Ravens News 11/8: Intent to Attack

Twelve Ravens Thoughts following Week 9 win over Seattle

Luke Jones, Baltimore Positive

Though Justice Hill played more than three times as many snaps as Mitchell or Gus Edwards on Sunday, it’ll be fascinating to see how the playing time at running back is distributed after Mitchell’s breakout performance. Baltimore also ran out of three-wide sets more often than in previous weeks.

There was one development that threatened to put a damper on Sunday’s win, but Lamar Jackson looked OK not long after coming up limping on his fourth-down run in the third quarter. It was wise to remove Jackson from the game early, and John Harbaugh reiterated he was “fine” Monday.

After whiffing on a sack earlier in the game, Odafe Oweh showed off a pretty spin move for his second quarterback takedown of 2023. While veterans Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy have earned much praise for their play, Oweh has looked really good since returning from the ankle injury.

With Daryl Worley back in the mix, Mike Macdonald had more flexibility to use Kyle Hamilton at the nickel and closer to the line of scrimmage often. With Geno Stone continuing to play outstanding football, it’ll be interesting to see how the secondary aligns when Marcus Williams returns.

NFL Week 9 best and worst coaching decisions: Chiefs’ Spagnuolo takes it to Dolphins

Ted Nguyễn, The Athletic

Mike Macdonald calling plays like he knows what’s coming

He’s calling defense with the intent to attack. He turned up the dial against the Seahawks, blitzing them on 21 percent of dropbacks, their second-highest percentage of the season. The Ravens held the Seahawks, who came into the game 11th in points per drive, to only three points.

There were several calls that Macdonald made in this game that were just perfect counters for the offensive play call. The Ravens are the model for what a modern defense should look like: They have enough tools in the playbook to checkmate whatever offenses want to throw at them. It’s not as easy as sitting back in a few coverages and hoping you’re sound enough to contain the offense. It requires the play-caller to stay on his toes and Macdonald is locked in as any coach in the league right now.

AFC Midseason Grades: Ravens Earn Only Perfect Score, One Team Fails

Matt Verderame, Sports Illustrated

Baltimore Ravens

Grade: A+

Very few people were discussing the Ravens as a legitimate threat to emerge from the AFC, but here we are. Baltimore leads the league in sacks, Lamar Jackson is thriving in coordinator Todd Monken’s scheme, and the result is a 7–2 mark. The Ravens have a tough schedule ahead, but they appear more than capable of handling it.

Grading all 31 first-round picks after Week 9 of the 2023 NFL season

Dalton Wasserman, PFF

PICK NO. 22: BALTIMORE RAVENS: WR ZAY FLOWERS

Overall Rookie Grade: 69.3 (Rank: 8/15)

Principal Opponent: Devon Witherspoon

Week 9 Snaps: 52

Week 9 Grade: 59.5

Flowers wasn’t as involved as usual during a banner day for Baltimore’s rushing attack. His lone catch came on a crossing route where he turned around Devon Witherspoon with a nasty cut to gain a first down. Flowers still led all Ravens with 31 receiving snaps, so the opportunities will continue to come. Baltimore’s game script with an early lead was a greater detriment to Flowers’ production than any struggles.

Grading first-round rookies at midway point of NFL season: C.J. Stroud, Jalen Carter headline impressive class

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

22. Zay Flowers, WR, Ravens: B+

The Ravens have forever been in search of a legit No. 1 WR, and Flowers is that guy. I said it during the pre-draft process and I’ve seen flashes of it this fall: on the field, Flowers looks a lot like Antonio Brown. He struggled with focus drops in that weird game against the Steelers, but he’s otherwise been sure-handed and explosive at all three levels.

Ravens HC John Harbaugh: ‘No doubt’ AFC North is the best division in the NFL

Kevin Patra, NFL.com

Entering Week 10, all four AFC North clubs sit in playoff position.

The Baltimore Ravens reside atop the division at 7-2. Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Cincinnati hoard all three AFC wild card positions at 5-3.

The Ravens currently sit with a 115-point differential, by far the best in the NFL (second is Buffalo at 80; the 8-1 Eagles sit at 57 net points). Baltimore has shown its Super Bowl upside, blasting NFC contenders Detroit and Seattle in two of the past three weeks.

And yet, they will remain in an AFC North dogfight.

“This is a great division,” Harbaugh said. “There’s no doubt it’s the best division, it’s proven.”

Early NFL Week 10 Predictions and Picks Against the Spread: Impact of Injuries to Daniel Jones, T.J. Hockenson, Christian Watson, and Others

Brian Blewis, Pro Football Network

Cleveland Browns vs. Baltimore Ravens Odds

Spread

Ravens -5.5

Moneyline

Browns +210, Ravens -255

Total

38.5

The Baltimore Ravens might very well be the best team in the NFL, and they would be undefeated if not for two flukey losses. This is a battle of the two best defenses in the NFL, but I think the Ravens will give Deshaun Watson more trouble than the Cleveland Browns will for Lamar Jackson.

The Browns had a dominant win over Arizona, but they weren’t tested against a rookie QB who looked extremely overwhelmed in his first career start.

Pick: Ravens -5.5