22 stats that have defined the Ravens’ season, from Lamar Jackson’s deep throws to Odafe Oweh’s fast start – Jonas Shaffer
21: Jackson has taken 21 sacks through Week 8, tied for sixth most in the NFL. The Ravens’ adjusted sack rate through Week 7, which accounts for down, distance and opponent, is sixth worst, according to Football Outsiders. Jackson took just 29 sacks in 15 games last season and 23 in 2019.
3: Only three guards rank among the top 10 in both pass-block win rate and run-block win rate, according to ESPN: the Ravens’ Kevin Zeitler, Washington Football Team’s Ereck Flowers and Dallas Cowboys’ Zack Martin. Zeitler is ninth in pass-block win rate (95%), which measures how often linemen can sustain their blocks for 2.5 seconds or longer. He’s also ninth in run-block win rate (75%), which measures how often they “win” their run-blocking assignment.
30.8: Defensive tackle Brandon Williams’ run-defense grade on Pro Football Focus is 30.8, the third worst among NFL interior defensive linemen through Week 8. He’s never graded out worse than 66.0. According to ESPN, however, Williams’ run-stop win rate ranks fourth in the NFL (44%) among interior linemen.
23: Ravens outside linebacker Justin Houston has a pass-rush win rate of 23%, according to ESPN, which measures how often a pass rusher is able to beat his block within 2.5 seconds. Houston ranks 10th in the NFL among edge rushers but just sixth in the AFC North, behind two Pittsburgh Steelers (T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith) and three Cleveland Browns (Takkarist McKinley, Myles Garrett and Jadeveon Clowney).
Ja’Marr Chase, Trevon Moehrig, Mac Jones and more: NFL midseason all-rookie team – Dane Brugler
EDGE Odafe Oweh
With 23 quarterback pressures, Oweh is tied with Micah Parsons for the rookie lead (also the same number of pressures as T.J. Watt). Although he comes off the bench, the Penn State product has logged starter-level snaps (43.1 defensive snaps per game) and his 3 sacks are tied for second among first-year players.
The fact that Oweh is having immediate success based on mostly athleticism is an encouraging sign for his future because he will get better as his pass rush plan develops. You can’t teach 4.37 speed by a 257 pounder, which is why the Ravens took a chance on the uber-talented athlete with zero sacks last season in college.
Final line from his scouting report: Overall, Oweh is a work in progress with his rush plan, counters and feel, but all the athletic and physical traits that NFL teams covet at the position are there. He projects as a high-risk, high-reward pass rusher in the Jason Pierre-Paul mold.
John Harbaugh: ‘We Have Everything We Need On Our Team Right Now’ – Todd Karpovich
Ravens coach John Harbaugh is content with his current roster.
“Well, I mean we’ve made trades before, so anything is possible,” Harbaugh said. “ “Every trade deadline, it goes down to the end. You never know; things happen fast. So, we have our team, [and] I really like our team. We have everything we need on our team right now, but if we can be improved and if it’s mutually beneficial to both teams, you’re excited about something like that.
“But I’m not really counting on it. We’re just getting ready for the Vikings right now, and as coaches, that’s what we’re focusing on.”
Ravens Activate Chris Westry to Return to Practice – Ryan Mink
Cornerback Chris Westry has been activated to return to practice Tuesday, kicking off a 21-day window for him to practice before needing to be activated to the 53-man roster.
Westry suffered a knee injury in the Ravens’ Week 1 opener in Las Vegas and has missed the past six games.
The 6-foot-4, 199-pound cornerback was a training camp and preseason standout.
He began the year with a sizeable role, playing 33 defensive snaps against the Raiders before being sidelined.
NFL Week 9 predictions for every quarterback – Ian Hartiz
MOST LIKELY TO FAIL UNDER DURESS: MINNESOTA VIKINGS QB KIRK COUSINS AT BALTIMORE RAVENS
There simply haven’t been many quarterbacks better than Cousins this season when given the benefit of a clean pocket:
PFF passing grade when kept clean: 94.2 (No. 1 among 40 qualified quarterbacks)
Yards per attempt when kept clean: 8.7 (No. 11)
And yet, things have gone south in a hurry once Cousins has faced any sign of pressure:
PFF passing grade when under pressure: 56 (No. 19)
Yards per attempt when under pressure: 3.5 (No. 39)
Overall, Cousins is the third-most sensitive quarterback in terms of the largest dropoff in yards per attempt when kept clean vs. when under pressure.
The Ravens’ blitz-happy defense has only registered the 27th-highest pressure rate this season. If the Ravens don’t improve their ability to get after the opposing quarterback, they could struggle against Cousins, who does well dissecting defenses when given ample time.
MOST LIKELY TO BE A TRUE ANOMALY: BALTIMORE RAVENS QB LAMAR JACKSON VS. MINNESOTA VIKINGS
Everyone knows Jackson is one of the best rushing quarterbacks the NFL has ever seen. And yet, his true production on the ground is probably still underrated. Somehow, Jackson’s 3,389 rushing yards since entering the league in 2018 trail only Derrick Henry, Ezekiel Elliott, Nick Chubb and Dalvin Cook.
Jackson also ranks favorably in yards per attempt (No. 15 out of 77 qualified quarterbacks) and PFF passing grade (No. 17) since entering the league so appreciate every opportunity you have to witness one of the most unique talents the NFL has ever seen.