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Tribune News Service
Tribune News Service
Sport
Jonas Shaffer

Ravens avoid late collapse, hang on to beat Eagles, 30-28, to move to 5-1 entering bye week

Baltimore Ravens tight end Nick Boyle (86) scores on a 7-yard pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun/TNS)

PHILADELPHIA _ Quarterback Lamar Jackson had another long rushing touchdown, defensive end Calais Campbell had three sacks, and the Ravens avoided a late collapse Sunday to knock off the Philadelphia Eagles in a sloppy 30-28 win.

The Eagles scored the game's final 14 points, but outside linebacker Matthew Judon and inside linebacker L.J. Fort denied quarterback Carson Wentz on a potentially tying 2-point-conversion attempt with less than two minutes remaining. Wide receiver James Proche II recovered the subsequent onside kick, and the Ravens held on.

The win at Lincoln Financial Field sends the Ravens into their Week 7 bye with nine consecutive road wins and a 5-1 record overall. The last two Ravens teams to start the season 5-1 both went on to win the Super Bowl.

Baltimore Ravens running back Gus Edwards scores in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun/TNS)

With the Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0) routing the Cleveland Browns, 38-7, in Sunday's high-profile AFC North matchup, the Ravens will play for at least a share of the division lead when they return to M&T Bank Stadium on Nov. 1.

For much of Sunday, their defense had the look of a champion. Against an Eagles offense with a patchwork offensive line and without much receiving talent, the Ravens didn't allow a first down until about five minutes remained in the first half. Philadelphia didn't convert a third down until late in the third quarter.

A handful of big plays hurt the Ravens, but they still finished with six sacks and a forced fumble, plus two fourth-down stops. Quarterback Carson Wentz went 21-for-40 for 213 yards and two touchdowns, leading an Eagles offense that was powerless for much of the afternoon until desperation set in.

Philadelphia Eagles' Miles Sanders runs toward the end zone on a play where he fumbled the ball and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside recovered it for the Eagles' first touchdown of the game against the Baltimore Ravens. (Yong Kim/The Philadelphia Inquirer/TNS)

Jackson bounced back from a forgettable win over the Cincinnati Bengals with a performance that was good enough. He finished 16-for-27 passing for 186 yards and a first-quarter touchdown pass to tight end Nick Boyle, along with a team-high 108 rushing yards. J.K. Dobbins (nine carries for 28 yards), Gus Edwards (14 carries for 26 yards) and Mark Ingram II (five carries for 20 yards), who left the game with an ankle injury, averaged just 2.6 yards per carry against a stout Eagles defensive front.

After the Eagles (1-4-1) finally scored midway through the third quarter, with wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside falling on a fumble in the end zone after a long sprint by running back Miles Sanders (nine carries for 118 yards), Jackson had the perfect response. No Eagles defenders even touched him as he capped a five-play, 63-yard drive with a 37-yard touchdown run up the middle.

The score extended the Ravens' lead to 24-6, and they led by 16 points as late as midway through the fourth quarter after a pair of field goals by kicker Justin Tucker. But a disappearing defense and a stuttering offense gave the Eagles new life.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs for a first down in the first quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun/TNS)

With less than four minute left, Wentz found wide receiver Travis Fulgham (six catches for 75 yards) for an 18-yard score on a fourth-down jump ball over cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey. After the Ravens went three-and-out, Philadelphia needed just 76 seconds to cover 71 yards and set up the late-game drama.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) scores on a 37-yard run in the third quarter against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun/TNS)
The Baltimore Ravens defense makes a stop on a fourth and short attempt by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz in the second quarter on Sunday, Oct. 18, 2020 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Kenneth K. Lam/The Baltimore Sun/TNS)
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