The Baltimore Ravens are back

By Andy Davies

The Baltimore Ravens are back.

Alert the media, shout it from the rooftops, the Ravens are back. They put the league on notice after an impressive 35-10 win over the Buffalo Bills, who had started the season 3-0 and were seen as one of the early Super Bowl candidates.

However, on Sunday Night Football, they put the league on notice. They looked back to their best, like the team who went to the AFC Championship as the number one seed in  2023 and the team who were seen as one of the Super Bowl favourites prior to Week One.

This was a statement victory from the Ravens.

Overcoming a difficult start

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 15: Daniel Carlson #2 of the Las Vegas Raiders celebrates after kicking the go ahead field goal during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on September 15, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)

It was not a good first two games for the Ravens. They lost in the season opener on the road to the Kansas City Chiefs. Whilst this was not a shock to anyone, their Week Two loss certainly was. They let a big lead slip to the Las Vegas Raiders as they succumbed to a second straight defeat.

After starting 0-2, the Ravens could have easily gone 0-3 with the tough task of facing the Dallas Cowboys on the road. This is not a record that many go to the playoffs with, the last team to do this being the 2018 Houston Texans.

Instead, they have gone from potentially being 0-3 to now being 2-2. With the previously 3-0 Steelers losing their first game on Sunday , they now sit just one game behind their division rivals in the AFC North. With the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns only enjoying one win each, the Ravens have every chance to retain their crown.

An explosive QB/RB duo gaining momentum

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - SEPTEMBER 29: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens hands the ball off to Derrick Henry #22 of the Baltimore Ravens during the first quarter against the Buffalo Bills at M&T Bank Stadium on September 29, 2024 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)

It was not an easy start for the pairing of quarterback Lamar Jackson and running back Derrick Henry. The latter arrived from the Tennessee Titans during the offseason after a Hall of Fame career in Nashville. He was seen as the final piece of the jigsaw but had a slow start.

He may have scored a touchdown in the Chiefs loss, but only had 46 yards from just 13 carries. During their next game with the Raiders, he had 84 yards from 18 carries.

However, in Week Three’s win over Dallas, Henry showcase exactly what he could do. He recorded 151 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. This included a brusing 26-yard run for a score. 

He carried on this momentum on Sunday Night, scoring a fantastic 97-yard run for a touchdown on the very first play for Baltimore on offense. His vertical run caught the Bills off guard and they could not handle him all game. Buffalo’s defense were constantly battered and bruised by Henry who is defying age.

The former Alabama running back is still putting up the numbers and highlight reels at 30 years old, at an age where most players in his position have devalued.

Jackson also put up a performance to put the league on notice, showing everyone exactly why he won his second career MVP last season. He may have had a fumble, but finished the night with 156 passing yards, 54 rushing yards and three total touchdowns along with zero interceptions.

As a duo, this was really scary to watch for the rest of the league and anyone who plays the Ravens this season. If they spy Jackson and find a way to pressure him, he is elusive enough to escape this. If not, then he has Henry to hand the ball off to. When he had success against the Bills, their defense started to move to one side. This would be the point when they go for the run play with Henry on the other side. If neither of those work, they have Zay Flowers to throw the ball to.

This is a scary team, one that has talent in every department. We all know about the excellence of the offense, and the defense have also played their part. Whilst they may be 19th for points allowed and have the fourth worst pass defense, they are also the number one ranked run defense.

They have gotten better with each week and they will once again be one of the teams to fear in the entire NFL, let alone the AFC.

ANDY DAVIES

NFL ANALYST

ANDY IS A SPORTS JOURNALISM GRADUATE WITH OVER FOUR YEARS EXPERIENCE OF NFL WRITING AND PODCASTING. ANDY HAS BEEN TO EVERY NFL STADIUM AND IS THE HOST OF THE ACROSS THE POD PODCAST AND HAS PRESS PASS EXPERIENCE AT THE LONDON GAMES AND MANY OTHER NFL BASED EVENTS, HAVING INTERVIEWED THE LIKES OF JASON BELL, OSI UMENYIORA, DOUG PEDERSON, DERRICK HENRY, TREVOR LAWRENCE AND MIKE VRABEL.

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