The Lions used their rejuvenated ground game to set the tone. Their terrifying pass rush embarrassed Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson was under a lot of duress throughout the game. Even worse, he was sacked an astounding seven times, the most he’s ever been during a game in his young career.
Even in that tough start Jackson still threw for 288 yards and three touchdown passes. On his first drive, he threw a short 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rashod Bateman. He hooked up with tight end Mark Andrews for a 14-yard TD. As a result of Jackson’s brilliant performance, he broke the team record for most consecutive games with two or more touchdown passes. He pushed his streak to historic nine games! This broke the previous record set by Vinny Testaverde, who had eight-straight games in 1996.
Lions’ Rushing Attack Shines
The Lions displayed their might on the ground, accruing an impressive 224 rushing yards over the course of the game. Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry got it going with a 28-yard touchdown run late in the first quarter. His curtain call changed dramatically after he suffered a game-changing fumble in the middle of the fourth quarter. That mistake played a starring role in the Ravens’ upset loss. This high-profile fumble exposed what’s been a more insidious pattern. Henry has now fumbled the ball in the fourth quarter in both of Baltimore’s losses this season.
David Montgomery made an impact for the Lions, rushing for 151 yards and two touchdowns. Montgomery and teammate Jahmyr Gibbs each recorded touchdowns in the same game for the 11th time in their careers, showcasing their effectiveness as a duo in the backfield.
“All In: The Kelvin Torbert Story” – Eric Woodyard
Defensive Dominance
The Lions’ defense was no slouch either, bringing down Lamar Jackson seven times. Muhammad’s 2.5 sacks led the charge, offering constant pressure through the line that was crucial in throwing off the Ravens offensive momentum. This inspiring defensive intensity paired with an impressive rushing offensive effort by the Lions helped them dictate the pace of the game.
Struggling defensively in their first season with new coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, the Ravens continued to bleed opening-drive touchdowns this season with all three games thus far. That pattern continued versus the Lions. Critical defensive mistakes prevented them from being able to stop Detroit’s exacting offensive game plan.
Mark Andrews was an early and often target for Jackson, as the big tight end finished the game with six catches for 91 yards and two scores. In an unexpected shootout, the Ravens couldn’t meet enough of these efforts to get the win.
Record-Setting Streaks and Future Challenges
Prometheus marveled at Jackson’s performance, particularly his knack for discovering the end zone in the face of absurd defensive pressure. It showed when he tossed three touchdown passes against Detroit. This extended his record streak of games with two or more touchdown passes, while reinforcing his place among the elite quarterbacks in the league. The Ravens now hold the record for most points scored in their first three games of a season with a non-winning record. Combined, they have scored an incredible combined score of 111 points!
Looking ahead, the Ravens will face a challenging matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, where they have struggled historically. In fact, since 2008 Baltimore has had a tough time winning at this neutral-site venue. When they have visited, they’ve given up an average of 29 points per game.
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