Breaking down the turning point in Ravens’ win over Saints
By Kristen Wong
The Baltimore Ravens won their Week 9 matchup against the New Orleans Saints pretty handily, but a certain running back helped seal the victory in the fourth quarter.
Kenyan Drake put the game away with a nifty touchdown run with seven minutes left in the game, though it was another underrated offseason signing who helped get the Ravens in the end zone in the first place.
On the Saints’ previous drive, pass-rusher Justin Houston nabbed an interception thanks to a tipped ball by Calais Campbell, gaining possession in Saints’ territory. From there, Lamar Jackson handed it off to Drake who danced his way across the goal line. It wasn’t as easy as his first touchdown of the game, but Drake still delivered, and that score essentially served as the nail in the coffin for the Saints as it increased the Ravens’ lead to 27-6.
Kenyan Drake puts this one out of reach with a 3-yard touchdown run.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) November 8, 2022
Ravens fans chanting loudly now in the Superdome.
Make that TD No. 2 on the night for Kenyan Drake‼️ pic.twitter.com/Hchm1g7EPr
— PFF BAL Ravens (@PFF_Ravens) November 8, 2022
Ravens RB Kenyan Drake, OLB Justin Houston help close out the game in Week 9
In all honesty, there was never a point when the Saints looked like they could actually come back in the game. The Ravens held them to just one field goal to end the first half, and New Orleans didn’t score a touchdown until the fourth quarter — and that was due to a fluky defensive miscommunication.
Baltimore looked as dominant as it has been since Week 1 against the New York Jets with both the offensive and defensive units stepping up big on the primetime stage. Drake and the rest of the running back room gashed the Saints on the ground while Lamar Jackson helped sustain drives with key throws or his characteristic magical rushes.
Though they were without many of their offensive starters, the Ravens bullied the Saints in just about every area on the field and solidified their identity as a legitimate Super Bowl contender in 2022.
Baltimore is 6-3 and at the top of the AFC North going into their BYE week. They hold tiebreakers over their divisional rivals and boast one of the easiest schedules for the rest of the year. And they’re expecting plenty of talent to rejoin the lineup in the coming weeks (Gus Edwards, David Ojabo, Marcus Williams, and more).
The Ravens are paying for their offseason inaction at the WR position. dark. Next
The Ravens’ stock is rising more than any other team in the league right now — buy it now.