BALTIMORE: This was in all probability Baltimore’s largest win of the season to date — and its costliest.
After defeating Cincinnati — the 2-time defending champion within the AFC North — on Thursday night time, Ravens coach John Harbaugh introduced tight finish Mark Andrews is more likely to miss the remainder of the season due to an ankle harm. Baltimore remained atop the division and accomplished a sequence sweep of the final-place Bengals, however now the Ravens face the fact of being with out one in all their most constant offensive performers.
“Devastating. I don’t even know the right words to describe it,” defensive sort out Justin Madubuike mentioned. “Mark is a great teammate that everybody loves, the players, the coaching staff and the fans. For him to go down, that’s tough. I knew he was hurting a little bit when he stayed down that long. Mark is one of the toughest guys around, so we’ll be praying for him.”
Andrews was damage on the primary drive of the sport, however Baltimore in the end benefitted from a big harm on the Cincinnati facet. Star quarterback Joe Burrow left within the second quarter with a wrist drawback, and the Ravens went on to win 34-20.
That places the Bengals 2 1/2 video games behind the primary-place Ravens. Baltimore (8-3) rebounded from a final-second house loss to Cleveland and saved its division lead.
“They just got ready to play a really important division game on Thursday night at home and they do it and they work, and they just play hard,” Harbaugh mentioned. “They care about each other, and they want to do it for each other. That’s what a team is all about.”
WHAT’S WORKING
After a gradual begin, the Baltimore working recreation started rolling and completed with 157 yards on 31 makes an attempt — 5.1 yards per carry. Gus Edwards scored two touchdowns, bringing his season whole to 10. Only Miami’s Raheem Mostert has run for extra.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson ran for 54 yards on 9 carries and shifty rookie Keaton Mitchell had 33 on eight makes an attempt.
WHAT NEEDS HELP
The tight finish place has been essential in Baltimore’s offense for some time, and now Andrews leaves an enormous gap there. Isaiah Likely had 36 catches final season as a rookie however has solely 9 this season. He’ll be on the spot now, and so will Charlie Kolar, who made his first catch of the season Thursday.
“Mark is like a big brother in my eyes, so everything I do, I try to talk to Mark about it,” Likely mentioned. “Whether it’s running plays, blocking, passing plays, I try to do the same thing to my guy on my side. We’re just like that for each other. So seeing him go down, seeing the news on him, ruined my night.”
STOCK UP
Odell Beckham Jr. caught 4 passes for 116 yards, his first 100-yard receiving recreation within the common season since 2019. Beckham’s improved manufacturing was a welcome improvement for the Ravens after Andrews’ harm.
“You say next man up, it’s not just the next player in that position, it’s all the men, it’s all the players stepping up and filling that,” Harbaugh mentioned. “To replace a player like Mark Andrews, it’s going to take everybody. It’s going to take a team to do it, and our guys will be up for the challenge and up for the task. But those receivers are obviously going to be a big part of that.”
STOCK DOWN
Cornerback Rock Ya-Sin dedicated a cross interference penalty that value the Ravens 34 yards within the third quarter and led to a Cincinnati subject aim. With Marlon Humphrey (calf) out, Ya-Sin nonetheless performed solely 19 defensive snaps. Cornerback Ronald Darby, alternatively, performed 31.
INJURIES
The Ravens have been with out Humphrey and left sort out Ronnie Stanley (knee) on this recreation. Jackson performed via some ankle hassle, and Beckham had a shoulder problem. Baltimore now has a 23-day stretch with just one recreation, which ought to assist the group take care of these accidents.
KEY NUMBER
44 — The variety of sacks this season by the Ravens, essentially the most via 11 video games in franchise historical past. Nobody else within the league has greater than 31.
NEXT STEPS
After a brief week to organize for Cincinnati, the Ravens don’t play once more till one other prime-time matchup Nov. 26 on the street towards the Los Angeles Chargers. Baltimore’s open date comes instantly after that.
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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is revealed from a syndicated information company feed – Associated Press)
