Ravens Rebound: Three Major Takeaways from Their Dominant Win Against the Broncos
The Ravens were in search of a bounce-back win entering Week Nine after suffering an unexpected loss to their division rivals, the Cleveland Browns, a week prior on the road. In that game, the Browns' defense had success in slowing down the Ravens' dynamic offense, which allowed their own offense to capitalize on several Ravens' defensive miscues once again. However, to secure a win in Week Nine, the Ravens had to contend with the surging Denver Broncos, who had won five of their last six games and were led by a top-five defense through eight weeks, along with rookie quarterback Bo Nix, who had started to showcase his talent ahead of Sunday’s matchup. After holding a 17-10 lead with just under a minute left in the first half, the Ravens' defense and offense buckled down and put the pedal to the metal, scoring 24 unanswered points the rest of the way and pitching a second-half shutout to secure a dominant performance on both sides of the ball, improving to 6-3 on the season. Here are three key takeaways from the Ravens' much-needed bounce-back performance against the Broncos on Sunday.
1. Derrick Henry Remains One of the Most Impactful Free-Agent Signings
Coming into the season, there were numerous questions about how much of an impact four-time Pro Bowl veteran running back Derrick Henry would have on an already versatile Ravens offense, especially as he reached the 30-year-old mark, which historically signals a decline in performance for running backs. However, through the first nine weeks of this season, Henry has continued to prove that he is an exception to that trend, exceeding the expectations that most Ravens fans had when he signed with Baltimore in free agency. On Sunday against the Broncos, Henry made his mark by imposing his will on a respected Broncos defense, rushing for over 100 yards for the fifth time this season, totaling 106 yards. In addition to surpassing 100 rushing yards, Henry also became the first running back in the NFL this season to exceed 1,000 rushing yards and reach double-digit touchdowns, all within just nine weeks. With explosive second-year back Keaton Mitchell expected to return to action next week against the Bengals in primetime after recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered late last season, the Ravens’ rushing attack will become even more formidable for opposing defenses to contain. This three-headed monster, featuring Henry, Mitchell, and Justice Hill, along with Lamar Jackson’s dual-threat running abilities, presents a significant challenge.
2. Ravens’ Pass Rush Must Be Addressed Prior to the Trade Deadline
Following a disastrous performance against the NFL's 31st-ranked total offense, the Browns, last week, the Ravens defense was once again searching for answers after suffering from miscommunications and allowing receivers to pass them too easily for big plays. Against the Broncos, the Ravens' defense showed significant improvement against an offense that was starting to find its groove. Most notably, the defense was able to execute when it mattered most while the game was still in reach early on, particularly on third and fourth downs, with the Broncos converting six of 14 third-down attempts and just one of five fourth-down attempts. This success allowed the Ravens' defense to get some much-needed rest on the sidelines and gave the offense the opportunity to capitalize on short fields.
However, while there were positives in the game, the Ravens’ pass rush continues to be a weakness that must be addressed before Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline. Although second-year linebacker Tavius Robinson had a breakout performance, recording two solo tackles, two sacks, one tackle for loss, a pass defended, and four QB hits, the Ravens’ pass rush remained inconsistent. They allowed Nix plenty of time in the pocket to connect with his top receivers early on. If the Ravens aspire to make yet another playoff run culminating in a Super Bowl, general manager Eric DeCosta should look to add a formidable pass rusher who can make a consistent impact on games week in and week out. If this is achieved, the Ravens will improve their chances of fixing their defensive issues, which largely begin with applying pressure on opposing quarterbacks.
3. Ravens’ Offense Continues Their Red Zone Dominance
The Ravens’ offense this season has been widely regarded as the most talented and dangerous in the league, boasting lethal weapons at every position. A significant factor contributing to this success under second-year offensive coordinator Todd Monken is the continued efficiency in capitalizing on opportunities in the red zone, with the team not settling for field goals but instead scoring touchdowns. Last season, the Ravens had the seventh-best red zone touchdown percentage at 62.2%, and that success has carried into this season as well. Through nine weeks, the Ravens hold the top-ranked red zone scoring touchdown percentage at a stunning 75.8%, over seven percent higher than the second-closest team, the Chicago Bears, at 68.4%. This elite execution was on full display once again against the Broncos, as the Ravens’ offense achieved 100% red zone scoring efficiency, including four touchdowns and two field goals, along with a deep-pass touchdown to Zay Flowers at the end of the first half. With such a high ceiling for this Ravens offense, if they remain dominant in red zone scoring efficiency, they will continue to be a difficult team to beat for the remainder of the season.
