Baltimore, MD — Lamar Jackson showcased his prowess by targeting Zay Flowers with nine passes in the first half, although he didn’t return to him after that. Mark Andrews rebounded from an early interception, caused by a pass bouncing off his hands, to secure his first touchdown of the season. Meanwhile, Derrick Henry delivered another strong performance.
In a thrilling matchup against rookie Jayden Daniels, Jackson threw for 323 yards and rushed for an additional 40 yards, leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders. This win marked Baltimore’s fourth consecutive triumph.
“Just a pick-your-poison offense,” Jackson remarked.
Henry rushed for 132 yards and scored his NFL-leading eighth and ninth touchdowns, while Flowers set a career-high with 132 receiving yards. Jackson’s performance also elevated him to second place on the all-time rushing list for quarterbacks. The Ravens (4-2) executed a balanced attack that effectively combined passing and rushing.
“Guys are going to get their touches, and good things will happen,” Andrews said. He tied Todd Heap for the most touchdown catches since the Ravens moved to Baltimore, achieving the 41st of his career. “We’re extremely versatile, and we’re going to take this game, improve week by week, and become the machine we can be.”
Despite Daniels connecting with Terry McLaurin for two touchdown passes, the Commanders (4-2) struggled without running back Brian Robinson Jr., who was sidelined due to a knee injury, finishing with only 52 rushing yards.
“B-Rob is a great player, but it’s next man up,” Daniels said. “We have to go out there and do our job.”
The Commanders’ defense had a tough time containing Jackson and Henry, allowing the Ravens to amass 484 total yards. Washington’s four-game winning streak was snapped by a Baltimore team that is beginning to resemble a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
“We have so many playmakers, and everyone is getting opportunities to showcase their talents,” said Henry, who became the first player since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005 to rush for a touchdown in each of his first six games. “That’s what you want from an offense.”
The Ravens executed impressive scoring drives of 93 and 94 yards, with the latter proving crucial when Henry scored from 7 yards out late in the third quarter.
“Those two drives were essential,” Flowers stated. “We needed those to set the tone that this offense would keep scoring, whether running or passing.”
Although the Ravens continued to struggle with pass defense, Daniels completed 24 of 35 passes for 269 yards. However, Baltimore was able to outscore any defensive issues. Coach John Harbaugh labeled the win an ultimate team effort.
“All three phases contributed when it mattered,” Harbaugh said. “The guys answered the call today in various ways.”
When asked if the game showcased the Ravens as having the best offense in the league, Jackson downplayed the idea, noting that there’s still a long season ahead.
“We’re just proving we can win games,” Jackson said, completing 20 of 26 passes. “There’s always room for improvement.”
Injuries:
Ravens: LB Malik Harrison (groin), CB Arthur Maulet (knee and hamstring), and DE Broderick Washington (knee) were inactive.
Commanders:DT Jonathan Allen was ruled out early in the fourth quarter with a pectoral injury, DE Dorance Armstrong left the game in the second quarter with a rib injury, and DE Clelin Ferrell missed a fourth consecutive game due to a knee injury.
Upcoming Games:
Commanders: Plays the Carolina Panthers next Sunday at home.
Ravens: Visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, Oct. 21.
