In the Baltimore Ravens’ critical win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15, the defense stole the show. They shut out Joe Burrow for the first time in his NFL career and made game-changing plays on seemingly every drive. Still, the offense deserves its flowers, too.
While it initially looked like another ugly game from the offense, they started to hit their stride midway through the second quarter. Sure, back-breaking mental errors and brutal miscues continued to plague the unit, but they certainly began to shake off the rust from previous weeks.
Following the win, quarterback Lamar Jackson acknowledged that they still have issues to clean up, but they seem to have a lot more confidence heading into a pivotal stretch. He also gave a positive update on his health.
“I felt good,” Jackson said. “I feel like we’re taking a step in the right direction, but still need to finish in the red zone.
“There’s always room for improvement. Our [defense] pulled a shutout today. We just gotta keep going, stay locked in, stay focused,” he added.
Ravens’ offense headed in the right direction
The offense’s scoring output was nothing crazy on Sunday. They put up 17 points, but it was a very efficient 17 points. They had the ball for barely over 20 minutes in this one, and after a slow start, they began to move the football with purpose.
The passing offense was strong outside of two drops by wide receiver Zay Flowers, one of which resulted in an interception. Jackson completed eight of 12 passes for 150 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. Flowers had a fine day despite the drops with three receptions for 68 yards and a score. Running back Rasheen Ali also got in on the action with a 30-yard touchdown reception, his first-career touchdown.
The rushing attack especially stood out. The dynamic duo of Derrick Henry and Keaton Mitchell unveiled itself and was lethal in Week 15. Henry took 11 carries for 100 yards, and Mitchell had eight carries for 66 yards. Jackson also looked healthy, using his legs for 26 yards on two runs.
Despite the success, the offensive line was a significant issue. Jackson took four sacks, and pressure collapsed into his lap a bit too often. They looked a bit better, but it remains a group that will likely have trouble against better pass-rushing fronts.
Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken also needs to call a better game. Play designs and balance between pass and run improved, but the slow starts and stalled drives are a bad habit he has to fix.
Regardless, Monken’s unit seems to be turning over a new leaf. They can prove it in Week 16 against the New England Patriots on Sunday Night Football.