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Baltimore Ravens: 5 Takeaways from 44-20 win over Lions

By Jake McDonnell

BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 3: Outside Linebacker Matt Judon
BALTIMORE, MD - DECEMBER 3: Outside Linebacker Matt Judon /
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BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 3: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #22 of the Baltimore Ravens is helped off the field by medical staff in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – DECEMBER 3: Cornerback Jimmy Smith #22 of the Baltimore Ravens is helped off the field by medical staff in the second quarter against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

On Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens won their third straight game with a 44-20 win over the Detroit Lions. What were Jake McDonnell‘s 5 Takeaways from the blowout win?

1. Jimmy Smith’s injury stinks, could change the season

When cornerback Jimmy Smith went down in the second quarter, flashbacks of the 2014 and 2016 teams with a Smith-less secondary immediately crept into the heads of Ravens fans. Smith, who has been playing through an Achilles injury all season (believed to be tendinitis), went down without being touched on a 3rd-and-8 play that resulted in Matt Judon sacking Matthew Stafford.

Smith remained on the ground, punched the grass, and bit his lips in response to the pain he was in. He eventually left the field at the aid of two Ravens trainers, unable to put any weight on his left leg. A short while later, the Ravens announced that Smith tore his Achilles, ending his season.

This is the latest ailment on a long list of lower leg injuries Smith has endured in his seven-year career. This will be the third season-ending injury for Smith, the other two being Lisfranc and ankle injuries.

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History shows that when Smith misses time, the Ravens defense struggles mightily. Last season without Smith, the Ravens allowed Odell Beckham Jr., Dez Bryant, and Antonio Brown to wipe their playoff hopes away. In the 2014 season that saw the Ravens make it to the divisional round against the Patriots, Smith’s absence led to the Ravens blowing two 14-point leads and losing to the eventual Super Bowl-champions.

This injury hurts:

After halftime, the Lions scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions. On those drives, Stafford threw for 194 yards, and Marlon Humphrey was involved on several of those blown coverages. The Ravens did record two interceptions in the second half, but the Ravens secondary, now without Smith, was a mixed bag on Sunday.

Losing Smith arguably costed the Ravens a trip to the playoffs last year. A similar circumstance now has a chance too happen this year. For Smith, this means another long rehab, and you have to wonder about the long-term health of his feet following all of these injuries. Now, Humphrey becomes the man, and the Ravens’ decision to take him in the first round is much more justified. Luckily, the Ravens’ depth at cornerback is much deeper than ’14 and ’16, but the Smith injury could loom large down the stretch.

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