The Philadelphia Eagles traveled to the Baltimore Ravens with a better record, but arguably a weaker reputation.
The Ravens have consistently struggled in the AFC, from their two-time MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson to their defense so good last year that the coordinator is now head coach.
Add in punishing running back Derrick Henry, and several times this season it felt fair to ask: Who could stop the Ravens?
On Sunday, in a 24-19 win, an Eagles team so complete the league should fear it did just that.
A defense steadily coming into shape under coordinator Vic Fangio allowed both Jackson and Henry to hold the Ravens to just two offensive touchdowns.
An offense stacked against the Los Angeles Rams last week showed it could do much more than beat playoff bubble and spiral teams.
With the dual threat of Jalen Hurts and the 117 scrimmage yards of Saquon Barkley, the Eagles improve to 10-2 with a 2.5 game lead in the NFC East.
The Ravens fell to 8-5, two and a half games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, and faced bigger questions not just about their offensive consistency, but especially their kicker.
Yes, Justin Tucker’s thirteen-year career has modeled historical accuracy.
But with Tucker missing two field goals and an extra-point attempt, the seven points reverberated loudly in a game that Baltimore lost by just five.
The Ravens may have bigger questions than their path to wild-card status.
The Eagles, after their seventh straight win, continue to answer them.
Ravens got hot first, but couldn’t hold on against the strong Eagles D
Baltimore started quickly before sputtering.
After the Eagles had only one first down before punting, the Ravens took advantage to score first. Jackson dropped back, scrambled to his left, spun free from a defender’s grasp and fired down the left sideline to Zay Flowers for a 40-yard gain that reflected Flowers’ commitment to keeping the scramble game alive. The sophomore receiver’s route was down the right side of the field, but he crossed to the left as Jackson kept moving, with the duo connecting on the key play to set up Tucker’s 34-yard field goal.
The Ravens powered explosive plays again on their next drive. Jackson returned to Flowers, this time in the middle of the field for 20 yards, while Henry worked his way 19 yards down the left sideline. Two plays later, Jackson scored a 14-yard touchdown to tight end Mark Andrews. Tucker’s extra point attempt hit the left upright, but the Ravens quickly got the ball back after linebacker Roquan Smith sacked Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts to force a three-and-out.
The Eagles wouldn’t visit the red zone until midway through the second quarter, when a balanced drive from five contributors ended with a run-pass option. Hurts hit Dallas Goedert on a 3-yard dump, with the tight end covering the distance for a 17-yard touchdown.
In a matchup between teams whose success relied heavily on offseason running back victories, the football gods showed their appreciation for irony, bringing each team’s first touchdown to a tight end.
Not to mention the Eagles’ next touchdown drive, a series of tough runs, relied much more on Hurts’ legs than Barkley’s. It was Hurts who scrambled nine yards to the 1-yard line and then Hurts who scored on a push – extending his arm toward the end zone after recovering the botched snap that nearly ruined their chance.
Tucker hit a 50-yard field goal with 3 seconds left in the second to cut the Ravens’ deficit to 14-12 at halftime. But after a 10-play, 41-drive broken up by Eagles breakout linebacker Zack Baun, Tucker missed a 47-yard attempt.
In the third quarter there was more defense than attack.
But by the fourth, Barkley found his stride and punished the Ravens accordingly. Barkley hit his gap and took 14 yards to the left side of the field before Hurts took the next keeper 11 yards to the middle. Was the Ravens defensive line worn down, or could it have known that the quarterback and running back might punish them if they escaped?
Barkley exploded down the right sideline, ducking away from tackles until he reached the end zone 25 yards away.
The Eagles, with a successful extra point attempt, extended their lead to nine points.
After Philadelphia’s defense forced a turnover on downs, the Eagles returned to the field and to a heavy diet of Barkley.
The Ravens initially appeared to block Eagles kicker Jake Elliott’s attempt with 1:15 to play. But the officiating determined the Ravens were offside, so the Eagles were given another chance.
Elliott was good from 35.
The Ravens put together a last-chance drive, a 39-yard Jackson scramble, which set up an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jackson to tight end Isaiah Likely. Tucker made his extra point attempt. But the Ravens failed to recover their offside, making their bid too little, too late.
Jackson completed 23 of 36 passes for 237 yards and two touchdowns, in addition to 79 rushing yards on 12 carries. Henry totaled 111 yards from scrimmage on 22 touches.
Baun led all defensemen with 13 tackles, half a sack and a forced fumble.
