The Baltimore Ravens beat the Houston Texans 41-7. Here are the main takeaways of the game:
There was a point in the 2000 season when it just seemed clear to many Ravens observers that they had a legitimate chance to win the Super Bowl. It was a 24-23 road win against the Tennessee Titans that moved the team to 7-4 on the season, and they followed that with wins in their last five games to roll into the postseason with a definitive swagger in their collective step.
Today did that for me.
The road win in Seattle was a really good win. Beating the undefeated Patriots following the bye showed that they could legitimately beat anybody. Following that up with a beating of the hapless Bengals was what they were supposed to do, right? Today the Ravens routed another contender, and I can’t think of a team that has more quality wins than this team. Can you?
Let’s narrow our focus for now on this electrifying 41-7 over the Houston Texans:
• At this point, on Nov. 17, 2019, Lamar Jackson is the best football player in the National Football League. I’ll debate you politely. There are tons of great players in the league, and I respect all of them. But you’re more likely to influence my vote in an election with a Facebook meme than you are of changing my mind on this. He is the single-best player in the league.
• The defense has gotten better every game since that aforementioned win in Seattle. Was it adding Marcus Peters to the fold? Getting back Jimmy Smith? The additions of low-cost veterans to play smart, assignment football? Yeah. Every one of those things. I’d also include Brandon Williams playing his best ball in several seasons, and young players Tyus Bowser and Jaylon Ferguson winning more of their one-on-ones.
• Josh Bynes had a fantastic two-play stretch, when he stopped Carlos Hyde for a six-yard run when I thought he was going to break a long one, and then he picked off Watson after a scramble. He has been a stabilizer to the defense, as has third-year safety Chuck Clark.
• Lets hear it for Gus Edwards. Edwards is a hammer and provides great relief of Mark Ingram. Today he ran for 112 yards and a touchdown, and it’s good to see the steak-and-potato guys get some headlines. Big fan of Gus.
• Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle and Hayden Hurst form a terrific tight end trio. The NFL is a notorious copycat league, but not everyone can copy the Ravens by finding the next Lamar Jackson. You might, however, see an increased demand on multi-purpose tight ends who allow an offense to present a near-endless amount of formations and personnel packages. It will be hard to replicate this group, though.
• The offensive line is seemingly on the same arc as the defense – getting better every single game. Coming into this season, left guard and center were areas of concern for many, but they are now probably considered a strength.
• I’m not worried yet, but Justin Tucker seems to be just a little off the past few games. I’m guessing it will get figured out, sooner rather than later.
• The Ravens really should just bite the bullet and sign Matthew Judon, if he’s interested in staying. He’s young, productive and a clear leader on the defense. Ignore his sheer statistics, and watch his activity every single game. Sign Judon, keep coaching up Bowser and Ferguson, and if you can draft or sign a guy next year to upgrade, do it. But we know what’s there in Judon. Lock him up.
• The Ravens were extremely fortunate Marlon Humphrey wasn’t flagged for pass interference in the first quarter against DeAndre Hopkins. That would have given the Texans first and goal at the one, and the game might have had a different flavor. I still think the Ravens were the dominant team today, but things snowball sometimes.