Rookie Keaton Mitchell Shines as Ravens Rout Seahawks

The Seattle Seahawks came to Baltimore looking to do what no NFC team has ever done, and that was to beat quarterback Lamar Jackson at home. Coming off a less than stellar win the previous week against the Cardinals. The Ravens knew they would need to step up their game as they welcomed in another NFC opponent looking to take the next step and join the conversation of potential contenders.

Just two weeks prior the Ravens completely dismantled the Detroit Lions to the surprise of many, by a final of 38-6. The Seahawks came into Sunday in a similar position as the Lions did in week seven, just two losses, leading their division, and in second in the entire NFC. There was just no way for the Ravens to pull out another performance like they did against the Lions, right?

Well after a slow first quarter it looked like Sunday’s contest was going to be a close one especially with both the Ravens and Seahawks defenses being a few of the best in the league. A Gus Edwards four-yard run early in the second quarter broke open the scoring and from then on it didn’t seem to stop for the Ravens. Edwards would again find the end zone for his second touchdown and his fifth in two games midway through the second quarter to extend the Ravens lead 14-0. Edwards would have just five carries on the day but would have 52 yards on the ground to go along with his two touchdowns.

On the Seahawks next possession quarterback Geno Smith found his receiver DK Metcalf wide open for 50-yards down to the Ravens 25-yard line. But the Ravens defense would stand tall forcing the Seahawks to settle for a Jason Myers 33-yard field goal with just over minute to play in the first half.

An Odell Beckham Jr. fumble on the Ravens very next offensive play was almost disastrous, as it gave the Seahawks great starting field position with little time remaining and a chance to get even closer and swing the momentum heading into halftime. But as they often do the Ravens defense stepped up. After a Seahawks incomplete pass on first down, Ravens linebacker Kyle Van Noy sacked Smith on second down, but he wasn’t finished there. With 38 seconds remaining Van Noy again on back-to-back plays got to Smith, this time forcing a fumble which was recovered by Ravens defensive lineman Broaderick Washington.

The Ravens would settle for a Justin Tucker 37-yard field goal to end the half keeping all the momentum and taking a 17-3 lead into the locker room.

The story of the second half would be all running back Keaton Mitchell. Mitchell, whos father was a safety on the Ravens 2000 super winning team, was an undrafted rookie out of East Carolina this year who had a spectacular training camp and preseason for the Ravens. But injuries derailed the start of his season. Sunday was Mitchell’s first true opportunity to showcase his impressive talent and he did not waste it. Mitchell had just nine carries on the day all coming in the second half but would finish with 138 yards with an average of over 15 yards per carry. Mitchell would find the end zone for his first career touchdown as he showed off his speed out running the entire Seahawks defense on his way to a 40-yard score late in the third quarter to give the Ravens a 30-3 lead.

With the win all but in hand many of the starters were pulled for the entire fourth quarter including quarterback Lamar Jackson who would finish his day with an efficient 21-for-26 passing for 187 yards while adding 60 yards rushing on 10 carries.

But even with most of the starters out that did not stop the Ravens from moving the ball. A Mitchell 60-yard carry into Seahawks territory would set up an Odell Beckham Jr. six-yard touchdown reception from backup Tyler Huntley just six plays later to give the Ravens a 37-3 lead. Beckham who turned 31 on Sunday, scored his first touchdown since the Super Bowl in 2021 when he was a member of the Rams.

From there the Ravens would stop the Seahawks for the final time before again driving down the field with another chance to score. But head coach John Harbaugh would ultimately decide not to run up the score electing to knee on the Ravens final two plays with just 31 seconds to play turning the ball back over to the Seahawks. Smith would just take a knee ending the nightmare that was for the Seahawks as the Ravens moved to 7-2 after the 37-3 beatdown.

All season the Ravens have continued to build off previous weeks and when Lamar Jackson and the offense is firing on all cylinders, this team looks unbeatable with the way the defense as played every single game up to this point. Safety Geno Stone intercepted his NFL leading sixth pass while the Ravens sacked Smith four times, tied for the most times he’s been sacked all season. The defense along with the Ravens offense possessing the ball for over 40 minutes on top of holding the Seahawks to just 151 yards of offense while having 515 yards of total offense themselves, is a recipe for perfection for this Ravens team and very dangerous for opposing teams moving forward.  

The Ravens still have a long road ahead of them as they welcome in the Cleveland Browns next Sunday. The Ravens defeated the Browns in week four without Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson, but Watson looks to be back healthy as he helped lead the Browns to a 27-0 win on Sunday over the Cardinals to move their record to 5-3.     

Notable Injuries:

Kevon Seymour (shoulder)- Day-to-Day

Games Notes:

Quarterback Lamar Jackson surpassed 14,000 career passing yards.

Quarterback Lamar Jackson completed a season high 80.8% of his passes.

Linebacker Patrick Queen led all Ravens with six tackles.

Defensive lineman Justin Madubuike now has 7.5 sacks on the year, the most amongst all interior defensive lineman.

Running back Gus Edwards now has seven rushing touchdowns on the year, a new career high.