Tag: NFL Week 2

Marlon Humphrey is our Player of the Game in Week 2 vs. Texans

Marlon Humphrey is our Week 2 player of the game after his 7 tackle performance along with a forced fumble which led to a touchdown.

While Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters earned the honor of being our most important matchup leading up to this game, it was his counterpart, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who was the player of the game.

It was Humphrey who made the biggest play of the game in the second quarter. He stripped wide receiver Keke Coutee, leading to a 22-yard scoop and score by linebacker L.J. Fort. This play proved to be a major difference in the outcome as it put the Ravens up 20-7, making it the last time Houston was within one score. Humphrey also had four tackles in the first half which tied him with Patrick Queen for the team-high at the half.

Humphrey finished the game with seven combined tackles, 0.5 sacks, one quarterback hit, and the aforementioned lone forced fumble.

Humphrey and the Ravens’ secondary had to overcome the rising-star quarterback Deshaun Watson who was without his primary receiver Will Fuller for most of the second half due to injury. Baltimore’s corners showed up and showed out the entire game, allowing just one touchdown all game long and none by any of Houston’s receivers.

Another impressive performance by Baltimore’s defense allowed quarterback Lamar Jackson to manage the offense and run the clock out for the majority of the fourth quarter. The Ravens finished with a pretty decisive 33-16 victory, bringing them to 2-0 on the season.

This isn’t Humphrey’s first impressive performance on the season, however. He followed up an interception in Week 1 with a forced fumble in Week 2. After a Pro Bowl season last year, Humphrey has stepped up his game this season, making several big plays on top of being a consistent lock-down cornerback too.

Humphrey, along with Peters, have formed a dynamic tandem that has paid dividends in overcoming the loss of safety Earl Thomas this offseason and fellow cornerback Tavon Young to injury in this game. In the first two games, Humphrey and the rest of Baltimore’s secondary hasn’t allowed a touchdown or even a 100-yard performance by a receiver. While it’s still only Week 2, this could be the beginning of what is a double All-Pro season for the two Ravens’ corners.

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Twitter reacts to Chargers’ loss to Chiefs in Week 2

Chargers fans remained optimistic after the 23-20 loss to the Chiefs.

The Chargers, led by the debut of rookie quarterback Justin Herbert, took the reigning Super Bowl champions to overtime. Unfortunately, they were unable to come away with a win.

Let’s take a look at how social media reacted to Los Angeles’ 23-20 loss to Kansas City:

Texans DT Ross Blacklock ejected against the Ravens for unnecessary roughness

Houston Texans defensive tackle Ross Blacklock was ejected near the end of their Week 2 game with the Baltimore Ravens.

Sunday was a frustrating day for the Houston Texans.

As the Baltimore Raven led 30-16 with 4:51 left in the game, Texans rookie defensive tackle Ross Blacklock committed unnecessary roughness, earned a personal foul, and was ejected from the game. The Ravens finished the drive with a 20-yard field goal from Justin Tucker to extend their lead to 33-16 with 3:47 to go in the fourth quarter.

Blacklock finished the game with one tackle.

The Texans drafted Blacklock in the second round from TCU to help fill the void left when defensive tackle D.J. Reader left in free agency for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Baltimore Ravens Highlights: Mark Ingram 4th-down direct-snap TD

With quarterback Lamar Jackson lined up wide, the direct snap went to Baltimore Ravens RB Mark Ingram, who went untouched for the TD

How about this fourth-down call from the Baltimore Ravens?

First, quarterback Lamar Jackson is nowhere to be found in the backfield, lining up out wide. Instead, needing just one yard to convert, running back Mark Ingram takes the direct snap and finds a hole to his right . . . and absolutely nothing else in the way, except the end zone. Thanks to great blocks from Patrick Ricard and Nick Boyle, Ingram went untouched the entire way.

Coach John Harbaugh has shown no fear in going for it on fourth down since last season, using analytics to guide his approach in these situations, often with impressive results. Call this one the latest and greatest of those choices, and with Mark Ingram showing no fear taking the snap and rushing ahead to pay dirt, there’s not much to be afraid of in Baltimore.

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Texans FB Cullen Gillaspia being evaluated for a concussion

Houston Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia is being evaluated for a concussion in the Week 2 encounter with the Baltimore Ravens.

Houston Texans fullback Cullen Gillaspia is being evaluated for a concussion, according to the team.

While Gillaspia hasn’t been a big part of the Texans’ offensive plans with neither a target nor a carry against the Baltimore Ravens, the former 2019 seventh-rounder from Texas A&M is a key part of the special teams unit. Not having Gillaspia would force a player from the offensive or defensive sides to play more snaps in the transition phase.

Gillaspia was not active for Week 1 as he was dealing with a hamstring issue. He practiced all three days ahead of Week 2.

This is a developing story.

