The Baltimore Ravens loss to the Indianapolis Colts stings. The team did enough to win this game, but they did not make enough plays at the right time. Still, you cannot just discard the performance and have to give some of the players the credit they deserve. Which players on the Ravens performed well in the loss?
3. Kyle Hamilton was the best player on the Baltimore Ravens Sunday
Kyle Hamilton was an absolute monster when the Baltimore Ravens took the field on Sunday. What is interesting to note is that he played a different role. Hamilton was back in the slot Sunday after spending the first weeks as the Ravens' strong safety.
Hamilton had just 21 slot snaps during the first two weeks, then spent 59 snaps in the slot in week three. He spent some time on Josh Downs, but he impacts the game in three clear ways. First, his size around the line of scrimmage impacts passing windows.
More than that, he has six stops against the run on Sunday after just two in the first two weeks. He also added five pressures and three sacks on the day after having no sacks and a pressure in the first two weeks. It is obvious he cannot stop the run and blitz as much from the safety spot compared to the slot, but he is so good at it. It may be hard to move him back away from there. The Ravens have to at least use him as a joker of sorts who can move everywhere if they can get healthy in the slot.
Still, they probably will not get healthy in the slot. Both Pepe Williams and Ar'Darius Washington are on the IR, and there are more players on the IR more likely to return than those two. If they do not, the Ravens should just keep Hamilton in this role because that performance was impactful.
2. Jadeveon Clowney has continued his great year with the Baltimore Ravens
Jadeveon Clowney is off to a strong start to the 2023 season. It is only three games, but he is pacing for one of the best years of his career, and it is even better when you watch the deep. Clowney has been a destroyer.
In week one, you can say that the offensive line he played was weak. Still, he had five pressures. In week two, he was dominant against Jonah Williams. The Ravens even asked him to play both sides at times because of an injury Odafe Oweh.
In week three, David Ojabo joined Odafe Oweh on the injured list. So, it was just Clowney next to Tavius Robinson and Jeremiah Moon. Clowney was supposed to be the third wheel, but now he is the top dog.
He showed up with six pressures in this game. He beat Berhard Raimann but mostly did his work against Braden Smith, who has a notable reputation.
He could not do it all on his own, but he is showing that if Oweh and Ojabo could get healthy, and he could be that third option, this group would come together fast.
1. Michael Pierce has been an elite run defender
Micael Pierce was dominant on Sunday. Based on where he was at this time last season, many were not sure if that would be possible. By week three of 2022, Pierce was on the sideline with a second straight season-ending injury. Now, Pierce played his season high in snaps and added six pressures and five run stops.
To be fair, the Colts starting center Ryan Kelly was out. However, that means it was a matchup that Pierce had to win, and he did just that. The Colts ended up getting the outside on some runs due to the questionable depth and injuries on the edge. However, there were a few times where you could see the 58 jersey clean in the A-gap as the running back is getting the ball. That is not the first site a running back wants to see.
Pierce played 54 snaps on Sunday. That is the most he has played since the 2017 season. Even in the loss, Ravens fans have to admit that is not impressive; it may be showing that Pierce is healthy now and able to get back to his old ways for the season.