Can the Ravens trust Gus Edwards instead of trading for a running back?

In an ugly matchup played Sunday, the Baltimore Ravens (6-2) secured a 31–24 victory over the struggling Arizona Cardinals (1-7) on the road, increasing their lead atop the AFC North.

The game opened with both teams trading early touchdowns, but the Ravens seized control in the second quarter. Gus Edwards capitalized on interceptions by Brandon Stephens and Geno Stone, scoring two crucial touchdowns for the Flock on Sunday.

Edwards' scores pretty much sealed the victory for the visitors in Week 8 even though the Cardinals fought late to try and pull off a comeback win.

Was that outing enough to convince GM Eric DeCosta to stop chasing a running back ahead of the trade deadline, though?

Did Gus Edwards Week 8 performance convince the Ravens to stop looking for another running back?

There is no denying Gus Edwards emerged as the offensive linchpin for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 8.

Edwards scored himself a hat trick with three touchdowns of all varieties racking up 80 rushing yards on 19 carries. Edwards averaged 4.2 yards per carry and contributed 14 yards on two receptions on top of his rushing.

The new Ravens RB1 fumbled the rock against the Cardinals, mind you, but he saved himself by recovering that loose ball.

The Ravens' strategic shift toward passing, particularly in the early portion of the game, reflected a departure from the dominant run-focused approach of years past, and once more led some folks to think the Ravens might be looking for a backfield reinforcement as they don't trust their current running backs.

Edwards' physical, north-and-south running style proved key on Sunday. Is it enough to carry the team through the regular and post-season on their way to winning a third Super Bowl? That's not quite clear.

While the Ravens have emphasized a revamped passing game, both Lamar Jackson and the backfield rushing prowess is still one of the best weapons and most effective tools in Todd Monken's bag.

Edwards demonstrated the importance of a power-run approach in certain game situations, but he's not your typical Derrick Henry or Josh Jacobs.

The Ravens might decide to pass on the chance of trading for a running back before the Tuesday deadline, and they will probably won't suffer that much.

That said, langing a bonafide RB1 for the second half of the season and the playoffs could very well mark the difference between an early exit in January or a true, legitimate run to the Super Bowl.

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