Three video games in 11 days, two of which had been on the street. All wins. One of many street video games, the final of the three, is 1,500 miles away, on Christmas Day no much less.
Throughout this 11 day stretch the Ravens outscored their opponents by the mixed rating of 100 to 33. In the meantime, their archrival has dropped three straight video games, whereas being outscored 90 to 40.. And let’s not overlook, twelve days in the past the Ravens had been (8-5) and two video games behind the Steelers. As we speak, sooner or later after Christmas, the Ravens are atop the AFC North sporting an (11-5) file and at the moment the convention’s No. 3 seed.
“Merry Christmas. [It was a] great win. [I’m] proud of our guys. These guys took these three games in 11 days and smashed it, obliterated it, tore it up and made into a bunch of smithereens laying around everywhere. I’m proud of the guys [and] how they did it. They did a great job.” ~ John Harbaugh
CHRISTMAS DUB CAM 🎁 pic.twitter.com/8Xv93hBuVb
And now, the Ravens have earned a bit high quality day off to spend with family members, to recharge their weary our bodies earlier than the following activity at hand, the Cleveland Browns, a workforce that would really like nothing greater than to spoil the Ravens pursuit of the AFC North crown, involves city on January 5.
This all units up very nicely for the Ravens who after this gigantic win on Christmas Day, have grow to be the speak of the NFL and the workforce the speaking heads at the moment are labeling, “the team no one wants to play”. That stated, considered one of John Harbaugh’s credos is one thing the workforce ought to embrace all through the stability of the season. That credo – to go (1-0) every week.
So, earlier than we get to the Browns, let’s mirror on the great thing about one Christmas Day in Houston.
THE BAD & THE UGLY
Let’s get this out of the way in which proper now as a result of there was barely any unhealthy or ugly to remove from this Ravens’ effort on Christmas Day. I hated the way in which the workforce’s third offensive possession ended. It began with three productive runs, two by Derrick Henry of 17 and eight yards and a 3rd by Keaton Mitchell for 7 yards. That left them with a first-and-10 on the Houston 45. Three performs later, the Ravens despatched out the punt workforce whereas going through a fourth-and-20 from their very own 45. We’ll name that “bad”.
As for “the ugly”, that security was a humiliation. Finish of “Ugly”. Now, on to the mountain of Good…
CHRISTMAS DAY GOOD
Offense
Let’s begin with the perfect soccer participant on the planet, bar none. And sure, that features Patrick Mahomes and the MVP wannabe Josh Allen.
Keep in mind the greatness of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. Whereas it was taking place earlier than our very eyes, the consistency of their excellence turned an expectation. Consequently, although we didn’t imply to, we took it without any consideration. Then sooner or later it was gone and so too was the excellence of Lewis and Reed. And when their replacements stepped in, the distinction was marked. Expectations plummeted, changed by hope that was by no means realized. As an alternative, we longed for the issues we took without any consideration.
Sooner or later, we’ll have those self same emotions about Lamar Jackson. We’re watching the prowess of an NFL unicorn unfold earlier than us. He makes performs each single week that nobody earlier than him made. As of late, when he makes the league’s 4th-ranked protection appear like The Little Sisters of the Poor, we brush it off as Lamar being Lamar. However make no mistake about it, the person is a generational expertise. And that, mixed along with his insatiable want to get higher, to win each snap as a part of an unwavering willpower to sooner or later hoist The Lombardi Trophy, places him within the realm of proficient overachievers like Michael Jordan.
Who’s your MVP? pic.twitter.com/FdXeqybHG8
What the Payments’ offensive line purchased for Christmas for his or her QB Josh Allen: pic.twitter.com/9pet3ePaGv
Each Lamar and Allen have been nice this season. Allen has unusual arm expertise and may make throws that the majority people not named Bert Jones or John Elway or Brett Favre or Aaron Rodgers might ever make. However Lamar has unusual expertise, PERIOD! He can beat you in so many spectacular methods and when you requested gamers across the league to call their MVP, it will be no contest. Lamar would get the nod in a landslide.
I don’t actually care who wins the MVP! Extra importantly, I don’t assume Lamar cares both. He’s confirmed his greatness. Everyone knows what prize he covets. However till the time comes for him to achieve it, performs like this, seemingly executed by a online game robotic, make him considered one of one!
