularly within the second half. They confirmed it in an exciting 37-31 extra time victory in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams. The Ravens wanted a particular groups play, and a few questionable officiating, for a 76-yard punt return for a landing to seal their tenth win this season, making them the primary AFC crew to succeed in that whole.
Lamar Jackson was nice with 313 yards passing and three touchdowns. He was additionally the Ravens’ main rusher with 70 yards. In addition to their offense performed in Week 14, the Rams stored tempo with all of them afternoon. Till the ultimate landing, the Rams held the most important lead of the sport at 20-14 and by no means trailed by greater than 4 factors till the sport ended.
It was a Matthew Stafford-led drive with a minute left on the clock that pushed the sport into extra time. Nonetheless, he solely needed to get his crew into area aim vary. The drive prior, Jackson led Baltimore on a 13-play, 75-yard drive for a landing and a two-point conversion to take a 31-28 lead.
Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken determined to journey Jackson’s arm. The 2019 MVP put the ball wherever he needed, finishing eight passes to 5 totally different gamers. He relied on Zay Flowers essentially the most who was the highest go catcher on that drive with three. A type of was a 21-yard landing on third and 11 with simply over a minute remaining within the recreation. Flowers additionally caught the go on the profitable two-point conversion.
Popping out of the two-minute warning industrial break, the Fox broadcast crew knowledgeable viewers that the Ravens had the worst point-differential within the league within the last two minutes of a recreation this season. Final season, Baltimore ranked twenty third in second-half factors per recreation. Whether or not Monken or Greg Roman have referred to as the performs, the offense has been too tight late in video games.
A number of Ravens’ wins have been nearer than essential this season as a result of they’ve been too conservative with playcalling. They’d be standing on their lonesome atop the AFC, in the event that they had not misplaced to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3 once they ran the ball again and again within the fourth quarter.
Jackson goes to should let the ball fly steadily late in video games if the Ravens wish to compete for a championship. They introduced in a brand new offensive coordinator, drafted Flowers, and signed Odell Beckham Jr. to juice up their passing assault.
Flowers has been the Ravens’ finest go catcher this season. Whereas he sealed the sport, he wouldn’t have gotten the chance to take action with out a nice efficiency by Beckham. The veteran led the crew in receiving with 4 catches for 97 yards and a landing — his second-best efficiency of the season. One his largest catches was an inbreaking route on that fourth-quarter drive.
The Ravens did go three and out on their solely extra time possession, so the offense is much from good. Their protection tightened up on the proper time, and so they escaped with a large particular groups play.
Nonetheless, the Ravens let Jackson be the first playmaker on a drive that they desperately wanted, and rewarded his coaches. That’s the participant he must be each week. The receiving corps was improved so he may have moments like Week 14 in opposition to the Rams.
If the Ravens wish to win large, the recipe is to place the ball in Jackson’s palms and stay with the outcomes.
