Baltimore Ravens beat Indianapolis Colts: 3 game balls

It wasn’t always pretty, but the Baltimore Ravens got an important win over the Indianapolis Colts. Time to hand out some game balls.

Lamar Jackson:

It was a first-half to forget for most of the Baltimore Ravens, but Lamar Jackson was particularly bad. Jackson was off on his throws and didn’t look like the elusive player we’ve grown to know. Things were looking grim for the offense as a whole because of Jackson’s struggles. Fans were especially mad online, voicing their complaints about the playcalling and Jackson.

Well, apparently they all heard your complaints because the second-half was a totally different script. Jackson played much better in the second-half of the game, completing passes at an exceptionally high-rate (he had 12 straight completions at one point) and running around with his legs. Jackson got the backbreaking nine-yard rushing touchdown late in the game to put the game on ice.

Jackson would finish the day 19/23 passing for 170-yards and tallied another 58 rushing yards and the aforementioned rushing touchdown. Against a very good Indianapolis Colts defense, Jackson was efficient and managed the game well. For his efforts, Jackson gets out first game ball.

Marcus Peters:

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In a week where the Ravens were missing Marlon Humphrey (COVID-19) and were suddenly thin at the cornerback position, the team needed its guys to step up. Marcus Peters answered the call big time.

On the day, Peters broke up a pass, forced a fumble that teammate Chuck Clark returned for a touchdown, and recorded a very controversial but clutch interception off Philip Rivers. Peters locked down anyone who lined up across from him and made life hard on Rivers. Even behind arguably the best offensive line in football, the coverage was tight and allowed the pass rush to disrupt the play. A large portion of that thanks goes to Peters.

If there was any question about whether or not Peters is good on his own and without Humphrey across from him they were answered today. Peters balled out and showed why he was also a First-Team All-Pro last season with Humphrey. Peters gets our second game ball.

Matt Judon:

Many, including yours truly, have been extremely critical of Matt Judon in 2020. The fifth-year edge rusher is playing out the 2020 season on the franchise tag after earning his first career Pro Bowl coming off a career-best 9.5 sacks a year ago. Baltimore challenged Judon to do it again in 2020 and so far he hasn’t lived up to expectations.

Judon only has two sacks on the year, both of which came in week four against the Washington Football Team. Outside of that game, Judon has been extremely underwhelming. It was expected that trend would continue against an elite offensive line vs. the Colts, but instead, Judon had perhaps his most complete game of the year. Judon was a terror off the edge and was consistently in the backfield putting pressure on Rivers. Indianapolis struggled to move the ball, and a huge part of that came from Judon’s play.

When the Ravens needed Judon most, he showed up. Judon was responsible for a critical fourth-down stop that essentially marked the end of hope for the Colts. Even though Judon didn’t record a sack, he was remarkable on the day and was responsible for arguably the game’s biggest play. For that, he gets our third and final game ball.