Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry have become one of the most formidable duos in the NFL, and that’s a primary reason the Baltimore Ravens are back where they expect to be: atop the AFC North.
Jackson, a two-time MVP, is throwing the ball more efficiently than he has at any point in his seven-year career. He’s ranked fourth in the league with a 107.3 passer rating and has thrown for nine touchdowns and one interception.
Henry leads the NFL with 572 yards rushing through five games. He also became the 12th player in history with at least 10,000 rushing yards and 100 scrimmage touchdowns, joining the likes of Hall of Famers Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk, Franco Harris and Marcus Allen.
After opening the season with two losses, the Ravens have won three straight and are tied with Pittsburgh for first place in the division.
“I like where we are,” coach John Harbaugh said Monday. “We were in a good place. We are in a better place now because we continue to improve. We have a lot of improvement to do and a lot of opportunities to get better. So, I am excited about that opportunity.”
Harbaugh spoke a day after the Ravens’ exciting 41-38 overtime victory at Cincinnati. Baltimore trailed by 10 points twice in the fourth quarter but Jackson threw a TD pass each time to keep it close.
The Ravens´ secondary has been susceptible to big plays. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow picked them apart, going 30 of 39 for 392 yards with five touchdowns and an interception. Ja´Marr Chase had 10 receptions for 193 yards and two touchdowns. Baltimore ranks 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed at 280.2 per game.
Justin Tucker missed field goal attempts in each of Baltimore’s first three games. However, Tucker bounced back against the Bengals with a 56-yard kick to send the game to overtime before he made the game-ending 24-yarder in the extra period.
Safety Marcus Williams has struggled to make plays. He has 20 tackles, two passes defensed, and has yet to force a turnover. His challenges underscore the Ravens´ problems in the secondary.
RT Roger Rosengarten left in the second quarter with an ankle injury against Cincinnati but returned and finished the game. … CB Marlon Humphrey was in a walking boot in the locker room following the game and declined to speak to reporters. Harbaugh said Monday the team avoided major injuries. … LG Andrew Vorhees missed his second straight game with an ankle injury but could return this week.
38 – Consecutive games in which the Ravens have rushed for more than 100 yards. That ties the 1935-39 Detroit Lions for the third-longest such streak in NFL history. Only the Ravens from 2018-21 and Pittsburgh Steelers from 1974-77 have longer streaks with 43.
