Tag: Baltimore Ravens 2023

Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. fit perfect as WR’s for the Ravens

With opponents focused on the NFL’s No. 1 rushing yards gained offense, WR Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. have been open.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson has eclipsed 3,000 yards passing for the first time since 2019. A closer look at the stats of wide receiver Zay Flowers and wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this season tells us why.

Flowers is listed as questionable for Monday night.


The Ravens WR’s have excelled in 2023 with a total of 3,143 receiving yards and 1,472 yards-after-catch. Rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers has accounted for 299 of those 1472 yards-after-catch on just 65 catches.

Odell Beckham Jr. has a total of 151 yards-after-catch with just 32 receptions and tight-end Isaiah Likely has replaced Mark Andrews with 155 yards-after-catch on just 23 catches.

With opponents focused on the Ravens’ run game, which leads the NFL in rush yards, there have been open passing lanes for Jackson to get the ball to both Flowers and Beckham Jr.

Quick screens and throws to Flowers and Beckham Jr. must be used to stall the San Francisco 49ers pass rush in week 16. Avoiding sacks will be key for Jackson.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NFL (@nfl)

Ravens DT Justin Madubuike just keeps getting sacks

Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike managed to record yet another sack in the week 14 win over the Rams.

Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Justin Madubuike managed to record yet another sack in the week 14 win over the Rams. Madubuike continues to be disruptive versus the run as well, working as a key component in what has statistically been the best defensive team in the AFC.

Madubuike is now tied for No. 10 in the NFL in total sacks for 2023 and the Ravens lead the entire league in that category. The team has thrived under defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald’s system and after recording just 5.5 sacks in 2022, Madubuike has already surpassed that number in 2023.

At just the age of 26, Madubike is still operating under a four-year $4.853 million deal he signed in 2020. He’s scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent in 2024 and if the Ravens stamp his career with an AFC and/or Super Bowl championship this year, Madubuike is likely to get a favorable contract in free agency.  The Ravens already attempted to sign him to an extension according to ESPN and now, Madubuike has the entire league on watch as he continues to perform at a high level.

Justin Tucker is having the worst season of his career

Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has made 80.8% of his field goal attempts in 2023. That’s a career low for him.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker has been one of the most dominant kickers in NFL history, ensuring three points when the offense stalls out or, more importantly, when a game-winning kick is needed. Yet, at 80.8%, Tucker’s success rate on field goals this season is a career low.

In 2022, Tucker led the NFL in field goals made. This year, he ranks No. 12 with 21 made kicks. Tucker also led the NFL in field goal attempts last season, and his sure leg has taken some expected decline this year. At age 34, Tucker has been asked to make five field goals from 50-plus yards this season, and he has only connected on one.

These stats explain why quarterback Lamar Jackson’s mediocrity in the passing game must be fixed. The Ravens must continue finishing drives with touchdowns and detach from the idea that Tucker will be perfect.

Tucker’s perfection has been a luxury for the Ravens in the past, but now they must be realistic about their expectations of him. With the NFL’s No. 1 ranked defense in points allowed, the Ravens should enter the next few games with fair optimism. Their timely Week 13 bye may be precisely what they need to recalibrate before the final stretch of the season.

Lamar Jackson’s low QBR should be a concern for the Ravens

Lamar Jackson ranks No. 1 among quarterbacks in rushing yards, but will his legs be enough to propel the Ravens to an AFC championship?

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson finished Week 12 with a Total QBR of 35.8 and just one passing touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers. Jackson ranks No. 1 among quarterbacks in rushing yards, but will his legs be enough to propel the Ravens to an AFC championship?

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NFL on ESPN (@espnnfl)

Through 69 total plays on offense in Week 12, Jackson and the Ravens offense produced just 20 points. Jackson was sacked twice and completed only 18 of his 32 passing attempts. It was Baltimore’s first full game without tight end Mark Andrews, who was lost a week earlier to an ankle injury that required surgery.

