The Baltimore Ravens won a key matchup against the Detroit Lions in a game that solidified how much of a contender they are. The team needed to get strong performances out of some of their top players to pull this win off, and they did just that. Which players on the Ravens had big games on Sunday to beat the Lions?
3. Mark Andrews was at his best for the Baltimore Ravens
If the Baltimore Ravens wanted to win this game, they needed to get Mark Andrews looking his best. Andrews is a big-time player, but in too many huge games, we remember him coming up short. Sunday was big because the Lions have a weakness against tight ends. The Baltimore Ravens were just the team to expose this.
The Ravens played Isaiah Likely more than ever and even activated Charlie Kolar for the game to make sure that Detroit would play their heavy personnel. This is when it is easier to pass on the Lions. This worked magnificently. Andrews ended up with 63 yards and two touchdowns. Considering Detroit did not even make the game close, the stat line could have been so much more, as well.
Andrews averaged 2.33 yards per route run in this game. For comparison, his career rate is 2.1, and this was the second-highest yard per route run he posted this season. The other was the Cleveland Browns game, and that was another two-touchdown performance.
Andrews has five touchdowns, but four of them have come in two games. We would like more consistency here, but if Andrews can have monster performances that put teams away here and there that is quite alright as well.
2. Ronnie Stanley is looking better for the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are finally getting their offensive line looking good. It is not a surprise that the Ravens are 3-0 when all five of their projected starters play. In the last two weeks, we have seen the team at their healthiest, and it may lead to even more wins.
Ronnie Stanley has been a key cog in the injury issues. Stanley played week one but left with an injury that held him out weeks two through four. He came back in week five but looked rusty. Now, the last two weeks have been his best. The Ravens were without Morgan Moses in week five as well as Moses and Stanley as the book ends in weeks six and seven, we see what this offense can do.
Stanley looks like the rust is off, and he is getting closer to being back to his old self. We may never see the All-Pro days, but we may still get to see a Pro Bowl-caliber player every once in a while. Stanley had his best game as a pass protector against the Lions and was a lead blocker on the Lamar Jackson touchdown run. His run blocking looked better in week seven than we had seen in a while. It would be huge if things could start to come together for Ronnie Stanley.
1. The Baltimore Ravens got a couple of sacks out of Kyle Van Noy
Along with the Baltimore Ravens offensive line, their defensive line is also starting to come together. This unit saw a little outside help from Kyle Van Noy, and they also got Odafe Oweh back. So, a unit that was supposed to be Oweh, David Ojabo, and Tyus Bowser has turned into Oweh, Jadeveon Clowney, and Kyle Van Noy. It is the healthiest it has been and the closest to what the Ravens wanted to do on paper as well.
Clowney has been better than what Ojabo was expected to do, and Van Noy was signed to play the Tyus Bowser role. His role is valuable because he can stand up and play off of the ball if needed, but he can also rush. As Oweh has been eased back in, the Ravens have asked him to rush a lot. In the last two weeks, Kyle Van Noy has ten pressures and three sacks. Two of those sacks came against the Detroit Lions, signaling that Van Noy is playing his best football right now.
The Ravens still might get Ojabo or Bowser back. They could even get both. If they do, the pass rush actually may be deeper and more talented than fans wanted back in August. It is always fun when the high hopes not only get met but exceeded. The Ravens edge rushers have not done that yet, but the last two weeks finally have them trending in that direction.