It’s another beautiful Wednesday in the best city in the world… unless you live outside of Baltimore, like me, in which case it’s another great day wherever you’re at. But Baltimore is home to the greatest NFL team there is, the Baltimore Ravens. Yes, I still stand behind this after a brutal loss to the Cincinnati Bengals this past Sunday… but the past is the past! It’s time to lick our wounds and move on.
The best way to do just that? Scroll through Twitter, obviously. And I got some exciting and overall satisfying tweets and news for you on today’s edition of Out to Lunch.
Let’s start with some good news for the defense:
We have designated DE Derek Wolfe for return, allowing him to practice Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/vRXxBXhcHp
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 26, 2021
That’s right, starting defensive lineman Derek Wolfe is finally back to practice and, provided there are no setbacks, should be playing for the Ravens in their next game vs. the Minnesota Vikings. It’ll be much needed reinforcement, as the defense needs some more attitude up front, and Wolfe provides just that for this team.
Wolfe may not be the star that he was six years ago, but he showed last year for Baltimore that he still has some gas left in the tank. Hopefully, that remains true, and he can give a little more umph to this defense.
Robert Littal of Black Sports Online (BSO) had an awesome and accurate take on the Lamar Jackson slander here:
I’m starting to believe Lamar Jackson could go 17-0 and they would still find someone complain about. Ja’Marr Chase had the Ravens DBs in hell and somehow that means Lamar Jackson is a bad QB lol. This man simply isn’t allowed to ever lose in some media’s minds
— Robert Littal BSO (@BSO) October 25, 2021
Seriously though, it’s somehow ALWAYS Lamar Jackson’s fault when the Ravens lose games. Ravens Wire’s Kevin Oestreicher added this to the same topic:
People go right back to slandering Lamar Jackson if he doesn’t do this every week pic.twitter.com/kdx4sbtrEe
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) October 26, 2021
It is so true that it’s not even funny anymore.
Jackson gets so unfairly scrutinized every single week no matter how great a performance he puts up. Somehow, someway, it is ALWAYS Jackson’s fault for a loss. It’s truly mind-boggling just how big a target is on this young man’s back when the reality is he’s one of the five best players in football and literally every single team would love to roster him.
Let’s start a dialogue: Not every Baltimore Ravens loss is because of Lamar Jackson.
Moving on, some great news for people looking for some silver linings after the defense got manhandled vs. the Bengals!
Patrick Queen the first five weeks:
😬 29.0 grade
😬 Lowest among all LBsPatrick Queen the last two weeks:
😈 90.5 grade
😈 Highest among all LBs pic.twitter.com/oaNXiIf6Rz— PFF BAL Ravens (@PFF_Ravens) October 26, 2021
We all knew that Patrick Queen was severely underwhelming to start the season, but he’s begun to flourish over the last couple of weeks. Credit it to moving from MIKE linebacker to WILL linebacker, but I will give a nod to a boost in confidence for Queen. Queen is clearly playing more comfortably than he previously was and it shows. Here’s hoping that this trend remains in a positive direction and Queen only plays better with each passing week. I’m sure a bye week will only help his chances of this, too.
Another update from PFF here for the top-five highest graded Baltimore ravens through seven games:
Highest-graded #Ravens through seven games (min. 175 snaps):
1️⃣ Mark Andrews, TE- 91.2
2️⃣ Lamar Jackson, QB- 85.4
3️⃣ Calais Campbell, DI- 84.0
4️⃣ Marquise Brown, WR- 79.9
5️⃣ Marlon Humphrey, CB- 74.4 pic.twitter.com/jWW4YGFZTl— PFF BAL Ravens (@PFF_Ravens) October 26, 2021
Mark Andrews is playing like the best tight end in football right now and I don’t care who disagrees. Meanwhile, Jackson remains stellar and Calais Campbell is outstanding. The big fella got his first sack of the 2021 season vs. Cinci, too. Hollywood Brown has been a Pro Bowl-caliber receiver this year and even with a couple bad games, Marlon Humphrey is still a top-5 corner in the game.
Real quick, because I am mad online about this… HOW IS THIS NOT TAUNTING?!
After Alejandro Villanueva's holding penalty negated a 39-yard burst from Lamar Jackson, #Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson made sure he saw the video board replay.
According to @NFLOfficiating, this is textbook taunting… that went unpenalized. #Ravens pic.twitter.com/RzMuK3KAie
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbywbal) October 25, 2021
THIS IS LITERALLY EXACTLY WHAT TAUNTING LOOKS LIKE. I MEAN, C’MON REFS. We know you don’t like giving Jackson proper calls for late hits, but at least give us something is blatantly obvious as this. Goodness gracious.
To end it on a good note, here is a clip of picture day for the 2021 Baltimore Ravens:
📸 Day pic.twitter.com/E3df1kuz9M
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 26, 2021
Man, I love this team so much…
Always remember this Ravens Flock: Win, lose, or tie… RAVENS FLOCK UNTIL WE DIE.
The Baltimore Ravens will rebound from this devastating loss; they always do. The sky isn’t falling over one game… believe me. Baltimore will be back and even angrier following this bye week and get a decent Minnesota Vikings team at home. I have a feeling that the team has a lot in store for those poor Vikings.
Next Sunday can’t come fast enough, but until then have a great rest of your week, Flock!
