Ravens vs Titans final recap: Defense shatters franchise sack record in shutout win

With Week 6 of the NFL season underway, the 3-2 Baltimore Ravens traveled to Nashville to face the 3-2 Tennessee Titans.

Baltimore won the toss and elected to kick. The defense started strong for the Ravens, forcing a punt after consecutive sacks from Chris Wormley and Za’Darius Smith.

The offense responded with a 21-yard pass from Joe Flacco to Michael Crabtree. Flacco was able to convert several third downs on the drive, twice on a checkdown to Javorius “Buck” Allen and once on a quarterback sneak. Flacco was able to find Crabtree again for a 27-yard gain to put Baltimore in the red zone. A few plays later, Flacco delivered a four-yard strike to Crabtree for the touchdown.

After a three-and-out from Tennessee’s offense, the first quarter came to a close with the Ravens leading 7-0. The offense was again able to find the end zone on their second drive to start the second quarter. After a 23-yard completion to John Brown, running back Alex Collins ran his way in for a 13-yard touchdown to give Baltimore a 14 point lead.

The Ravens were able to sack Marcus Mariota two more times on the next drive, once on first down from Patrick Onwuasor and then on third down by Za’Darius Smith again. After Baltimore’s first punt on offense, the Ravens defense got to Mariota yet again, this time in the form of Terrell Suggs. Including a credited sack to Anthony Levine Sr. when he forced Mariota out of bounds on the second drive, Baltimore tallied six sacks in the first half.

Second half:

The Ravens first drive went as most of them have this season, ending with a score. A long drive by the Ravens offense finished with a two-yard rushing touchdown by Collins after a 22-yard rush by Lamar Jackson only a play ago.

After the Ravens scored a touchdown, the defense took the field and welcomed Mariota with another sack, this time by Tony Jefferson. The drive goes nowhere.

After a stalled drive by Flacco and the offense, Sam Koch booms one deep. Moore and Cyrus Jones both get a hand on the ball before pinning it down at the one-yard line.

The ball didn’t stay in a dangerous zone for long as Mariota sprinted out of the his own endzone and broke of a 20-yard rush. He also completed a long pass to get them at the Titans 45-yard line. In the end, the drive was haulted by Kenny Young as he prouced the eighth sack of the game on Mariota.

A few back and forth drives later, Alex Lewis suffered what looked like a serious injury after making a block on a run attempt. His helmet was taped to the backboard, he was lifted off and taken away in an ambulance. We all hope he’s okay.

On yet another defensive drive, Matt Judon racked up sack number nine.

Gus Edwards was the most exciting part of the offense in the fourth quarter. On a 3rd & 2, Edwards rushed off the left side for a powerful 11-yard gain. What followed were two penalties back-to-back and eventually a punt after an eight-yard gain to Snead IV on 3rd & 25.

Clearly, the defense wasn’t done as they broke the franchise record for most sacks in a game with 11. The previous record, nine, was shattered with Peanut’s second sack of the game and Za’Darius Smith’s third for the final tally on defense (11 total).

The Ravens finished by winning 21-0 and pitching their first shutout of the season.