Ravens Week 9 rookie showcase poised to ignite second half defensive breakout

On Thursday night, the Baltimore Ravens beat the Miami Dolphins 28-6, marking their second straight win. Of course, Lamar Jackson stole the show in his first game back, recording 204 passing touchdowns and four touchdowns. However, the rookie defensive trio of Malaki Starks, Mike Green, and Teddye Buchanan was also a highlight of the night.

Starks' interception in the fourth quarter was the most memorable play of the night, but Green assisted on a sack, and Buchanan's tackle helped force a fumble. Undoubtedly, if the Ravens can get consistent production out of this trio, it could help change the trajectory for a defense that is already trending upward. As the 3-5 Ravens try to fight back in the playoffs, this could be a game-changer. 

Starks, Green, and Buchanan all impressed on Thursday

Starks' performance was the most impressive; the safety had struggled early on in the season. Nevertheless, he was already showing some encouraging signs, and it culminated in Thursday's game. In addition to the interception Starks posted, five solo tackles (career-high), allowed just five receiving yards, and earned a 91.2 Pro Football Focus (PFF) grade. 

For reference, Starks' overall PFF grade is 50.6, and he has allowed 25-plus yards in all but one game previously. This performance shows that Starks (along with Alohi Gilman) can man the back of the field at a high level. 

Last week was a promising outing for Green, where he got the first sack of his career, and he built on this performance nicely. Green assisted on a sack, recorded two tackles, and one pressure. The Marshall product, continuing his recent stellar play, will benefit the Ravens as they try to improve their pass-rush. 

Buchanan has been the most solid of the bunch throughout the season. In fact, Buchanan won Defensive Rookie of the Month in October. Regardless, Thursday was certainly one of the best performances of his career, and he quickly validated this honor. Buchanan recorded eight tackles, one of which helped Gilman scoop and recover a fumble, setting up the Ravens to score a touchdown and build momentum early. 

The rookies stepping up led the Ravens to hold their opponent to 17 points or fewer for the third straight year. Before this, the Ravens had given up 35.4 points per game. If the Ravens' defense can continue this stellar play, their path to making a playoff run is clearer.

Ultimately, things are looking good for the Ravens as they attempt to make a run at the AFC North, and these three rookies should be key contributors for the rest of the year.