Baltimore vs. Denver
Baltimore Ravens Overcome Shaky Start to top Denver Broncos 27-14 to Improve to 2-1
Baltimore and Denver traded scores early before the Ravens defense settled in to hand the Broncos its first loss on the young season, responding nicely after a disappointing performance in Cincinnati 10 days ago. With the 27-14 win, the Ravens improved to 2-0 at home on the season, getting the win in front of a crowd of 70,156 at M&T Bank Stadium on a rainy, 61-degree fall afternoon.
The Ravens (2-1) allowed three points on defense in a season-opening win over Buffalo but gave up 34 to the Bengals in Thursday night of Week 2. After allowing Denver touchdowns on its first two drives, Baltimore's defense shutout Denver for the final 3.5 quarters of the game.
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Denver (2-1) came into the game unbeaten after two fourth-quarter comebacks at home to start the season and started this game strong. After a Ravens' three-and-out, Joe Jones blocked Sam Koch's punt, putting the Broncos on the Ravens' six-yard line. Royce Freeman scored on the next play, so you can't exactly fault the Ravens defense for giving up points there.
A small bit of dread already began to envelop the stadium, as the prospect of a 1-2 start with their next three games on the road is not a way Ravens fans wanted to see their season start. But Baltimore started their next drive with great field position thanks to a Tim White 37-yard kick return that had a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty by Denver tacked on. Five plays later, Alex Collins took it into the end zone from six yards out on a play that the Ravens utilized backup rookie quarterback Lamar Jackson as a decoy.
Denver scored in a more traditional fashion on the ensuing drive, as Emmanuel Sanders broke free for a 35-yard touchdown run to put the Broncos back on top 14-7. Baltimore came back with points thanks to a Justin Tucker 52-yard field goal make the score 14-10 after the first quarter.
Things opened up for the Ravens when Denver lost cornerback Tramaine Brock in the first quarter due to a groin injury. Already playing without fellow CB Adam Jones, Joe Flacco was able to target a shorthanded secondary while the offensive line handled Von Miller, who came into the game having recorded four sacks in his first two games this year.
"[Miller's] able to get in there and make a ton of plays and change a game when you look at him on film," said Flacco, who was 25 of 40 for 277 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. "That was the biggest thing, just not letting him be a factor."
Baltimore was extremely efficient on third down, converting half of its attempts on the traditional passing down, including a perfect 3-3 on third down in a drive that ended with a Javorius Allen 12-yard TD reception on third and 2 to give the Ravens a lead they wouldn't surrender. Baltimore also caught a break when Denver broke the Ravens' line for another block, this time on a field goal attempt, and Chris Harris Jr. returned the ball for a 58-yard score, but it was nullified by a penalty for an illegal block in the back.
Another Tucker 52-yarder made the score 20-10 at halftime. The Ravens' clutch kicker has now made eight in a row from 50 or more yards out and extended his NFL record with his sixth game having made multiple field goals from at least 50 yards out.
The Ravens welcomed back Ray Lewis for the first time since being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month. Lewis came out of the tunnel after the Ravens' defensive starters were introduced and did his trademark dance to Nelly's "Hot in Here," but instead of wearing No. 52, Lewis donned his yellow Hall of Fame jacket. Lewis was presented with his Hall of Fame ring during a ceremony at halftime, and imitation was the sincerest form of flattery when Za'Darius Smith performed Lewis's sack dance after taking down Case Keenum. Patrick Onwuasor also scored following an 89-yard interception return in the fourth quarter, but the touchdown was nullified by a block in the back penalty. The pick stood, however, and helped preserve the second-half shutout for the defense, which was missing key players like cornerback Jimmy Smith, inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, and defensive tackles Michael Pierce and Willie Henry. After a shaky start, the defense was pleased with their body of work.
"We dug deep, we got three-and-outs, and everybody just came in and played ball," Onwuasor said. "It was a great effort."
The only score in the second half was a one-yard rushing touchdown by Allen midway through the third quarter. Collins rushed for 68 yards on the day, and John Brown was the leading receiver with 86 yards.
It's the second home game in a row that Flacco was accurate and didn't turn the ball over in a steady rain. That's something that head coach Jim Harbaugh, who celebrated his 56th birthday today in style, says you can't put a price tag on.
"You always feel that Joe gives you a bit of an advantage in the elements, depending on who you're playing against," Head Coach John Harbaugh added. "That quarterback that we're playing against next week [Ben Roethlisberger] is the same way. But [rain] never really affects Joe too much. That's a big strength of his."
As Harbaugh mentioned, the intensity level of the season picks up next Sunday night, as the Ravens and rival Pittsburgh Steelers meet at Heinz Field. The Ravens are already 0-1 in the AFC North. Pittsburgh is 0-1-1 after tying at Cleveland in Week 1 and losing at home to Kansas City last week. They visit Tampa Bay on Monday night in advance of next week's divisional showdown.
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