Lamar Jackson turns a sack right into a 67 yard cross to Mark Andrews lmao he’s unreal pic.twitter.com/qkKt8ffpWn
Lamar is unattainable. pic.twitter.com/uMRInIuyIk
Did Lamar Jackson simply pull a Steph Curry celebrating earlier than seeing the consequence? pic.twitter.com/cgWoOEY2eV
On the day, Lamar had a passer score of 143.9, 3 whole TDs, 87 yards speeding on 4 carries whereas breaking Michael Vick’s all-time profession speeding yard whole for quarterbacks. And he most likely doesn’t care a lot about that accomplishment both. He anticipated it.
Another thought on these oft-script, spectacular performs within the passing recreation. The Ravens cross catchers deserve credit score working themselves open when cross safety breaks down and Lamar escapes containment. We’ve seen Zay Flowers work himself open many instances previously. On Christmas Day, we noticed Isaiah Seemingly and Mark Andrews do the identical. When gamers have that next-level unstated communication occurring in key moments, explosive performs occur and that largely is why the Ravens have the league’s highest scoring offense.
Lamar Jackson (6,110) has damaged Michael Vick’s file (6,109) changing into the QB with probably the most speeding yards in NFL historical past! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/F1DV6wikZA
Derrick Henry ran for 147 yards on 27 carries and a TD. He’s pushed his season totals to 1,783 yards (5.8 YPC). He ran extraordinarily nicely contained in the tackles with nice physique lean and footwork to take advantage of shifting home windows of alternative. The Texans’ deal with Henry solely added to effectiveness of Lamar as a runner. When requested to maintain it LJ exploited the Texans’ edge defenders who dedicated early to include Henry.
Mouse meet cheese!
Derrick Henry recorded a 74.1% success price in Week 17, the very best by any participant in a recreation with 25+ carries within the Subsequent Gen Stats period (since 2016).
Henry ran between the tackles on a season-high 81.5% of his carries, gaining 140 of his 147 rush yards.#BALvsHOU | #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/L48Q6ozHqw
I discussed Seemingly and Andrews and their capability to work themselves open. They’re additionally prepared and completed blockers. Their efforts contributed significantly to Lamar going untouched for 48-yard rating. See for your self.
When a workforce virtually tells you they’re operating the soccer and so they nonetheless handle to realize 251 yards towards a protection that by way of 15 video games had solely given up 107 yards on the bottom per recreation, there’s one thing occurring within the trenches that’s working fairly nicely. Huge time props to the Ravens offensive entrance.
Ben Cleveland throwing somebody out the membership on the TD run.#Ravens run energy proper:– Downblocks from the correct facet of the road– Ricard kicks out the sting (really blocks the sting and the DB)– Mekari pulls
6.#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/qPVRt1Oykm
Protection
Nick Bosa, Josh Hines-Allen and Brian Burns are the very best paid edge defenders within the NFL averaging $34M, $28.3M and $28.2M per yr, respectively. Bosa and Hines-Allen have 7 sacks every whereas Burns has 8. Kyle Van Noy’s 2-year take care of the Ravens averages $4.5M. Towards the Texans, KVN had one other sack, giving him 11 ½ for the season…Odafe Oweh registered his ninth sack of 2024. Nnamdi Madubuike, Chris Board and Roquan Smith every contributed a sack as nicely…Smith additionally stuffed in nicely in run protection, attacking gaps within the line of scrimmage to attenuate harm. He was instrumental in containing the Texans operating backs who averaged simply 3.2 YPC.
Marlon Humphrey was efficient from the slot nook place, phantom DPI however. Brandon Stephens and Nate Wiggins had been stable on the perimeter. They, together with safeties Kyle Hamilton and Ar’Darius Washington shaped a decent, cohesive backend of the protection, limiting the Texans to a paltry 4.1 yards per cross play. And that cohesiveness helped to confuse C.J. Stroud and pave the way in which to some protection sacks.
Hamilton added a terrific diving choose whereas Washington chipped in with a momentum swinging play, taking out Joe Mixon on the Ravens’ 1 yard line on 4th down with the rating at 10-2. Six performs later, the Ravens capped off a spectacular 99-yard drive in 3:40 to take a 17-2 lead. Washington’s cease with some help from Tre’Davious White coupled with this drive, broke the collective spirit of the Texans. They had been by no means the identical. Even Houston, Texas native Beyonce couldn’t encourage her hometown workforce to snap out of the Washington-induced funk.
