PFF: Ravens played good, not great, game vs. Packers

The final score was lopsided, but the game against the Green Bay Packers was far from a complete effort. The defense churned out another five turnover game, while the offense sputtered towards success. The team may have won, but there are clear areas of improvement. PFF gave us the low-down on the 23-0 Ravens victory.

Ravens Offensive Stats:

• Only 50 yards on 20 carries, yet HB Alex Collins was the Ravens’ highest graded player at 85.1. This was thanks to excellent work despite poor blocking, with 47 of his yards coming after contact, also forcing two missed tackles.
• Mike Wallace caught all four passes thrown his way for 56 yards and one (incredible) touchdown.
• C Ryan Jensen was the Ravens’ highest graded offensive lineman at 75.1, allowing no pressures. Jensen continues to shine while being surrounded with a new group every week.
• After a solid showing at LG in the first half of the season, James Hurst bumped back down to earth when forced to fill in for the injured LT Ronnie Stanley. He allowed two sacks, two hits and one hurry, grading at a team-worst 40.6. No surprise, as all Ravens fans know Hurst isn’t an NFL-caliber LT. He may be a decent-to-good guard, but he is not skilled enough to go one-on-one with edge rushers.
• After running play fakes on 18.5% of drop backs prior to Week 11, Joe Flacco did so on 32.3% of drop backs against the Packers to little success. When doing so he completed four of nine passes for 57 yards and one interception, a -50.3% completion difference on plays with no play action.​​ I’ve advocated for more play fakes this season, and more creativity, but Joe did not produce in these sets. Take a look at the Ha Ha Clinton-Dix interception, for example. Joe must clean up these plays, if the Ravens want to make the post-season.

Ravens Defensive Stats:

• OLB Matthew Judon took advantage of the Packers’ depleted offensive line. He recorded three sacks, one hurry and five defensive stops, plus a 84.3 game grade. Judon is the edge-rusher of the future, and his motor never quits.
• The Ravens’ other major pass rush contributor was DT Willie Henry. He tallied two sacks, one hit and two hurries, his first multi-pressure game since Week 4 vs. the Steelers. I called it less than a week ago, Henry is the Ravens dark-horse star d-lineman of the season.
• Star CB Jimmy Smith allowed three catches on four targets into his coverage for 47 yards and an interception in Green Bay. Remarkably, this is the highest yardage total allowed by him in a single game this season, and he hasn’t allowed more than three catches in a game. Shocking, Jimmy Smith’s worst game was against Brett Hundley and the Packers. Nonetheless, he hasn’t allowed more than three catches in a single game? Go vote for Jimmy Smith to the Pro Bowl. No seriously, click the link and do it.
• The Ravens missed only two tackles against the Packers, continuing a strong season wrapping up ball-carriers. Though 10 games they have missed on 10.1% of tackle attempts, comfortably ranking them in the top five in the league. Still feels rather high, but top five is good to know.
• DT Brandon Williams was kept quiet on 44 defensive snaps, recording one hurry and zero defensive stops. After nine stops and three pressures in the first two games after his return from injury in Week 7, he has since managed only one pressure and one stop in the following two games (including yesterday). If a bad game by Brandon Williams results in five turnovers, six sacks and a shutout, we’ll take it every time. I’m certain his presence allowed these pressures.