The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Indianapolis Colts, 41-23, in Week 1.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson threw for 324 yards, while running back Derrick Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns, surpassing Marcus Allen for third on the all-time career rushing touchdowns list behind Emmitt Smith and LaDainian Tomlinson.
Wide receiver Zay Flowers posted 150 receiving yards, including a 54-yard touchdown, before leaving with a hamstring injury, putting his availability against the New Orleans Saints in question. Wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane also suffered from a fractured wrist and will miss at least a month.
Pro Football Hall of Famer, Ravens Super Bowl XXXV champion and current Ravens Gameday Radio analyst Rod Woodson shared his thoughts on the Ravens’ Week 1 victory against the Colts on Glenn Clark Radio Sept. 15. When asked about the game, Woodson praised Jackson’s performance and his overall growth.
“Obviously, we know what Derrick Henry can do throughout the game. But Lamar … everybody talks about him being a really good athlete, but as a passing quarterback over the last four or five years, he’s just really improved,” Woodson said. “And this past game against the Colts every throw, outside of probably a couple, were on the money.”
Woodson was then asked about first-year offensive coordinator Declan Doyle and how multifaceted his unit can be. Woodson explained that Doyle’s offense offers “multiple personnel groupings showing you one thing but doing another,” keeping the defense off-balanced. Ravens fans saw Jackson operate from under center much more often than in the past.
“When he plays from under center, he plays extremely well,” Woodson said. “Very highly efficient [play-action] passer, completes quite a good percentage of his [play-action] passes when he’s under center.”
Woodson was then asked about the Ravens’ wide receiver concerns with the injuries to Flowers and Lane. He was encouraged by Chris Moore’s 53-yard catch against the Colts and Jackson’s ability to elevate his receivers.
“Chris Moore played extremely well, so that was refreshing,” Woodson said. “… Lamar is a great quarterback and he can make receivers who we’ve really never heard of make plays because he can throw them open.”
Woodson was also asked about Baltimore’s defensive performance and immediately praised how good this unit looked. The Ravens allowed just 4.7 yards per play and forced two turnovers, one a fumble forced by cornerback Marlon Humphrey and the other an interception by linebacker Roquan Smith.
“Humphrey does what he normally does and he strips the ball, but when Agent Zero is playing the way he played on defense and getting that interception and kind of leading from the front to the rest of the team and saying, ‘This is how we’re going to play today,’ this team is going to be hard to beat,” Woodson said.
Woodson praised the Ravens’ defensive front for playing fast and physical, noting how they handled running back Jonathan Taylor and the Colts’ strong offensive line and how edge rusher Trey Hendrickson forced Indy to adjust protections.
Taylor still had a solid day, running for 98 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and catching three passes for 23 yards.
“The offensive line for the Colts is a solid group and that running back’s one of the best running backs in the National Football League,” Woodson said. “He got his yardage. That’s going to happen,” Woodson said.
Woodson noted how the Colts adjusted their protections.
“Trey didn’t get [a] sack, but they slid the protection to Trey, they brought some tight ends over there, bumped him off the line of scrimmage and then released,” he said.
Woodson emphasized that the overall effort by the Ravens’ defense was solid.
“They just played fast, physical football, they did a great job, they did everything that was asked of them,” Woodson said. “… [The Colts] had two, good solid drives, but that’s going to happen in the National Football League. It’s the best of the best playing against each other. I wasn’t discouraged. I was really pleasantly surprised that they played that well and that fast coming out in their first game.”
For more from Woodson, listen to the full interview here:
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