You’d by no means guess Ar’Darius Washington is 5’8″ 180 lbs watching thispic.twitter.com/9T4f8lFaCw
C.J. Stroud as soon as seen himself because the third finest quarterback within the NFL. I’m severe. See for your self beneath. And through his rookie season, he was undoubtedly spectacular. Yesterday, “quarterback” was most likely already added to the 2025 Christmas checklist of 1000’s of Texans’ followers. Stroud stunk up the joint and possibly had many at NRG Stadium lacking Christmas dinners and lacking Matt Schaub.
Stroud looks like a humble man and a is a person of religion. However generally, even such males of character lose their sense of humility, and it comes again to chunk them within the ass. Have a look…
Kyle Hamilton interception 😘 pic.twitter.com/LzX5zLpBaJ
Particular Groups
Irrespective of who you might be or what you do in life, difficult instances will sooner or later await you, even if you’re a future first-ballot Corridor of Famer. Justin Tucker since his rookie season, has been the perfect at his craft till 2023 when he hit a tough patch. The tough patch swelled right into a tough season and the unthinkable occurred. The Ravens needed to no less than mull over options to Tucker. As an alternative, they caught with Tucker and now he seems to be rewarding John Harbaugh’s religion in him. Yesterday he crushed a 52-yard subject aim and every of his PAT’s had been struck nicely. In addition to Christmas, it’s starting to really feel loads like Tuck is again!
OVERALL STATS OF NOTE
In addition to the scoreboard, the Ravens dominated the Texans in some key statistical classes:
• First downs: 25 to 10• Complete Web Yards: 432 to 211• Yards Per Play: 7.1 to three.9• Speeding Yards: 251 to 58• Crimson Zone Effectivity: 3 for 3 to 0 for two• Time of Possession: 35:21 to 24:39
COACHING
John Harbaugh
I’ve been a harsh critic of John Harbaugh at instances this season. And God forbid, I hope I don’t must do it once more sooner or later. However I name it as I see it and for now, the skipper is deserving of props. Huge ones too!
I get that three different groups needed to play 3 video games in 11 days. Just like the Ravens, the Chiefs went 3-0 in the course of the stretch of 11 days and once more just like the Ravens, two video games had been on the street. They received by the mixed rating of 77-36. The Texans performed two video games at dwelling and managed to win 1 of three by the mixed rating of 41-70. After which there’s the Steelers who performed two on the street and misplaced all three by the rating of 40-90.
No different workforce of the aforementioned 4 needed to journey so far as the Ravens. No different workforce needed to win all three to seize a bit of first place. No different workforce needed to depart their households on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day for 2 consecutive seasons. But the Ravens not solely prevailed, they seemingly received higher and appear like a pressure heading into the postseason.
Guiding them each step of the way in which has been John Harbaugh and that’s the place the skipper is at his finest.
Todd Monken
Admittedly, I used to be rising a bit perturbed with Monken in the course of the workforce’s third possession. I believed he was getting a bit cute. I believed he was rising extremely clear racing his workforce to the LOS solely handy the ball to Derrick Henry, one thing that has grow to be as predictable as Jason La Canfora pounding his chest like Donkey Kong in the course of the uncommon event when he’s really proper.
I saved questioning aloud, “Is Monken being so redundant to set something else up?”
After which he did…
Ravens rolling!
Andrews simply caught a Spider 2 Y Banana
What a Christmas present! pic.twitter.com/9gPDFa0Vco
However Monken’s creativity didn’t cease there. The offensive line clicked with some fascinating and efficient mixture blocks that allowed the prepare they name King Henry, acquire 4 and 5 yards earlier than contact. And he even used slot receivers (within the video beneath it was Tylan Wallace) to creatively help with inside blocks. Perhaps Diontae Johnson wasn’t concerned about such shenanigans and that’s why he’s an ex-Raven? However I digress…
#Ravens go to crunch once more (entice + wham).
