Three years in the past, earlier than their offense had leapt into the NFL’s stratosphere, the Ravens entered their bye week in late October on a excessive. A 3-game profitable streak had launched the staff into first place within the AFC North, placing the stench of an uneven first month even additional behind it.
Upon their return to motion in Week 9, a stiff check awaited quarterback Lamar Jackson and people 2019 Ravens. The New England Patriots entered the matchup in Baltimore with an 8-0 document and one of many league’s finest defenses. Before a nationwide “Sunday Night Football” viewers, the Ravens didn’t accept a win; they delivered a smackdown, rolling up 372 yards and 4 offensive touchdowns in a 37-20 victory that hinted at what was to return over the subsequent two months.
“I feel like our team already knew what we were capable of,” Jackson stated afterward. “We just had to show it, and we did that tonight.”
The 2022 Ravens returned to observe this week on the same trajectory. Their Week 9 win over the New Orleans Saints was their third straight. At 6-3, they’re heavy favorites to knock off the Cincinnati Bengals for the division title. And their roster depth — besides, after all, at vast receiver — solely appears to develop with each passing week, bolstered by the staff’s bettering well being and wised-up rookie class.
The extra these Ravens win, the extra inevitable the comparisons to these Ravens will change into. An accommodating second-half schedule, beginning Sunday in opposition to the rebuilding Panthers (3-7), has solely stirred up hypotheticals about simply how simply the staff may glide into the playoffs. If the Ravens’ win over New England in 2019 grew to become that offense’s launchpad, a Week 11 residence sport in opposition to a battered and beaten-up Carolina protection may herald the same onslaught.
“I’ve always been excited about what the offense can do, but I do know that we have a lot of work to do,” coach John Harbaugh stated Wednesday. “We’re just in a situation where we’re trying to get better at everything all the time. Every game is kind of its own different kind of an entity. We’re chasing execution, we’re trying to be efficient with everything we do, run and pass. We kind of know what he have to work on, and try to apply it to the game plan and the defense that we’re facing, and within all that, try to improve every week.”
In some methods, this Ravens offense entered its bye week in a greater place than did the 2019 unit that may rewrite the franchise’s document books. They’ve been extra environment friendly, in response to Football Outsiders’ metrics. They’ve been extra balanced, although the lack of prime vast receiver Rashod Bateman to a season-ending foot damage has weakened the passing assault. And, possibly most promisingly, they’ve but to get the very best of their famous person quarterback.
Jackson’s accuracy by way of 9 video games (62.3%) can be the bottom of his profession as a full-time starter. So would his yards per cross try (6.9). His scrambling success has dipped (7.3 yards per carry), whilst his capacity on designed runs stays as good as ever. After the Ravens’ win over the Saints, during which Jackson handed for fewer than 180 yards for the fourth time this season, he was requested about his focus in the course of the bye week.
“The same thing I’ve been focusing on: everything,” he stated. “I can’t sleep on our opponents; we haven’t won the Super Bowl yet. We have to keep taking it one game at a time, a play at a time.”
In 2019, Jackson had one of many NFL’s finest offensive strains, a deep working again room, a calmly regarded receiving corps headlined by its tight ends and a artistic run-game designer in coordinator Greg Roman. Three years later, this Ravens offense, for higher or for worse, profiles as a doppelganger.
The subsequent eight weeks will show whether or not that’s sufficient to hold in a convention teeming with offensive heavyweights. During Jackson’s 2019 run to NFL Most Valuable Player honors, he greater than made do. Despite solely minor personnel adjustments on offense, Jackson ended the yr on an historic tear.
Over the common season’s remaining 9 weeks, the Ravens’ working sport remained one of many NFL’s finest; it was the passing assault that took off. Jackson improved his pre-bye-week accuracy from 63.3% to 69.4% after the bye. His passing-touchdown fee jumped from 5.1% to 13.4%, whereas his interception fee fell from 2.3% to 0.5%. Every 5 drop-backs by Jackson have been price about two factors by way of anticipated factors added, in response to TruMedia, a staggering stage of effectivity.
These Ravens have hit these highs solely often this season. But there are structural benefits in place: a extra mature Jackson; a extra numerous working sport; a extra achieved receiving corps, led by All-Pro tight finish Mark Andrews.
“As a team, I think we’re on the upward trend,” tight finish Nick Boyle stated Wednesday. “I think players are just getting used to their roles, are understanding their roles. And Lamar’s playing at an MVP level, and he’s awesome out there. … So I think it’s just a team all coming together and just understanding their role and kind of meshing, you know what I mean? And even the games we’ve lost, there were so many good things in those games.”
“The more things you can do, the more options you open up for anyone,” proper guard Kevin Zeitler stated. “You never know what we’re going to do; we don’t even know half the time.”
The Ravens’ largest assist may come from their schedule. According to Football Outsiders, they’ll face 4 of the NFL’s eight worst defenses down the stretch: Carolina (No. 25) on Sunday, the Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 27) in Week 12, the Cleveland Browns (No. 31) in Week 15 and the Atlanta Falcons (No. 30) in Week 16.
Even the largest roadblocks for the Ravens’ offense are considerably weakened; the Denver Broncos (No. 4) will probably be with out star cross rusher Bradley Chubb after they go to Baltimore in Week 13, having traded him to the Miami Dolphins two weeks in the past. The Cincinnati Bengals (No. 10) misplaced star cornerback Chidobe Awuzie to a season-ending ACL damage final month, and prime defensive deal with DJ Reader is coming back from a torn MCL.
For now, the Ravens’ focus is on Carolina — and on themselves. Zeitler stated the Ravens have been made “very aware” of their strengths and their shortcomings. The bye week supplied the staff a respite, and on Sunday comes one other measuring stick. Along the offensive line, Zeitler’s seen gradual enchancment from week to week, an elite unit slowly however certainly coming collectively. On the offense, there’s hope find the same, acquainted path.
“We had a lot of ups and downs the first six weeks of the season and then won three straight,” Jackson stated. “Then our guys get to rest their bodies and get ready for this long journey we’re about to have. So I feel like [the bye week] came at the right time. Guys are still locked in; we just had a great practice today. So I feel like we’re moving up the ramp how we’re supposed to.”
Week 11
Panthers at Ravens
Sunday, 1 p.m.
TV: Ch. 45
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
Line: Ravens by 13
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Source: www.bostonherald.com