When will Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson finally get his win against the Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes? For so long, it seemed like the answer would be...wait for it...nevermore.
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The Ravens have been one of the best teams in the NFL since, well, since most of us can remember. Head Coach John Harbaugh has been there since 2008 and holds a 130-80 career regular season record and only one losing season and two seasons of 8-8. They’ve made the playoffs nine times in his 13 seasons.
The Chiefs, though—and especially the Chiefs since adding Mahomes—have given Harbaugh, Jackson and Co. fits. Mahomes was 3-0 against the Ravens dating back to 2018, and the Chiefs looked increasingly dominant in each of those matchups.
What happened to allow the Ravens to take control of this one?
First and foremost, it was an MVP-caliber effort from the former MVP, Jackson. While his passing line (18/26, 239 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT) wasn’t Tom Brady-esque, he also ran for 107 yards and two touchdowns. It’s difficult, even for a defense as good as the Chiefs, to account for a player that is so dynamic—although Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu did it about as well as humanly possible.
The other big storyline is that the Ravens won the battle in both trenches for the better part of Sunday Night Football. Defensively, rookie outside linebacker Odafe Oweh had a monster night while the overall effort of the group allowed them to pressure Mahomes without needing to blitz in the second half—a key to slowing him down. Offensively, the Ravens were able to win at the line, even when they didn’t have great numbers.
On a crucial (and now viral) fourth down conversion, both of those factors were in play, when Jackson ran a simple QB power run in many high school playbooks. The Chiefs saw it, knew what was coming, had the right defense to stop it and were just overwhelmed by the Ravens’ offensive line, 311-pound fullback Patrick Ricard and couldn’t bring down Jackson.
What We Got Wrong...But Should’ve Gotten Right
Only eight percent of Pickwatch experts picked the Tennessee Titans to go into Seattle and upset the Seahawks. It made a lot of sense as both teams appeared to be going in separate ways after Week 1, and it was sure to be a rocking homefield advantage for the Seahawks.
Nothing quiets a crowd quite like Derrick Henry, though. His 182 yards, three touchdowns and 5.2 (!) yards per carry were the great equalizer in a game where the Seahawks were a better team just about everywhere else on the field. In Week 1, the Seahawks struggled to contain both Indianapolis Colts running backs Jonathan Taylor and Nyheim Hines who had a total 198 yards from scrimmage and had a lot of success catching the ball out of the backfield . When so many of us didn’t notice that trend, the Titans clearly did. Henry is not known for his receiving prowess, but he added six catches for 55 yards.
Far more of our tracked users and experts foresaw the Chicago Bears coming out on top, with 43% of them picking the Bears to top the Cincinnati Bengals. It was a close game, with the Bears winning 20-17 and the biggest storyline is a knee injury to starting QB Andy Dalton, which opens the way for rookie Justin Fields who played very poorly and almost allowed the Bengals to come back into the game.
Yet, while the Bengals were bullies to an overmatched Minnesota Vikings team in Week 1, the Bears reminded us just how good their defense is. They hit Bengals QB Joe Burrow nine times to go with four sacks, a fumble and three interceptions. That’s just how Chicago won games last season...and for the last 40 or so seasons before that.
What None of us Could’ve Saw Coming
With 14 percent of the crowd picking the Las Vegas Raiders to beat the Pittsburgh Steelers, I’m going to assume most of that group was doing so either out of an intense love for the Raiders or an intense hatred for the Steelers (looking at you, Browns and Ravens fans). Instead, the Raiders improve to 2-0 on the season with two victories over AFC North opponents who are the class of the conference.
How did it happen? The Raiders are better than advertised on the offensive line, and while it helps that Steelers superstar linebacker T.J. Watt left the game with an injury, holding up on the offensive line allowed the Raiders to get the ball down the field—a key to the Steelers beating the Buffalo Bills a week before.
The New Orleans Saints looked like worldbeaters against the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 and only 12% picked the Carolina Panthers to get the upset. But, this is a divisional game and the Panthers are a solid team defensively. They harassed Saints QB Jameis Winston to the tune of 11 QB hits. That led to two interceptions and we were reminded just how sporadic his play can be.
The Schottey Six: Players Who Reminded Us Just Who They Are in Week 2
1. Derrick Henry (RB Titans): ‘Nuff said about King Henry above, but reminder that he did foreshadow his increasing workload in the passing game this offseason.
2. Julio Jones (WR Titans): After only 29 yards in Week 1, Jones added a 1 to the front of that number with 128 yards in Week 2. Still has yet to find the endzone in his new digs.
3. Dalvin Cook (RB Vikings): Cook doubled his 3.1 yards per carry in Week 1 to 6.0 against the Cardinals.
4. Tyrann Mathieu (S Cardinals): The Honeybadger didn’t play in Week 1 as he recovered from COVID. His two first-quarter interceptions was a heckuva 2021 coming out party. He probably would’ve preferred the win, though.
5. Ezekiel Elliott (RB Cowboys): After a disappointing workload in the season opener, Elliott got 16 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers. His fellow running back, Tony Pollard had a better day, but it’s progress for Elliott to get off of that return-from-injury pitch count.
6. Zach Wilson (QB Jets): A rookie...his four interceptions reminded us that he is a rookie.
Cleaning Out the Notebook
—I don’t expect the Detroit Lions to beat the Green Bay Packers tonight on Monday Night Football, but after watching the Saints get beatdown, it feels more like there’s a chance.
—Houston Texans Coach David Culley is, by all accounts, a good man. After essentially punting on third down, though? It’s a reminder that he’s in over his head and only has his job because the Texans are a mess of a franchise and better candidates did not want it.
—Get well soon, Tyrod Taylor.
— The Matthew Stafford hype parade is dying down a little this week, as the effort against the Colts was not equal to that of Week 1’s light show against the Bears. Still, his game winning drive was the sort of big moment that the Rams hoped they’d be getting...a reminder Stafford is more than just gaudy numbers. He’s also one of the biggest competitors in the league.
— 50? Tom Brady might play until he’s 60 at this point.
— We’re going to learn a heckuva lot about both teams when the Patriots and Saints play in Week 3. I honestly might spend a full day before making that pick.
— I’m almost more bullish on the Eagles after going toe-to-toe with the 49ers and losing than I was after their Week 1 win. Not many teams can matchup with the 49ers front seven, and QB Jalen Hurts suffered, but it wasn’t the boat race it could have been.
— Don’t worry about us losing faith in your team, Urban Meyer. You’re the one known for pulling ripcords at the first sign of trouble.
— I don’t know Vikings radio guy Paul Allen personally, but we crossed paths a few times when I used to work in Minnesota sports radio...his call at the end of that same game basically epitomizes the sentiments of the entire Vikings fanbase.
—If you’re not watching Ted Lasso, what are you even doing with your life?
—In addition to writing for Pickwatch, I’m also a scouting assistant with the College Gridiron Showcase, coach high school football and help run a youth flag league. Needless to say this is a busy time of the year, but this upcoming weekend will be the first in which I coach Thursday (Junior Varsity), Friday (Varsity) and Saturday (12-and-under and 10U flag teams) all while following college football and the NFL intently. It’s a crazy life, but wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Parting Schot
“I don’t know that there are any shortcuts to doing a good job.” —Sandra Day O’Connor