- The Detroit Lions defeated the Baltimore Ravens 38-30 in a tightly contested Monday night game.
- Detroit’s pass rush was a major factor, sacking Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson seven times.
- Both offenses were effective, with Detroit controlling the clock and Baltimore utilizing quick-strike plays.
The Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions put on a dramatic, high-tempo show that concluded with a 38-30 victory by the Lions that was more tightly contested than the final score even indicates. The triumph helps re-certify Detroit and its new-look coaching staff as championship contenders. Meanwhile, the uber-talented Ravens will have to overcome a 1-2 start for the second consecutive season – though they, like the Lions, wound up with a division crown in 2024.
Who else won and lost beyond the scoreboard’s result? Read on …
WINNERS
Offense
Whether it was ball control (generally Detroit) or quick strikes (generally Baltimore), neither club had much trouble moving the ball. The Lions retained possession for nearly 20 minutes in the first half, their two TD drives before intermission eating up more than 16 minutes – which also had the keepaway effect of keeping QB Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense sidelined. Baltimore, meanwhile, enjoyed a 28-yard run by Derrick Henry for its first touchdown, while another drive took all of four plays and 32 seconds before Jackson found Rashod Bateman on a 3-yard pass into the end zone. That’s not to say the Lions didn’t have explosive sequences (RB David Montgomery’s 72-yard run, the longest in the league this season, in the third quarter) or that the Ravens couldn’t grind, their first possession after halftime spanning 11 plays, 73 yards and more than six minutes before they hit pay dirt. All told, 68 combined points and 744 aggregate yards speak to the track meet this often seemed to be.
Lions pass rush
Don’t assume Detroit’s defense mailed it in. The Lions bagged Jackson seven times − including on fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line in the second quarter − matching the most endured by the two-time league MVP in a single game in his eight year-career. And, well as Jackson threw the ball (21-for-27, 288 yards, 3 TDs), most any coordinator would consider holding him to 35 yards on the ground something of a moral victory.
Mark Andrews
He entered Monday with two catches on the season – and since his infamous performance in Baltimore’s playoff loss at Buffalo in January. But Andrews showed up and showed out, catching six balls for 91 yards and two scores − one putting Baltimore ahead at the start of the third quarter on a 14-yard strike from Jackson.
Metallica
The heavy metal legends, who just got their own channel on SiriusXM last month – check it out – were also showcased for the Ravens’ pregame introductions, “For Whom the Bell Tolls” ushering in Jackson and the offensive starters. ‘Enter Sandman’ blared throughout the building in the fourth quarter after Baltimore cut Detroit’s lead to 28-24.
Jake Bates
Following Detroit’s second touchdown, the Lions kicker made a TD-saving tackle on the ensuing kickoff – bringing down Ravens returner Rasheen Ali in the open field after a 43-yard runback.
LOSERS
Jake Bates
He just missed on a 67-yard field-goal try to conclude the first half, one that would have established a new NFL record. Ironically, a former Ravens star Justin Tucker drilled the still-standing benchmark 66-yarder four years ago – a bomb that beat the Lions 19-17.
Derrick Henry
For the second time in three games, Baltimore’s monstrous bell cow uncharacteristically lost a fumble that led to fourth-quarter points for the opponent. It was a fatal blow in the Week 1 come-from-ahead loss to Buffalo and a momentum killer Monday, when the Ravens had a chance to drive for the lead. Never before in Henry’s 10-year career has he lost multiple fourth-quarter fumbles in the same season.
M&T Bank Stadium operations
The Ravens don’t get enough credit for their distinctive pregame and halftime productions. Unfortunately, the scoreboards didn’t work properly Monday for a quarter-plus – no down-and-distance or score information available to 70,000-plus fans, ones who rely on stadium boards anyway, until midway through the game.
Ravens D
It was hamstrung by the absence of injured Pro Bowl LB Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) and DL Nnamdi Madubuike (neck). Without two of their best players, Baltimore not only failed to contain Detroit’s run game (224 yards, 4 TDs), but its revamped secondary was further exposed by Lions QB Jared Goff’s precision passing. Two of Detroit’s TD marches covered at least 96 yards, the Ravens simply unable to stop the bleeding.
Buffalo Bills
The undefeated AFC East leaders now enjoy what’s effectively a 2½-game lead over a Baltimore team they might see again this season … but, in all likelihood, back in Western New York.
Baltimore good luck charms
The Ravens dropped to 20-7 in their all-black uniforms, while Jackson is now 24-3 against NFC opponents.