2024-10-14 11:50:02
The Ravens’ offense is humming in harmony.
Once Baltimore’s offense got rolling, the Commanders couldn’t stop it. Baltimore’s final six possessions resulted in three touchdowns, two fields goals, and a seven-play drive that ran out the game’s final 2:48 and ended in victory formation.
The Ravens did a masterful job using their many weapons. They averaged a season-high 7.4 yards per play, even better than Week 5 against the Cincinnati Bengals when they averaged 6.8 yards while scoring 41 points.
Jackson was less spectacular than he was in Cincinnati, but more surgical. He still threw for 323 yards and one touchdown and took advantage of Washington loading the box to stop Henry. Baltimore had touchdown drives of 93 and 94 yards. Those kind of long marches demoralize an opponent.
Jackson’s main target was Flowers (nine catches, 132 yards), who used his quickness to take advantage of man-to-man coverage, getting open and picking up yards after the catch. Rashod Bateman caught every pass when he was targeted (four catches, 71 yards), and Mark Andrews (three catches, 71 yards) scored his first touchdown of 2024.
Meanwhile, Henry (24 carries, 132 yards) went over 100 yards for the third time in four weeks. He’s called “The King,” but maybe “The Closer” would be a better nickname. A long run by Henry in the fourth quarter is becoming like a victory cigar for the Ravens. One week after his 51-yard gallop in overtime helped subdue the Bengals, Henry ripped off a 27-yard run just prior to the two-minute warning that basically sealed Washington’s fate.
Jackson describes Baltimore as a pick-your-poison offense, and recent opponents have been unable to find an antidote. This is what the Ravens envisioned in the second year with Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken, and with the addition of Henry. During training camp, they talked about running it effectively, throwing it effectively, and keeping opponents off balance with the diversity of their attack. That vision has come to fruition.