Baltimore Ravens: New receivers step up big in win vs Bills

Following a 47-3 thumping over the Bills in the season opener, Ravens fans are excited with how their team looked, but wide receivers were the real stars.

The 47-3 victory that Ravens fans enjoyed over the weekend was one of the largest defeats we’ve seen in recent team history, and it saw everything come together for Baltimore. They played well offensively, were stout on defense, and the return game even added an unexpected spark to the game.

The biggest factor to keep an eye on, and something that could propel the Ravens towards a serious playoff run, was the play of their wide receivers. Ozzie Newsome, whom vowed to shake up the receiving core in the offseason, went out and signed three wide receivers in Free Agency. Those receivers being  John Brown, Michael Crabtree,and Willie Snead, who all caught a touchdown on Sunday.

Even though the weather was far from ideal, you were still able to gage the passing game and what could be to come from the Ravens down the line. Joe Flacco looked sharp going, 25/34 for 236 Yards and three touchdowns. He connected well with his receivers, tight ends, and running backs out of the backfield. The passing offense looked crisp and in mid-season form on Sunday, and it showed on the scoreboard.

All about the wide receivers:

The main positive takeaway was that all three wide receivers played their positions exactly how you would’ve expected them to on paper. Crabtree, who had three receptions for 38 -yards and a touchdown, worked the middle of the field well and made the tougher, more contested catches. John Brown, who had three receptions for 44-yards and a touchdown took the top off the defense and really opened up space for Crabtree, Snead, and the tight ends to work underneath. Finally, Snead had four receptions for 49-yards and a touchdown and was all over the field making plays.

Teams often shy away from adding a lot of players in Free Agency for fear that it won’t gel well or there’s to many new faces to get up to speed, but it’s “so far, so good” for Ozzie Newsome in what was his last season as General Manager. His three free agent wide receivers signings have reinvigorated the passing attack, one that ranked 29th in 2017.

The additions of Crabtree, Snead, and Brown, along with the selection of Lamar Jackson has lit a fire under Flacco like never before in his pro career, and there’s no reason for him to slow down from his hot start. Newsome has created a deep and talented wide receivers room, one of, if not the, best that Flacco has had. With those new additions, a solid run game, and reliable play-making tight ends, the Ravens passing offense will take a huge leap forward this season, and you saw it take place first hand in week one.