Alex Collins and Javorius Allen pick up the running game for the injured Terrance West

The Baltimore Ravens team that showed up in Oakland was the same unit that started the season 2-0. It was much needed. Baltimore’s offense was balanced and effective, and a big part of that was the play from the running backs.

The Ravens started quickly. On the first play of the game, Joe Flacco connected with Mike Wallace for 52 yards. Terrance West run for 13 yards two plays later, however, he would go down with a calf injury. West was ruled out for the remainder of the game. The Ravens would score, but the team would have to pick up the slack without West. Alex Collins and Javorius Allen rose to the occasion.

Collins and Allen combined for a total of 33 rushes for 128 yards, in Baltimore's 30-17 win over the Oakland Raiders. The duo made a great combination of speed, agility, and power in the absence of West, who also looked good before going down. Allen would finish a drive by bulldozing his way into the end-zone, which gave the Ravens a 21-3 lead in the 2nd quarter.

One of the more impressive drives by Baltimore, was the drive that sealed the win. Flacco converted a big 3rd-down to Jeremy Maclin for 8 yards, but Collins and Allen carried the load on that drive. The two helped get the Ravens to the Raiders 26-yard line. Also, that drive chewed up 6:26 off of the clock. It set up a Justin Tucker field goal.

The biggest thing about the Ravens offense in their three wins, was their ability to finish the game with a strong rushing attack. They would use their strong rushing attack to kill the clock. This would keep opposing offense’s off the field.

If Baltimore wants to make the playoffs, they must continue to run the football and avoid disasters like the last two weeks. Baltimore got back on track, the old fashioned way.