Sunday’s matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Detroit Lions was supposed to be the most interesting schematic game of Week 7. You had the Ravens’ passing game, finally coming together under new offensive coordinator Todd Monken, against an Aaron Glenn-led Lions defense that ranked third in Defensive DVOA behind only the Cleveland Browns… and the Ravens.
The only thing that played to type was Mike Macdonald’s Ravens defense shutting down Jared Goff and the Lions’ offense in Baltimore’s 38-6 win, but that’s a story for another time. The story here was what Lamar Jackson did to Glenn’s defense, especially in the first half.
Jackson completed 17 of 21 passes for 255 yards, two touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 149.0 The Ravens also rushed 16 times in the first half for 100 yards and two more touchdowns, and Baltimore outgained Detroit, 355-97. One of those touchdown runs came from Jackson — it was this seven-yard score in which left tackle Ronnie Stanley blocked safety Kerby Joseph into the next area code.
Ronnie Stanley's block of Kerby Joseph on Lamar Jackson's touchdown run looks even more ridiculous on the All-22. Dude got taken to the shadow realm. pic.twitter.com/G0pjce4qd8
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) October 23, 2023
Coming into this game, Glenn theorized that he’d have to contain Jackson in the pocket.
“We’re just going to play defense,” Glenn said last Thursday. “We’re going to play defense. So whatever that brings, that’s what we’re going to do. And our plan is to contain him. Our plan is to not let the ball go over our head and whatever we do as far as practice, that’s what we’re going to do in the game.”
It made sense in theory. Through the first six weeks of the season, Jackson had the 20th-most dropbacks in which he ultimately threw from the pocket, completing 107 of 151 passes for 1,071 yards, 581 air yards, three touchdowns, three interceptions, and a passer rating of 89.0. So, there were defensive opportunities — again, in theory.
What Glenn seemed to want to do in this game was to counter the Ravens’ run game with two things — base personnel, and five-man fronts. When the Lions do this, they’ll often have Alex Anzalone and Derrick Barnes as the off-ball linebackers, and Jack Campbell playing on the edge.
Coming into this game, the Lions had three linebackers on the field against opponent pass plays on 102 dropbacks, sixth-highest in the league. They had allowed 51 completions for 479 yards, four touchdowns, and one interception out of those looks. Against the run with three linebackers, Glenn’s defense had allowed just 189 yards on 59 carries — that 3.2 yards per attempt allowed tied with the Philadelphia Eagles for fourth-best in the league.
So, it was a “maybe” strategy against Baltimore’s passing game, and a “for sure” concept against the run game. Which is kind of how things played out.
Let’s get into how the Ravens countered Detroit’s base personnel in the passing game.