The Baltimore Ravens win over the Los Angeles Chargers was textbook Ravens. Lamar Jackson got them the lead, and the defense put the game away. However, this was more than a typical game due to the breakout performance by Zay Flowers on a national stage. What did the rookie do to get attention, and what are some negative areas he can still improve upon?
Positive 1: Zay Flowers had a career day for the Baltimore Ravens
First, this game was what they envisioned when they drafted Zay Flowers. Flowers finished the game with just five catches for 25 yards, but he added a receiving touchdown. It was a quick pass, but it was big because he beat his man, and he has not been producing against man coverage in recent weeks.
Zay Flowers capped the game off with a 37-yard rushing touchdown as well. It was his first rushing touchdown and his first two-touchdown game. Considering he entered the game with just one touchdown, the two he scored on Sunday doubled his total for the year.
Flowers has been the leading receiver, but it has not led to the endzone. Finally, Flowers was able to deliver in the end zone. This is big for Flowers because he was in the national spotlight, and you know that fantasy football managers are invested in his performance. The touchdowns gave him his best game yet. The rookie is going to start to get some real fanfare after this game.
Flowers had an impact in the passing game and running game. He had two touchdowns and ripped off an explosive play. These are the things the Ravens needed to see when they drafted him.
Negative 1: Zay Flowers had talks with Baltimore Ravens coaches after both touchdowns
Zay Flowers had two touchdowns, which is great. However, in both of them, he had a bit of a rookie moment. In the first one, he had a touchdown celebration where he tossed a bouquet. However, it was a long, drawn-out celebration, and the teammates did not know what to do. It was unplanned, and the team was late to leave the field. The next thing you know is that the Ravens had a delay of game.
On the second touchdown, Flowers had the option to go down before scoring. It is a more selfless play, but it is the smart one. If he goes down, the Ravens just kneel out the clock and the game is over. Because he scored, the defense had to go back out on the field.
Kyle Hamilton noted that he and his teammates thought that they did enough and that the offense could kill the clock from there. They did not need the extra wear and tear.
Beyond that, there was now the off-chance that the Chargers did score, got the ball back, and had a chance to tie or win. That chance is small already but would have been completely removed if Flowers just went down.
You can see after the touchdown that one of the coaches is letting him know what the veteran move would be.
Positive 2: Zay Flowers' rookie season has him in good company
Before the season, we wrote about the possible expectations for Zay Flowers. If you look at first-round wide receivers, the ones who do not make an impact early almost never work out.
These are the recent first-round picks to hit under 550 yards as a rookie: Corey Coleman, Jalen Reagor, Henry Ruggs, Josh Doctson, Breshad Perriman, Cordarrelle Patterson, Jonathan Baldwin, Phil Dorsett, N'Keal Harry, Laquon Treadwell, and AJ Jenkins.
Then, there are the receivers to get between 550 and 750 yards: Kelvin Benjamin, Nelson Agholor, Michael Floyd, Devante Parker, Kendall Wright and Will Fuller, Brandin Cooks, and Hollywood Brown.
Lastly, these are the receivers to hit over 750 yards: Odell Beckham, Justin Jefferson, Brandon Aiyuk, CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, Calvin Ridley, DeAndre Hopkins, and DJ Moore.
Under 550 has almost no success, under 750, but over 500 is hit or miss, and over 750 is almost all hits. Zay Flowers currently has 613 yards. At his current rate, he would finish with 869 yards. Flowers just needs 137 yards in the final five games to get over 750 and join that solid group. This is just what the Ravens wanted to see from his rookie season.
Negative 2: Zay Flowers still needs to show he can get more than schemed touches
Zay Flowers had two touchdowns overall, but he also produced just 25 yards in the receiving game. That is not good enough. Sunday was his second-lowest game from a yards per target and yards per catch perspective.
Also, his average depth of target in the game was six yards down the field. That is under the eight yards that he is averaging this season. Flowers is good, but almost all of his touches are screens and short passes underneath. Of course, his second touchdown was a schemed-up touch where he ran the jet sweep.
Flowers beat man coverage to get open on the touchdown catch, but he still is not showing consistent enough ball tracking down the field to be a threat in all areas.
The Ravens' passing game is limited because their explosive players, such as Odell Beckham, Zay Flowers, and Rashod Bateman, are inconsistent. They need to see Flowers show much more in all areas to open up their deep passing game. Twenty points was enough to beat the Chargers, but they need a complete receiver who wins to all areas of the field and plays with a high football IQ to see Flowers take that next step.