Last week, pundits around the Ravens lamented how clunky the team looked in the red zone against the Titans. Baltimore returned from England with the win, but it was clear that the team had work to do inside the 20-yard line.
What a difference a week can make.
If you’ve ever been curious what the box score of an ass kicking looks like …
May I present the Ravens-Lions box score midway through the 2Q pic.twitter.com/jjyl3PZfzb— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) October 22, 2023
After going 1-of-6 in the red zone last week in London, the Ravens are now 4-for-4 in the red zone today against the Lions.
— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) October 22, 2023
Sunday’s matchup against Detroit was a thorough dismantling, and Baltimore’s reversal of fortune in the red zone was a huge part of their victory. The Ravens scored touchdowns on each of their first four drives, becoming the first team this season to do so, according to ESPN’s Stats and Info. The defense was absolutely smothering on the other side of the ball, but the team knew that their best chance to win was to create quality chances by keeping the ball in Lamar Jackson’s hands.
Today was Lamar Jackson’s 7th career game with 4 Pass TD/Rush TD while completing at least 75% of his passes, the most by any player before turning 30 in NFL history.
Jackson is 26 years old. pic.twitter.com/lyP04ldf1O
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 22, 2023
This performance was a nice reminder of how capable Lamar can be when he’s firing on all cylinders. He looked comfortable as the Ravens pushed downfield on their first drive of the day, but it seems like the gutsy call on 4th down really unlocked his confidence. Todd Monken trusted Lamar to deliver in that position, and he made it happen. It also helped that Ronnie Stanley pushed Lions safety Kerby Joseph all the way out into the parking lot on the lead block.
TOUCHDOWN @Lj_era8 ON FOURTH DOWN!!!!
Tune in now on FOX! pic.twitter.com/cyAFhehzyb
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2023
The next touchdown, though… what a thing of beauty. It didn’t come from the best set of circumstances, as the pocket collapsed, and Lamar had to keep the play alive with the legs long enough for someone to get open again. Once Nelson Agholor worked himself free, though, the sailing pass across the field where only Agholor could catch it was fantastic.
LAMAR AND NELLY MAKE IT HAPPEN❗️❗️❗️
Tune in on FOX! pic.twitter.com/kO1C0eL4K2
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2023
This was one of those plays that had multiple friends from other fanbases texting me something to the effect of, “Lamar Jackson is unreal.” I can’t argue with that.
Lamarvelous.@Lj_era8 scrambled 25.3 yards and created 9.24 seconds to throw before finding Nelson Agholor for the touchdown! We’re back in action Sunday vs. Arizona at 4:25 p.m. on CBS. #DontBlink pic.twitter.com/ktrIxaKVhZ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 23, 2023
Of course, he didn’t do it alone. In addition to the defense holding it down for most of the day, the Ravens made sure to get one of their primary red zone weapons involved again: Mark Andrews. During the Titans game, Andrews didn’t see a single target until the second quarter, which was a head-scratcher during those failed red zone trips. But on National Tight End Day, Andrews was involved early and often, and he hit paydirt twice.
Happy National TE Day to @Mandrews_81 🔥
Tune in on FOX! pic.twitter.com/CCMqMCQA6L
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2023
Another one for @Mandrews_81 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Tune in on FOX! pic.twitter.com/phwzBNJVif
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2023
When you look at the full body of work in the red zone for the Ravens, including Gus Edwards scoring on this pitch play…
GUSTOOOOOOO
Tune in on FOX! pic.twitter.com/nxiWubFsBE
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2023
…it shows just how dangerous the Ravens can be when they can stretch the field laterally. Two of their touchdowns came on passes over the top, and the other three came by generating space toward the outside with good blocking. That all started by spreading the ball around early to keep the Lions defense guessing; by the end of the 1st quarter, Baltimore already had ten receptions from six different pass-catchers.
By using different looks and forcing opposing defenses to try to account for everything, the Ravens are eventually going to make even the best defenses guess incorrectly. Make no mistake: Detroit may not have played a good game on Sunday, but they are a good team with a stout defense. If the Ravens can continue showing up like that every week on offense while continuing to boast a shutdown defense, this game could be the one we reflect on as the catalyst for an explosive team in the second half of the season.