This was the play that Derrick Henry splashed the lengthy TD run towards the Payments on
So aesthetically pleasing.#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/SIMdGrTQbt
Isaiah Seemingly and Mark Andrews parting the purple sea.#RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/ejuYIChS5S
Zach Orr
In 2023 the Ravens had the perfect protection within the NFL in a number of statistical classes. It was anticipated that the defensive excellence would proceed in 2024 regardless of the losses of Jadeveon Clowney, Patrick Queen and Geno Stone. The Ravens believed that had the expertise in-waiting, to fill these holes.
However maybe probably the most missed losses had been within the teaching ranks. The protection’s mind belief was drained of fantastic coaches whereas one received an enormous promotion. That one, Zach Orr, was challenged to carry all of it collectively. Looking back, that ambition was a hopeless prayer. But someway, someway, after a couple of gamers got new assignments and a brand new strategy, issues have slowly modified, and so they’ve completed so on the most great time of the yr – November to February soccer.
Over the course of the previous six video games, the Ravens protection has held opponents to 16 factors on common. And given the workforce’s high-flying offense, that’s an absolute recipe for achievement.
“I’m very pleased. The guys went to work, and we knew that it was all correctable. But you have to get to work, and you have to do it. I’ve said numerous times, it’s a week-to-week league, and it’s important to keep things in perspective. It’s a good lesson for everything else besides football too – keep things in perspective. You can improve. You can get better. I’m proud of those guys, [Defensive coordinator] Zach [Orr], obviously, spearheading it [and senior advisor] Dean Pees helping us, of course. Let’s look at all the players and all the coaches and what a great job they’ve done. But you know what? We’re just getting started. We said, ‘Alright, it’s the January season now. The December season is behind us. It’s the January season now.’” ~ John Harbaugh on the ascension of the Ravens protection
Previous to 2024, Orr has by no means been a play caller. He swallowed humble pie with Dean Pees’ arrival. He took the criticisms; vowed to place within the additional work to enhance communication and proper what had been as soon as apparent deficiencies; and he disregarded the cries from followers to strip him of his title.
Zach was as soon as known as an undersized participant with none standout athletic expertise. It was stated that he’d by no means make it within the NFL till sooner or later he turned an All Professional in simply his third season. His enjoying profession was taken away as a result of an irregular spinal situation. His final recreation as a participant was on December 25, 2016. Eight years later to the day, his protection as a coordinator for the workforce that gave him an opportunity, pitched a defensive shutout.
He fought by way of adversity as a participant and now he’s seemingly completed in order a coordinator. For the primary time ever, I’m giving the “player” of the sport to a coach. Zach Orr is that this week’s Paige Spiranac Award.
You assume that’s why he’s so excited within the video beneath?
While you’re instructed Zach Orr is signing a contract extension after which he retires pic.twitter.com/SJIz2YGivG
[RAVENS REPORT CARD: Ravens 31, Texans 2]
ODDS & ENDS
Lamar Jackson units file
As when you wanted visible proof of Lamar’s superb playmaking capability, this video, narrated by Derrick Henry, is a enjoyable watch!
Chills. pic.twitter.com/uBH9FoekQ1
Greg Olsen
Analyst Greg Olsen was demoted when FOX agreed to a 10-year, $300M deal to make Tom Brady the community’s lead analyst. Now Brady could sooner or later be nearly as good as Olsen, however for now, as an analyst, the three-time Professional Bowl tight finish is mild years forward of the seven-time Tremendous Bowl champ.
Greg Olsen displaying some like to Spider 2 Y Banana
Thanks for the shout! pic.twitter.com/5x3g35URIQ
Staying with Barstool
David Portnoy is the founder and proprietor of sports activities and in style tradition firm Barstool Sports activities. Since 2017 he’s hosted an web present known as One Chew Pizza Opinions, touring the nation rating Mother & Pop pizzerias. Just lately he visited Tiny Brick Oven at 1036 Mild Road in Federal Hill. TBO was in hassle, the enterprise hanging by a thread.
Right here’s the story, an applicable one for this time of yr, about how a random go to from Portnoy saved Tiny Brick Oven. You actually need to look at this for all of the feels of The Season.
Particular because of my man Bob Jones!
Merry Christmas everybody. And should your 2025 be wholesome and ship unprecedented pleasure and prosperity!
Barstool Pizza Overview – TinyBrickOven (Baltimore, MD) pic.twitter.com/hDqhclD45D
