Defense Dominates Dalton, Ravens Win on Monday Night
The Baltimore Ravens move to 6-3 after a convincing 27-13 win over the New Orleans Saints. The Ravens are now 4-1 away from M&T Bank stadium proving they can win on the road, an important thing for a super bowl contending team.
After a disappointing first drive the Ravens made up for on their second drive going 76 yards on 11 plays. Jackson found his rookie tight end Isaiah Likely wide open for a 24-yard touchdown. Jackson’s on passing touchdown on the night, and Likely’s second career touchdown.
The Ravens would find the end zone again with a little over nine minutes to go in the first half. Kenyan Drake capped off a 12 play 81 yard drive with an untouched one-yard run.
The Saints would answer with their first points of the night going on a two minute drive finishing with a Will Lutz 33-yard field goal as time expired in the first half. The Ravens took a 14-3 lead into halftime.
The Ravens came out on their first possession of the second half similar to last Thursday, looking to run the ball. Between running backs Kenyan Drake and Justice Hill and quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens ran the ball down the field on the Saints. Unable to convert on third down inside the Saints red zone would stall the drive leading to a Justin Tucker 32-yard field goal to extend the Ravens lead 17-3.
The Saints would answer with a Will Lutz 37-yard field goal of their own on their following possession.
With thirteen minutes left in the fourth quarter Tucker would again convert this time from 41-yards out to give the Ravens a 20-6 lead. With the Saints against the wall, the Ravens defense stepped up again like they had all night. On the Saints next possession Andy Dalton was picked off by Ravens linebacker Justin Houston. Houston finished with 2.5 sacks and one interception.
With good field position the Ravens wasted no time putting the game away. The Ravens found the end zone in three plays with Kenyan Drake scoring his second touchdown on the night this time from three-yards out.
The Ravens had a 27-6 lead with just under seven minutes left in the game. The Saints would answer on a 41-yard pass from Andy Dalton to receiver Juwan Johnson, a play in which Ravens cornerback Marcus Peters thought he pushed Johnson out of bounds. Instead Johnson kept his feet in and turned the short pass into a touchdown with four minutes left in the fourth. But it would be to little too late for the Saints as they would get the ball back after a Ravens punt with 23 seconds left.
The Ravens defense gave up their lowest amount of yards Monday night, surrendering only 243 yards and allowing only 30 yards on nine carries to Saints running back Alvin Kamara. The absence of Mark Andrews was noticeable in the passing game as Jackson passed for only 133 yards his second lowest passing total this season. But while Jackson and the offense was off in the pass game they made up for it by continuing to run the ball effectively rushing for 188 yards compared to the Saints 48 yards on the ground.
The Ravens now enter the bye week with control of the AFC North and the three seed in the AFC playoff picture. The bye week will be important for the Ravens mostly in terms of health as they look to get key players back for a second half push. Tight end Mark Andrews, running back Gus Edwards, and running back J.K. Dobbins are all expected to return after the bye week. Three key players that the Ravens desperately need back in the lineup.
Injury Notes:
DeSean Jackson (hamstring) Day-to-Day
Game Notes:
The Ravens have led by double digits in every game this season.
Lamar Jackson has now thrown 100 career touchdowns.
Lamar Jackson moved into fifth place all-time for career rushing yards by a quarterback.
Justin Houston became the first Raven to have three-straight games with two or more sacks.
Marlon Humphrey led the Ravens in tackles with seven.
