Ravens look impressive in Week Seven win, can we trust the Lions defense?

For many this matchup was slated to be the best of Week Seven… instead we were treated to an absolute thrashing by the Baltimore Ravens who dominated the Detroit Lions from the get go and ended up winning the game 38-6 at M&T Bank Stadium.

The Lions disappointed as they failed on all cylinders to make any kind of impact on the game and could not score a touchdown and had to settle for field goals. Whereas the Ravens had a flawless performance in all departments as their quarterback Lamar Jackson had an outstanding performance, and their defence forced the Lions offence into turnovers.

The Ravens started the game strong, scoring touchdowns on their first four possessions. Jackson opened the scoring with a 7-yard bootleg on fourth-and-1, followed by a 12-yard touchdown pass to Nelson Agholor. An 11-yard touchdown pass to Mark Andrews and a 2-yard touchdown run by Gus Edwards gave the Ravens a commanding 28-0 lead. The Lions, on the other hand, struggled to get their offence going and were unable to score in the first half. 

In the second half, the Lions’ struggles continued in the second half, as they turned the ball over on downs inside the Ravens’ 10-yard line. The Ravens took advantage of the opportunity and quickly scored another touchdown, with Jackson connecting with Andrews for an 8-yard reception.

The Lions finally managed to get on the board with a 21-yard touchdown run by rookie Jahmyr Gibbs, but their two-point conversion attempt was unsuccessful. The Ravens added a field goal and another touchdown, an 80-yard reception by Gus Edwards, to extend their lead to 38-6.

Here are some of the major takeaways from the cross conference game.

Perfection from the Ravens… AFC front-runners?

When coming into the game, there was a question about how the offence would fare against the Lions defence spearheaded by Aiden Hutchison. Would this defence continue to play well? Who else would step up to help Jackson?

Well all of these questions and more were answered as they had perhaps their best game of the season and everybody poured in on this game. Jackson had an amazing game where he was causing problems for the Lions and had 393 total yards and four touchdowns (three passing and one rushing).

We all know the former MVP’s ability to run the ball, but Sunday’s game showed he is starting to lean more into his passing game too as illustrated in the second touchdown of the game where the pocket collapsed. Instead of rushing, like he usually does, he instead surveyed the field and waited until someone got open and threw a pass to Nelson Agolor.

His improved pocket presence and passing continues to be amazing as he continues to be a lethal force of nature. The Ravens came out passing the ball, which was a departure from their usual run-heavy approach, and found great success against the Detroit secondary all day long which contributed to an explosive performance that made noises that Baltimore is ready to make a big run and show they can be the best in the AFC. 

On the defensive side of the ball, the Ravens were equally impressive. The team’s defence held the Lions to just six points and 97 total yards in the first half. The Lions’ offence struggled to move the ball, with quarterback Jared Goff facing pressure throughout the game. The Ravens’ defence sacked Goff five times and hit him multiple times, making it difficult for him to find open receivers. The team’s defence was in attack mode throughout the game, never letting up and essentially pitching a perfect game.

Lamar making MVP noise?

Jackson, a former unanimous MVP is making his case to be in contention as he continues to be the driving force of this team and led this team into being a legitimate Super Bowl contender. His impact is undeniable as his dual-threat ability in passing, rushing yards and rushing touchdowns separate him from other QBs in the league.

He has thrown for 1,610 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions with a completion percentage of 71% this season, and in key games against divisional rivals he has shown his ability to carry his team on his shoulders as illustrated in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals where he finished with 237 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions, leading the Ravens to a 27-24 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. 

But perhaps the most important stat in all of this is his PCT. It’s at a career high 71%. He is shouldering the responsibility of being the franchise QB and is now making the case for being the best QB in the AFC and perhaps a run at a second MVP.

Ugly day for Detroit offense

For a team that was hoping to test itself against one of the best teams, this defeat marks one of the lowest points during Dan Campbell’s tenure as the head coach of the Lions. Against the Ravens, the Lions appeared wholly overmatched. Virtually every aspect of the team, with the exception of punter Jack Fox, struggled significantly.

The offence was severely ineffective, struggling to move the chains until the game was already out of reach. Jared Goff’s performance harked back to his 2021 self, as he seemed rattled and failed to deliver accurate passes. The pass protection broke down, leading to multiple sacks and putting Goff in difficult situations. Additionally, a series of holding penalties derailed several promising drives.

The significant point deficit forced the team to abandon the running game, leaving Jahmyr Gibbs as an afterthought until the outcome was essentially decided. Even Amon-Ra St. Brown had his share of issues, including a dropped pass. While the sight of Malcolm Rodriguez at fullback was entertaining, it ultimately contributed little to the game’s overall outcome.

Lions defense struggles

Meanwhile, the Lions’ defence struggled to contain Lamar Jackson, who dissected the secondary throughout the game. He manoeuvred comfortably despite Detroit’s attempts at a pass rush. Even the run defence, considered one of their strong suits this season, was exposed by Jackson, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill.

The secondary appeared disorganised and allowed significant cushions for nearly every Ravens receiver. Jack Campbell and Will Harris, in particular, had disappointing performances, though it was hard to find many positives on the defensive side.

With a 5-1 record entering Week 7, the Lions appeared more like a 1-5 team in this particular game. While it was expected that they would face some losses as the season progressed, this defeat was a devastating blow to both the team and its fans. It evoked memories of the Matt Patricia-led Lions, a time when watching the team play often felt like a waste of an afternoon.

What’s next?

With this win, the Ravens move to 5-2 and stay atop of the AFC North. They will travel down to Arizona to face the Cardinals (1-6) as they will look to strengthen their hold on the AFC North and hope to get a comfortable win on the road at State Farm Stadium.

While the Lions also move to 5-2 and remain first in the NFC North, they will host Monday Night Football and welcome the struggling Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) into Ford Field as they look to bounce back from this disappointing result.