The Ravens defense stepped up when it mattered most in Week 3

Coming off a defensive collapse in the fourth quarter against the Miami Dolphins in Week 2, the Baltimore Ravens entered Week 3 looking to bounce back in a big way.

The Ravens were overwhelming favorites coming into this game and rightly so as they were far more talented than the New England Patriots and are widely regarded as one of the best teams in the AFC.

Just like in the previous two games, the Ravens started the day well on both sides of the ball, getting after the quarterback and limiting the Patriots to 182 total yards in the first half. The Patriots’ only touchdown in the first half came following an interception that put them in good field position.

New England got the ball to start the second half and they marched down with relative ease to take the lead. However, the Ravens’ defense was brilliant on third down, holding the Patriots to just 2-of-9 on third down (22 percent).

The Ravens’ defense stepped up when it mattered most in Week 3

Heading into the fourth quarter, the Ravens held a comfortable 11-point lead. Still, when the Patriots scored a touchdown to cut the lead to five and wide receiver Rashod Bateman fumbled the ball in Ravens territory, alarm bells started to ring.

But this time, the Ravens’ defense was up to the task and absolutely took over the game. The Ravens’ defense forced turnovers on three consecutive drives.

An interception in the end zone by Marlon Humphrey was created by the pressure of the defensive line, forcing Mac Jones to throw a wobbler towards the end zone.

On the following Patriots drive, a forced fumble by rookie Kyle Hamilton ended any hopes New England had of a potential comeback. The game ended with another interception, this time by cornerback Marcus Peters.

When it mattered most, the defense stepped up and finally played the way most expected them to before the season kicked off.

There is no doubting the Ravens have talent on that side of the ball, and as long as they communicate and stay focused, they pose a difficult matchup for any team.