If you’ve been following the Baltimore Ravens this season and watching their offense, you’ve seen something special. It can be easy to forget during individual games but Baltimore’s offense has been prolific this season, especially on the ground.
In a league that has prioritized high-flying offenses led by quarterbacks with a ton of passing yards, Baltimore has been doing things a little differently. They’ve bullied opponents on the ground and seen their unconventional offense wrack up the yards and time-of-possession as a result.
Entering Week 17 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens have rushed for 3,073 yards. That’s just 92 yards short of the 1978 New England Patriots’ 3,165 yards, which is an NFL record.
With the record within sight, offensive coordinator Greg Roman put the praise on the players themselves.
“That would be quite an accomplishment for our guys,” Roman said. “They’ve worked hard, starting in OTAs, and we don’t make it easy on them.”
While quarterback Lamar Jackson has deservedly gotten most of the praise for his MVP-caliber season, the entire offense has eaten opposing run defenses for lunch.
Running back Mark Ingram broke the 1,000-yard mark in Week 16 against the Cleveland Browns before suffering a calf injury that’ll keep him out until at least the playoffs. His 10 rushing touchdowns rank seventh in the league.
Jackson actually leads the Ravens in rushing yards, breaking Michael Vick’s single-season rushing record in Week 15 and finishing the regular season at 1,206 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground. He’s the only player to ever throw for at least 3,000 yards and run for at least 1,000 in the NFL’s history.
But don’t forget about Gus Edwards, who has been spectacular in a reserve role, hitting 5.2 yards-per-carry and sitting at 581 rushing yards this season. Justice Hill has been no slouch either, adding 186 rushing yards in his rookie campaign and getting his very first rushing touchdown last week.
Baltimore will sit several starters this week, including Jackson and Ingram. It could slow down the Ravens’ prolific rushing offense and put the record at risk. With Baltimore grinding for 138 net rushing yards in Week 5’s game against the Steelers, this will be a big test for Edwards and Hill specifically.
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