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‘Connected football’: Baltimore Ravens find rare balance during 5-game winning streak - Aaron Kasinitz
Patrick Ricard said the team is the most balanced it’s been since he arrived as an undrafted rookie in 2017.
And Ricard, a fullback-defensive tackle hybrid, carries unique perspective as one of the NFL’s only three-way contributors. He’s played 167 snaps on offense, 123 on defense and 58 on special teams this season.
“Since I’ve been here, the defense has been great,” Ricard said. “Now, the offense is really just exploding. The special teams are playing well — the special teams is always playing great here. I think, now, everything’s just clicking.”
“We’re very, very strong,” six-time Pro Bowl safety Earl Thomas said. “That’s what I’m taking from these wins - whether we’re on the road or at home. We’ve been playing some great football, some connected football on both sides of the ball. It’s been special.”
Highest-graded player on every NFL team - PFF
QB LAMAR JACKSON, BALTIMORE RAVENS – 88.1
Only Wilson (91.3) ranks ahead of Jackson (88.1) in overall grade among qualifying quarterbacks entering Week 11. The young Louisville product has changed the game with his ability to run the football and take advantage of open throws in the Ravens’ offense. He should go stride-for-stride with Wilson in the race for MVP this season.
The NFL Offensive and Defensive Rookie of the Year Contenders, Ranked - Danny Heifetz
Offensive Rookie of the Year
Honorable Mentions
Marquise Brown, Receiver, Baltimore RavensThree of his four touchdowns and 227 of his 454 receiving yards have come against the Dolphins and Bengals.
Tyus Bowser Is Earning Playing Time With His Impact - Clifton Brown
“This guy has been working like crazy ever since the day he got here,” Harbaugh said. “You can see it paying off in the way he plays. He’s playing defense, he’s playing special teams. He’s getting to the quarterback, he’s playing the run exceptionally well, he knows the defense inside and out. To see him start to blossom like this has just been nothing but a joy. So keep building on that and become the great player we know he’s going to be.”
“I used that as motivation,” Bowser said. “He cares. I think I heard that when a coach stops getting at you, that’s a tell that you might be out of here. He sees my potential. I definitely don’t want to prove him wrong. I want to prove him right.”
“(I’m) making the sacrifices, having great guys, great leaders like Brandon Carr, a guy that I really look up to as far as taking care of your body, doing the extra stuff, massages, doing extra film study along with Earl (Thomas) and all of those guys,” Bowser said.
“I look up to those boys. I try to do what they do. You see it pays off for them. Those guys have been in the league for a long time, plenty of accolades. That’s where I want to be. In order to be at that level, you’ve got to make those sacrifices.”
Week 10 DVOA Ratings - Aaron Schatz
For example, other advanced stats around the Web have the Baltimore Ravens now challenging the Patriots and 49ers at the top of the league after this week’s huge dominant blowout of Cincinnati. DVOA does not, because the Baltimore Ravens also have a huge adjustment for opponent strength. The Ravens move up two spots to No. 5 this week but they remain below Kansas City at No. 3 and Dallas at No. 4.
Top 5 Teams Adjusted Downward
5) Baltimore, from 34.3% (4) to 24.7% (5). No. 28 ranked schedule so far. Their schedule against bad run defenses has been particularly easy, and of course Baltimore runs a lot so those plays are getting adjusted more.