2017 Baltimore Ravens defense could be historically good
By Tyler Beard
The Baltimore Ravens defense could be a historically great unit:
No one expected the Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals to be an offensive battle. It was supposed to be a defensive showdown and come down to the last minute of the game. It wasn’t even close though, as the Ravens struck first on offense and the defense picked Andy Dalton apart for a 20-0 shutout.
We heard for weeks that the Ravens had a defense that was going to match the Ravens’ 2000 team. This was only Week One, but the stat line shows that this defense could be special.
In fact, it could be one of the best defenses we’ve seen in a long time. The Ravens had five sacks, forced four interceptions and one fumble against the Bengals, giving them the most dominant defensive performance in Week 1.
It started up front with the consistent pass rush, including Suggs’ two sacks and a pass deflection that was intercepted. He was menace to Dalton all day long and could have had three sacks, but lost grip of Dalton’s jersey on the play. Suggs showed off an impressive motor. There was talk he might slow down in 15th season, but he didn’t show any signs of it on Sunday and will be a key factor if he stays healthy all year.
Everybody showed up for this one:
Must Read: Ravens vs. Bengals: Game balls
Behind Suggs’ are young pass rushers that could make a huge difference if they continue to grow.
Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon had big plays, including Smith’s sack on the first drive. He left the game with an injury and would be a tough loss if out long, with the preseason and first game that he had.
The defensive line was critical for the Ravens as well. Michael Pierce reminded everyone how big of a steal he was with a sack on Dalton and a few stops on the run. He’s making a case to be one of the best nose tackles in football. Pierce is paired with Brandon Williams, who had a very quiet day on the stat sheet (imagine what the defense looks like when he does put up numbers).
Then you have the star-play of C.J. Mosley, who was all over the field. Mosley finished with eight tackles and picked off Dalton in the end zone, which killed all of the Bengals’ momentum.
The linebacker from Alabama is proving why he’s one of the top linebackers in the league and why he should be a perennial Pro-Bowler moving forward.
The front seven was impressive against the Bengals. However most of the kudos goes to the Ravens secondary (yes, that phrase can actually be said.) Tony Jefferson is a stud and led the Ravens with nine tackles. He was one of the top free agent acquisitions this offseason and showed he was worth every penny.
Jimmy Smith did an impressive job holding A.J. Green in check and his health is critical for keeping the secondary together. Brandon Carr and Ladarius Webb finished with interceptions and Eric Weddle kept every receiver in front of him.
The Bottom Line:
Overall, this defense is loaded with stars and works together very well. They looked like a smooth machine against the Bengals and now get a matchup against rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer.
The Browns actually kept it close with the Steelers and Kizer had moments where he shined. However, his second game is against a defense that made a $96 million quarterback look like a rookie.
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The Ravens’ defense is going to give Kizer fits and has the potential to produce a high amount of turnovers. Enjoy watching this unit, as we might be seeing history in the making. When week two kicks off, expect more dominant defense.