The Baltimore Ravens lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but the game was rather meaningless for the home team. They benched plenty of starters, and even some of the players who got the start ended up sitting before the game was over.
It was not a game to find out if Baltimore can win a Super Bowl, but it was a great chance to get a peak into some of the depth pieces who usually do not get a chance to play. Which Ravens players took advantage of the extra snaps?
3. The Baltimore Ravens saw the future with Trenton Simpson
The Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker finally saw the field. When the Ravens drafted Trenton Simpson in the third round, the thought was that he would sit a year and then replace Patrick Queen, who is all but gone in free agency.
Simpson had gotten off to a slow start when he could not beat out Del’Shawn Phillips in the preseason to be the backup for Queen. Even on Sunday, he was the third linebacker. Patrick Queen stepped up for Roquan Smith, Del’Shawn Phillips stepped up for Queen, and then Simpson played the role that Malik Harrison would have played.
Still, he played it well. Harrison is valued on the field because he can attack downhill. Simpson had a couple of run stuff, but his biggest play was a sack where he came screaming in unblocked after solid execution.
Simpson also had a couple of sound plays in coverage, flashing an overall quality game. The Ravens really needed to see any signs of life from Simspon. To see him not only take advantage of his physical attributes but also see him thinking and passing off players in coverage shows that things are clicking. These were important snaps for the rookie.
2. Travis Jones is playing his best for the Baltimore Ravens
Travis Jones has been playing a lot more for the Baltimore Ravens over recent weeks. He has played over 40% of the snaps in eight games this season, and that includes each of the last four weeks.
Jones has been able to ease the workload of both Justin Madubuike and Michael Pierce, and the Ravens have hardly seen a drop. In the first ten weeks of the season, Jones had seven pressures. In the last seven weeks, he had 15 pressures.
He has shown a lot better as a run defender as well. This is important because the Ravens do not have much depth that they can lean on behind Madubuike and Pierce. The Ravens will need to lean on depth in the playoffs to ease their workloads so his ascension is key.
More than that, he is only finishing off his second NFL season. Jones has taken a huge step, going from five pressures and 15 run stops last year up to 22 pressures and 22 run stops this year.
If he can take another step into his third season, the Ravens have to feel good about increasing his workload again. This could mean feeling comfortable tagging and trading Madubuike or at the least, keeping him and Pierce fresh next year.
1. The Baltimore Ravens saw two quality games from Ben Cleveland
The 2023 season was supposed to be key for Ben Cleveland. While it did not go as expected, he did finish 2023 with good vibes and the thought that the 2024 season could be a big one. Cleveland thought he was going to be competing for the starting left guard job, but he spent his summer backing up Kevin Zeitler as the backup right guard. This went on all season.
Fortunately for Cleveland, Zeitler has been injured over the last two weeks. It was a great chance to rest Zeitler and also get a long look at Cleveland. Cleveland has been excellent in the last two weeks.
What is more impressive is knowing Baltimore played two playoff defenses. Cleveland saw guys like Christian Wilkins and Cam Heyward in back-to-back weeks and stood up to the challenge.
The Ravens have a big debate this offseason with Zeitler. At his age and health status, they may want to have Cleveland step into the starting job at a much cheaper cost. The last two weeks have definitely made that thought closer to reality.