Though the Ravens came together for a big win on Oct. 22 against the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions, FOX Sports reporter Tom Rinaldi doesn’t think the Ravens were “overly elated” by the win.
So far this season, the Ravens have been on a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. The losses to Indianapolis in Week 3 and AFC North rival Pittsburgh in Week 5 were results Ravens fans were hoping to avoid early in the season. On top of that, the Ravens hadn’t won a game against a championship-contending opponent yet this season to show they were capable of making a deep run.
That was until Oct. 22 against the formerly 5-1 Lions, who were trailing 28-0 before earning a first down on the day. Rinaldi, who served as a sideline reporter for the game, called the game a “clinic” by the Ravens.
“Not only was it a great performance on both sides of the ball, but they beat a very good team,” Rinaldi said on Glenn Clark Radio Oct. 23. “They beat a very good team when Harbaugh told us a good deal of the roster felt under the weather and was still sort of recovering a bit from London.”
All phases of the team looked spectacular at M&T Bank Stadium. Lamar Jackson threw for 300-plus yards and added three passing touchdowns, both firsts this season for the dual-threat quarterback. Jackson also ran for his fifth rushing touchdown in five games.
“He is a unique talent, and this is why Dan Campbell called him a nightmare,” Rinaldi said. “The nightmare came true for the Lions [on Oct. 22].”
Running back Gus Edwards had 80 receiving yards and 64 rushing yards, both team highs on the day. On National Tight Ends Day, Mark Andrews caught two of the three touchdowns thrown by Jackson and nearly had a third.
Receivers Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham Jr. were also heavily involved in the day. Flowers caught four passes for 75 yards, while Beckham totaled five receptions for 49 yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, the team continued to prove it has one of the better units in the league. Linebacker Roquan Smith and cornerback Arthur Maulet led the team with eight tackles apiece, though Maulet also recorded a sack.
Linebacker Kyle Van Noy, who was drafted by the Lions in 2014, led the team in sacks with two, showing his former team what they’re missing. Safety Kyle Hamilton (seven tackles) and linebacker Patrick Queen (five) showed out as well.
The Ravens’ defense was able to contain the Lions, especially quarterback Jared Goff, who was held without a passing touchdown for the first time all year. Goff was sacked five times, more than any other game this season.
Adding Smith last season has been the difference-maker for the Ravens’ defense, according to Rinaldi.
“In our view, in our research, you can point to one player … and the metrics all changing since he arrived in Baltimore, and that’s Roquan,” Rinaldi said.
Smith ranks fourth in the NFL in tackles with 71, according to ESPN. But he’s responsible for a lot more than what the box score shows. Head coach John Harbaugh shared his thoughts on Smith and his ability to change the game with the FOX crew prior to the Lions game.
“It isn’t just his play,” Harbaugh told the crew. “Look at Queen’s play since Roquan has arrived. Look at what he’s done for the entirety of the unit in how he models the right play and how he frees up other players to play freely.”
Following this win, the Ravens now sit atop the AFC North at 5-2, a half-game ahead of the 4-2 Steelers. With this in mind, the Ravens’ mindset hasn’t changed, according to Rinaldi.
“Guys were obviously happy with the win, but I don’t think anybody was overly elated,” Rinaldi said. “I think they just felt like, ‘OK, this is what we can be, now we’ve got to put that together more consistently,’ because the best teams are consistent.”
For more from Rinaldi, listen to the full interview here:
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