The Baltimore Ravens once again handled their business, returning on a short week to blow out the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium. In the 42-21 drubbing that wasn’t nearly as close as the score indicates, the Ravens got back into the flow on offense but struggled in a few other spots.
Though there aren’t very many duds in their Week 15 win, Baltimore has a few spots they need to address moving forward. Here are the four studs and two duds from the Ravens’ win over the Jets.
Stud: Lamar Jackson
Jackson was expected to break the single-season rushing record in this game. But needing 23 yards, I’m not sure many really expected he’d do it on the opening drive. However, just like this entire season has been, Jackson was more impressive with his arm and leadership in spite of where all the headlines will focus.
Jackson was far from perfect, failing to connect on a few deep shots that he’ll likely be upset about. But it was still an amazing game from Jackson as he completed 65.2% of his passes for 212 yards and five touchdown throws on the night. But his best play of the game was easily the 4th-and-1 from their own 29-yard line where Jackson told the punt team to stay on the sidelines and found tight end Mark Andrews for 36 yards to convert.
Jackson looked every bit the MVP he’s likely going to earn this season while extending his lead on touchdown passes, TD% and amazing individual plays.
Dud: Tackling
This has been an issue at times this season and it reared its ugly head once again in the first half against the Jets. Baltimore played more zone coverage than they have in the last few weeks, allowing receivers to get open for small gains. The big part of the gameplan is to wrap up those players for short completions and get off the field without allowing the big plays. But that’s not at all what the Ravens did and it cost them repeatedly, though they dug themselves out of a hole with big plays at the end of drives to avoid giving up points.
Against New York, it was an inconvenience. In the playoffs, it’ll keep teams in games and give them chances to win when they should be stomped out early.
Stud: Miles Boykin
If you just look at the box score, you won’t get the real feel for what Boykin did. Though he had a touchdown reception, he was relatively quiet as a receiving threat all night long, catching just that lone pass. But Boykin’s real work was on rushing plays.
From the start of the game, you’ll find Boykin blocking his defender all the way down the field. At one point, running back Mark Ingram broke outside for a 20-plus-yard gain and Boykin was still blocking some poor defensive backwards at a full sprint. Without Boykin’s downfield blocking, you don’t see those plays go for as many yards and you’d have more defensive backs taking angles on Jackson when he runs.
It might not be Player of the Game material but I saw you Boykin.
Dud: Special teams
There’s not a single special teams player who is going to escape the wrath of the coaching staff. They were absolutely dreadful in literally everything they did and in just about every way.
The kickoff return units allowed an average of 25.57 yards per return. That allowed New York to regularly start drives off beyond the 30-yard line. In fact, only one kickoff return failed to be held behind the Jets’ 26-yard line. The punt coverage unit wasn’t really any better, giving up several big returns and averaging 16 yards-per-return throughout the game.
Kicker Justin Tucker had a rare miss on an extra point while Sam Kock had a punt blocked and returned for a touchdown. Add in some penalties on special teams helping New York out further and you have a unit that couldn’t get anything right in this game.
While it ultimately didn’t decide the game, even one of those things happening would be enough to lose a close game. Giving teams short fields and actual points off special teams in the postseason is the quickest way to the Ravens being on their couch in late January. I’d hate to be in that meeting room whenever they review the film.
Stud: Offensive line
So much credit for the rushing attack’s success ends up going to Jackson and the running backs. But in this game, players could have played hopscotch through the holes the offensive line opened for them.
On most of his runs, I saw running back Mark Ingram get into the second level of New York’s defense without being touched. That makes a running back’s job so much easier when he doesn’t have to fight through 300-plus pound defenders and can pick up a head of steam. It also makes it far harder on the linebackers and defensive backs who have to get in the way of the freight train that is Ingram and Gus Edwards.
Considering the Jets were ranked No. 2 in run defense coming into this week, to block well enough to put up another 200-plus-yard ground game is something that deserves special praise.
But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the pass blocking, especially without left tackle Ronnie Stanley. Jackson had plenty of time in the pocket all game long and was sacked just once where it looked like he slipped trying to avoid the little pressure he had.
For all the talk about the hits Jackson takes as a mobile quarterback, the offensive line kept his jersey spotless for 60 minutes. That type of sustained effort will keep Jackson upright and healthy for a long career.
Stud: Marquise Brown
Brown has been hot-and-cold this season but stepped up in a big way. He was blocking downfield and was a threat downfield all night long, including a 24-yard touchdown and a deep shot that drew a pass interference flag. But his best play might have been a five-yard completion over the middle where Brown took a massive shot, got back up and stayed in the game. For a guy that had drawn questions about his health and ability to take those types of hits, that play answered a lot.