Jackson and the Ravens rank No. 1 in rushing touchdowns per game with a 1.8 average, but their No. 19 rank in passing touchdowns per game suggests the offense is at times one-dimensional.

Experienced NFL defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz of the Cleveland Browns held Jackson to a QBR of 49.5 in Week 10. (QBR is an ESPN metric separate from passer rating.) The inefficiency needs to be addressed over the Ravens’ bye this week. With the Jacksonville Jaguars, Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers looming on the schedule, the Ravens will need to be better on offense to take some pressure off of the defense.

The Ravens only led the Chargers by six points going into the fourth quarter Sunday. The Ravens have been very effective running the ball, but Jackson’s low QBR and inconsistent play in the passing game should be a cause for concern. The Ravens only lead the AFC standings by one game. Remember, only the No. 1 seed in each conference gets a wild-card bye in the post-season.

Ravens’ defense unshakeable in 20-10 win vs Chargers

The Ravens held the Chargers offense scoreless in the second and third quarter, sacked Justin Herbert three times, and forced three fumbles.

The Baltimore Ravens kept the Los Angeles Chargers offense nullified on Sunday night.

Holding the Chargers scoreless in the second and third quarters, the Ravens sacked quarterback Justin Herbert three times, forced three fumbles, and picked up one interception.

Chargers’ wide receiver, Keenan Allen had 14 catches for 106 yards, likely due to the absence of the Ravens’ defensive back, Marlon Humphrey.  Still, the Ravens held the Chargers to just one touchdown and just 26:37 total time of possession.

The Ravens offense converted just 30.7% of their third-down attempts.

However, the Baltimore defense was so unshakeable that the Chargers failed to build momentum. The Ravens now rank No. 2 in points allowed per game in the NFL. If this dominance continues, their chances of winning the AFC may materialize.

Ravens WR Zay Flowers may have breakout versus Seahawks

Baltimore Ravens rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers must be prepared for a physical Seahawks defense in week 9.

The Baltimore Ravens will deal with a physical Seattle Seahawks defense in Week 9. Ravens rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers must be prepared.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NFL (@nfl)

Seahawks defensive coordinator Clint Hurtt has likely been studying loads of Ravens film and will be looking to offset what has been a thriving start to the Baltimore season.

The Seahawks enter week 9 after coming out victorious versus the Cleveland Browns in week 8. Seattle forced two interceptions and a fumble using their speed and frenzy-like home crowd to rattle Cleveland.

This week, Seattle will have to fend themselves on the road versus a Ravens team with a much more dynamic offense. Flowers could potentially have a breakout game.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 22: Zay Flowers #4 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

 

Lamar Jackson has season-high 357 pass yards in week 7 win

Lamar Jackson’s stat line for week 7 featured a season-high 357 pass yards to nine different Ravens receivers.

Sunday’s performance from Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was simply phenomenal. By continuing to avoid throwing interceptions, Jackson went 21-27 on pass attempts and registered a completion rate of 77.8% in the win versus the Lions.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – OCTOBER 22: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens warms up before the game against the Detroit Lions at M&T Bank Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Jackson’s stat line for week 7 also featured 357 pass yards to nine different Ravens receivers. Things went so well, even fullback Patrick Ricard caught a pass for 28 yards. As expected, wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. had a breakout performance with five catches for 49 yards and was targeted seven times.

Jackson tossed two of his three touchdown passes to tight-end Mark Andrews who continues to wreak havoc on opposing safeties and linebackers.

An infused calm covered Jackson the entire afternoon. Playing with extreme confidence after the week 6 win in London, UK the Ravens seemed almost unmoved by the hype that surrounded the Detroit Lions.

Currently, no hype surrounds the Arizona Cardinals who have been allowing 26 points per game to opponents. Jackson will be looking to carve up the Cardinals’ defense in week 8 with a performance like the one fans saw at M&T Bank Stadium Sunday afternoon.