Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens dominated Cleveland despite a slow first half, whooping the Browns 41-17. There was a lot to like from this game, but it wasn’t perfect. Let’s look at what was good, what was bad, and the one ugly side of this game.
Roquan Smith: Roquan Smith had what was probably his best game since 2023, finishing with a team-leading 15 tackles, more than double the next defender. He exploded in the first half with six total tackles, three tackles for loss, and a quarterback hit. He had four tackles for loss all last season. He also had a long scoop-and-score touchdown. There’s been a lot of chatter recently about how the splash plays seem to have been missing for Smith the last year and change. Today, he was the best defensive player on the team, hopefully a trend that will start and hold.
Tez Walker: The kid has three catches in his career. The kid has three touchdowns in his career. I mean, what more could you want?
DeAndre Hopkins: This guy is incredible. The washed talks this offseason were clearly overblown; that wasn’t a question. But the fact that he’s still this good? The catches he made today were insane. It’s a physical presence on the outside that the Ravens haven’t had for Lamar Jackson in his career. He is the definition of “open even when he’s not”.
Zay Flowers: A quiet but strong seven catches for 75 yards. He continues to develop into the top target on the team and in the league. He plays multiple roles, runs everywhere on the field, moves the chains, and gets north once the ball is in his hands. He just feels like the guy at this point in his career.
Nate Wiggins: The Browns targeted Wiggins a ton today for some reason. He responded without fear. Three passes defensed and a massive interception that he returned for 61 yards, showing off the speed. He also showed off the physicality that people don’t talk about enough, laying the wood on a tackle for loss. He is quickly turning into a top lockdown corner in the league.
The Defense: After last week’s terrible showing, it was imperative to bounce back. The Ravens did just that. Allowed just 10 points, excluding a garbage-time touchdown when the starters were off the field. They were everywhere: two sacks, five passes defensed, seven tackles for loss, and they hit Flacco nine times today. It wasn’t perfect, but they were expected to dominate a pathetic Browns offense and they did.
Jordan Stout: Stout was fantastic today. For all the Ravens’ offensive struggles early, Stout helped keep the Browns out of good field position and kept them on the back foot all da,y which let the defense work. He is off to the strongest start of his career and could be looking at a new contract if this continues.
The run game: They had nothing going today. Henry had a couple...
