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Jamison Hensley
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ESPN staff author- college of Maryland graduate
- Lives inside the Baltimore space collectively with his spouse and son
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Katherine Terrell
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ESPN staff author- lined the NFL since 2013
- beforehand lined the Saints for the instances-Picayune and The Athletic
- Bengals beat author for ESPN from 2016-19
NEW ORLEANS — The Baltimore Ravens (6-three) gained their third straight and fourth out of their previous 5 with a 27-thirteen victory over the New Orleans Saints, growing their lead atop the AFC North.
Baltimore’s protection managed the sport, recording 4 sacks, collectively with 2.5 by Justin Houston.
The Saints (three-6) have misplaced three of 4.
Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens’ protection delivered its most dominant efficiency of the season when the staff needed it in all probability the most. The Ravens held the Saints to 238 yards, which tied the fewest they’ve given up this yr.
outdoors linebacker Justin Houston delivered 2.5 sacks and a fourth-quarter interception. He turned the principal participant in Ravens historic previous with three consecutive a quantity of-sack video games. Houston was the staff’s extreme playmaker as a end result of the protection did not permit a touchdown till 4 minutes had been left inside the sport.
This was a well timed effort by the protection as a end result of its offense is terribly banged up. Lamar Jackson performed with out professional Bowl tight finish Mark Andrews (inactive with shoulder and knee accidents), No. 1 broad receiver Rashod Bateman (out for season with foot damage) and his extreme two working backs (J.okay. Dobbins is on injured reserve with a knee damage and Gus Edwards was inactive with a hamstring damage). nonetheless, the Ravens gained their third straight recreation and head into the bye with a one-recreation lead over the Cincinnati Bengals for first place inside the AFC North.
Pivotal play: Houston’s interception inside the fourth quarter. With eight:24 left inside the sport, the Ravens sealed their fourth win in 5 video games with the style of recreation-closing play that had eluded them this season. Defensive finish Brent metropolis deflected Andy Dalton‘s go, and Houston pulled inside the interception. Baltimore shortly transformed that turnover into Kenyan Drake‘s second touchdown run, staking the Ravens to a 27-6 lead. It was Baltimore’s eleventh consecutive recreation with a compelled turnover, which is the longest energetic streak inside the NFL. Houston is the principal participant in Ravens historic previous to report 2.5 sacks and an interception inside the identical recreation.
Promising pattern: The Ravens proceed to be one among many quickest-starting teams inside the NFL. Baltimore turned the principal staff to steer by double digits at any level in every of its first 9 video games of a season as a end result of the 2011 inexperienced Bay Packers, primarily based on ESPN Stats & knowledge evaluation. The Ravens are simply the third staff to take movement beforehand 20 years, becoming a member of the 2009 New Orleans Saints and 2011 Packers — each of whom started 9-zero. This simply displays how shut the Ravens had been to an splendid start in the event that they hadn’t had three fourth-quarter meltdowns.
Silver lining: Jackson was spreading the ball round. with out his extreme two targets — Andrews and Bateman — Jackson turned extra unpredictable in distributing the ball. He hit eight utterly different gamers on his first eight passes and accomplished with throws to 10 gamers, tying a profession extreme. Andrews and Bateman accounted for 39% of the Ravens’ receptions inside the principal eight video games, and whereas Baltimore is extra dangerous with them, the Ravens gave the impression to be extra balanced with out them. — Jamison Hensley
Underrated statistic to know: Jackson is the second participant in NFL historic previous to report one hundred passing touchdowns and 20 dashing touchdowns earlier than turning 26, becoming a member of Josh Allen. each had been drafted in 2018.
subsequent recreation: vs. Panthers (1 p.m. ET, Nov. 20)
New Orleans Saints
The Saints (three-6) hoped that they had turned a nook following their dominant efficiency in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders final week. instead, they merely found disappointment in a principal-time loss.
a lot of the identical factors the Saints dealt with earlier inside the season returned. Quarterback Andy Dalton struggled, and the offensive line did not shield him, significantly after the dearth of coronary heart Erik McCoy to damage. Dalton truly did not assist his prolonged-time period case as a end result of the Saints’ starting quarterback by throwing a late interception, nor was he helped by the Saints’ run recreation, which did not fare effectively in opposition to the Ravens’ protection.
The Saints largely had no reply for Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who made an beautiful deal of spectacular performs to flee tackles all night. Now the Saints should regroup on a brief week with the Pittsburgh Steelers up subsequent on the avenue.
QB breakdown: Saints coach Dennis Allen dedicated to Dalton at quarterback as prolonged as a end result of the offense saved performing, and it truly took a large step again in opposition to the Ravens. Dalton needed an large recreation to show the three interceptions in prime time vs. the Cardinals in Week 7 had been a fluke, however instead the offense sputtered as quickly as extra. Dalton doubled his season sack complete and was picked off inside the fourth quarter. He additionally will lament lacking a large-open Marquez Callaway finally zone on the extreme of the principal half. Callaway had 5.ninety five yards of separation on the play, making it solely the second incompletion this season on an finish zone throw with over 5 yards of separation.
Troubling pattern: The damage bug acquired here again to chunk the Saints as quickly as extra, with McCoy, starting linebacker Pete Werner and starting defensive finish Marcus Davenport all leaving with accidents. The Saints have been brief-handed all season, significantly on the offensive side of the ball, so this may even be one other blow if all three discover your self out for any size of time. the dearth of Werner would damage in all probability the most, as he has taken an infinite leap forward in his second season and has been a key piece of the protection. — Katherine Terrell
Underrated statistic to know: Dalton has a .231 win share in prime time (6-20), the worst of any quarterback since 2000. Kerry Collins is 5-sixteen for a .238 share.
subsequent recreation: at Steelers (1 p.m. ET, Nov. thirteen)
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