Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens had it all well and wrapped up until it wasn’t. But in the end, they won.
The Ravens cut it far too close and the panic meter skyrocketed as they began to crumble. The Dallas Cowboys stormed back from a 28-6 deficit to make it a three-point game, but on their final chance to secure the win, they came through, winning 28-25.
With the win they are now 1-2 on the season, and at worst will be tied for second place in the AFC North. Here is today’s MVP, along with Winners and Losers.
This may not be remembered as the Derrick Henry game, but it was. Henry trounced the Cowboys for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries, the most by a Ravens running back in the Lamar Jackson era. Henry produced four of the Ravens’ 10 biggest plays as he rushed for 29 yards (touchdown), 26 yards and 13 yards, along with a 23-yard reception on a screen pass from Jackson.
Offensive Line: The blocking was under fire all week. The coaching staff, too. But the Ravens stuck with their same lineup as the first two weeks and it produced sound protection for Jackson the majority of the evening and paved the way for 274 rushing yards and three touchdowns, along with Jackson not being sacked.
Lamar Jackson: Sunday’s game was another instance of Jackson’s dominance. He slashed through the Cowboys’ defense for 87 yards and a touchdown and paired it with going 12-of-15 passing for 182 yards and a touchdown. His final completion, a nine-yard dot to wide receiver Zay Flowers on 3rd & 6, was the most important as it gained the offense a first down and all but sealed the win. Two plays later, he rushed for the quintessential first down and knelt it out for the victory.
Rashod Bateman: The targets were few for Bateman but he finished with three receptions and his first touchdown of the season. How open he was had Jackson celebrating after his throw and before Bateman secured six.
Nelson Agholor: Just one catch on the night but it was the longest play of the game and helped to boost the Ravens up 14-3 early in the first quarter. Agholor’s playmaking was a thing of beauty as he shook a defender and ripped off 51 yards after the catch. According to NextGenStats, it was the third-most YAC above expected this season, as he gained 48 YACOE.
Kyle Hamilton: Today was the first game of the 2024 season we saw Hamilton look like the 2023 First Team All-Pro safety. He roamed the line of scrimmage and impacted plays. In all, Hamilton tied Cowboys’ Eric Kendricks for most tackles in the game (12) and buzzed throughout the afternoon.
Kyle Van Noy: Two fractures in his orbital bone 17 days ago hasn’t slowed him. If anything, it’s empowered him? Either way, Van Noy added two sacks on the day, the same as last...