WATCH: Texans DE J.J. Watt gets his 2nd sack against the Ravens

Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt was able to land his second sack of the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 at NRG Stadium.

Maybe it really is 2014-15 for J.J. Watt.

The Houston Texans defensive end scored his second sack of the game when he took down Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson with 2:00 to go in the second quarter.

Watt’s sack made for his 26th career game with two or more sacks in a game, and the effort was good enough to impress his wife.

Good job, J.J. Way to make the Mrs. happy.

Texans fans are hoping for more happiness as the Ravens lead Houston 20-10 at halftime at NRG Stadium. If Watt adds more sacks, it could be a Texans win.

This is a developing story.

Baltimore Ravens highlights vs. Texans: LJ Fort scoops and scores on Marlon Humphrey’s forced fumble

The Baltimore Ravens defense picked up the pace after letting up a touchdown drive, getting into the end zone themselves with a fumble.

After allowing the Houston Texans defense to drive down the field quickly and score on their previous drive, the Baltimore Ravens’ defense got some pretty instant payback. On the first play of the Texans’ next drive, cornerback Marlon Humphrey punched the ball out of the hands of Houston wide receiver Keke Coutee. Linebacker L.J. Fort picked up the ball and rumbled his way to the pylon in the end zone for the score.

You may catch this Ravens’ defense napping one time, but don’t count on it happening too often, as the Texans are quickly finding out. Any sense of security Houston quarterback Deshaun Watson and team had after their touchdown drive should be ripped away as quickly as some footballs.

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FOX broadcast of Lions-Packers game repeatedly fumbled

It was not an NFL-quality broadcast

It was not a good day for the Detroit Lions defense in Green Bay in Week 2. They were not the only ones who did not have their “A” game in Lambeau Field.

The FOX broadcast crew also had a rough afternoon. It looked like amateur hour from the production truck.

On-screen graphics showed “Corey Undley” as the defensive coordinator. That’s Cory Undlin. Not content with screwing that side of the ball up, another graphic had “Farrell Bevell” — not Darrell — as the Lions’ offensive coordinator. Tight end T.J. Hockenson became D.J. somehow on yet another graphic flub.

Then there was Chris Myers in the booth. The veteran play-by-play man either did zero game prep or forgot how to pronounce several different names throughout the game. Among them (I’ll do my best phonetic spellings here):

  • “Jalen Ta-Vee” for Jahlani Tavai
  • “Armani Oreeyoee” for Amani Oruwariye
  • “Uday Al-BOO-shay” for Oday Aboushi
  • “Gary” instead of Za’Darius Smith when referring to the Packers EDGE

The artificial crowd noise also had little connection with the reality of what was happening in the empty stadium. The “fans” booed when the Packers made a nice stop, but cheered loudly for an incomplete Aaron Rodgers pass. There were loud boos audible during the second-half kickoff, coming across like a random button push from the production truck.

 

Texans vs. Ravens Week 2 inactives: RB Duke Johnson, ILB Peter Kalambayi out

The Houston Texans announced their inactives ahead of their Week 2 showdown with the Baltimore Ravens, and RB Duke Johnson was downgraded to out.

The Houston Texans announced their inactives ahead of their Week 2 encounter with the Baltimore Ravens at NRG Stadium.

Running back Duke Johnson was listed as inactive as he was limited in practice all week with an ankle injury. Inside linebacker Peter Kalambayi was also inactive as he sustained a hamstring injury on Thursday.

Outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, cornerback Cornell Armstrong, tight end Pharaoh Brown, and tackle Charlie Heck were also declared inactive.

For the Ravens, quarterback Trace McSorley, receiver Chris Moore (finger), safety Geno Stone, running back Justice Hill, guard Ben Bredeson, and defensive tackle Justin Madubuike were declared inactive.

Ravens vs. Texans inactives: Who’s not playing in Week 2

The Baltimore Ravens have the same list of inactive players against the Houston Texans as last week despite being a little healthier.

The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans take the field in the afternoon games. The Ravens have the same inactive list as last week, even though only two players were ruled out this time around.

While most of the decisions aren’t terribly shocking, running back Justice Hill being held out of this game is notable. Hill was listed as “questionable” on the final injury report but had returned fully to practice late in the week. However, with three other running backs on the depth chart, Hill isn’t exactly needed. As the season progresses, it’ll be interesting to see if Hill is active more often and gets some meaningful snaps to help rest the other top backs.

Take a look at the six players the Ravens and Texans have inactive for Week 2.

Baltimore Ravens Week 2 inactives:

Player Position
Trace McSorley QB
Chris Moore WR
Justin Madubuike DT
Geno Stone S
Justice Hill RB
Ben Bredeson G

Houston Texans Week 2 inactives:

Player Position
Duke Johnson RB
Cornell Armstrong CB
Jonathan Greenard OLB
Peter Kalambayi ILB
Charlie Heck T
Pharaoh Brown TE

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