Ravens vs. Patriots final: MVP, stock up and stock down

The New England Patriots and their perfect 8-0 record walked into M&T Bank Stadium and left with an L. Lamar Jackson, Mark Ingram and the Ravens offense hung 30 points on them while Patrick Onwuasor and Marlon Humphrey added another seven. In the end, the Ravens won 37-20.

MVP — Lamar Jackson

You can’t scheme for him. Your defense can’t simulate him in practice. You can only hope he makes mistakes. He didn’t do so tonight and ends the game with one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns. He completed 17 of his 23 passes for 163 yards and suffered only one sack and zero turnovers. He’s a clear front-runner for league MVP after this game.

Winners

TE Nick Boyle — Fifty-five games in the making and the former Blue Hen finds the end zone. What a game by the best blocking tight end in the NFL.

RB Mark Ingram — The number one defense had allowed only 85 yards rushing per game. He alone rushed for 116 yards on only 15 carries. Yes, Ingram fumbled and that was absolutely terrible but the big man responded with some serious hustle and dominance.

OL Marshal Yanda — Put him in the Hall now. He most certainly deserves it.

OL Orlando Brown Jr. — What a touchdown by Zeus Jr., yanking his quarterback into the endzone.

Offensive line — As a whole, this group did outstanding work. Jackson was sacked only once and they bulldozed the lanes for the rushing attack to hang 210 yards on the ‘best’ defense in the NFL.

RB Gus Edwards — The Bus was made a stop in the endzone tonight and moved the chains.

WR Marquise Brown — A sick jet sweep left after an option play to the right kept the Patriots on their heels in the first quarter. Add in a great 26-yard catch and you’ve got yourself a solid performance when returning from injury. Good to see you back, Hollywoood.

FB Pat Ricard — Great lead blocking and an eight-yard first down catch for the big man. This was a big game for Ricard as he tweeted about it prior to the matchup.

TE Mark Andrews — While Belichick did his best to stop the Ravens’ best playmakers, he couldn’t scheme up a way to stop Andrews’ big third-down catch after the defense just suffered back-to-back no-huddle drives for seven minutes. This was an underrated turning point of the game.

TE Hayden Hurst — All three are making tonight’s list. He caught both targets thrown his way and his early contributions set a tone. I called it out on Twitter when it happened. Both Hurst and Andrews were lined up side-by-side and went out for passes. Jackson trusted Hurst on this play because he stared him down, knowing the Patriots were focusing their attention on Andrews. Hurst caught the ball and made them pay.

CB Marlon Humphrey — Nothing like a 70-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown to even the playing field to open the second half. Get this man to the Pro Bowl and better yet, give him the well-earned All-Pro title.

LB Patrick Onwuasor — His Peanut Punch sprung the fumble recovery for a touchdown. He’s looked great back in his original WILL linebacker role. Keep him there and we’ll continue to watch him feast.

LB Matt Judon — Some serious pass rush from Judon tonight kept Tom Brady on his toes, or better yet off them as he notched a couple quarterback hits, including the one to force an overthrow to Earl Thomas III for the interception!

DB Earl Thomas III — Speaking of, ETIII is on the list for his interception!

CB Anthony Averett — From being healthied to spelling Jimmy Smith against the Patriots, have yourself a day, Double-A.

CB Jimmy Smith — Welcome back, Beans. We all missed you. A helluva game, Boss.

Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman — Thirty-seven minutes of possession by the Ravens offense isn’t an accident. We salute you, coach.

Head Coach John Harbaugh — Harbaugh didn’t flinch or call plays scared. He went out there and won the game and led this team to a 6-2 record and toppled the ‘almighty’ Patriots. The Ravens are no longer chasing the lion. They are the lion. Good luck chasing them, NFL.

Defensive Coordinator Don ‘Wink’ Martindale — The Patriots offense was gifted 10 points. He called a great game.

WR Willie Snead IV — When your number is called on 4th & 4, you answered with a seven-yard completion.

OLB Jihad Ward — A third-down sack after the game-sealing touchdown just to rub their noses in it reminded the NFL, “You come at the king, you best not miss.”

The Fans — The Bank was rocking and roaring tonight. My goodness what a night.

Losers

Any fraud who thinks Lamar Jackson is a running back.

Any fraud who thinks Lamar Jackson was solved after a single game against the Los Angeles Chargers.