Ravens Wild Card Rookie Report: Wiggins permits first profession landing; Rosengarten neutralizes T.J. Watt once more

The Baltimore Ravens gained their fifth straight recreation to punch their ticket to the Divisional Spherical of the playoffs in a 28-14 thrashing of the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday within the Wild Card spherical. They did so with significant contributions from a number of members of their 2024 rookie class. Their first two alternatives performed distinguished roles whereas a number of of their Day 3 picks performed predominantly on particular groups.

Of the workforce’s rookies, the 4 inactives included exterior linebacker Adisa Isaac, operating again Rasheen Ali, heart Nick Samac and security Beau Brade. Right here is how the remainder of Baltimore’s first-year gamers fared of their first style of postseason NFL motion.

CB Nate Wiggins

Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Pictures

After going your complete common season and first two quarters of his playoff debut with out giving up a landing, the first-round stud cornerback gave up the primary of his profession within the third quarter of the Ravens’ victory over the Steelers. On a second-and-long from the Baltimore 36-yard line, Wiggins gave Pittsburgh extensive receiver George Pickens a free launch off the road of scrimmage after which let him get behind him to haul in a perfectly-placed moon ball from Russell Wilson. Pickens proceeded to make an overaggressive Ar’Darius Washington whiff with a spin transfer on the boundary and strolled into the tip zone to make it a two-score recreation.

Regardless of that disappointing lapse, Wiggins performed effectively total in any other case together with making a powerful open-field takedown for one among his two whole tackles. It happened on a third-and-22 within the fourth quarter when introduced down Steelers extensive receiver Van Jefferson for a seven-yard reception which arrange a turnover on downs on fourth-and-15 on the following play. His 89% of defensive snaps performed marked his ninth straight of over 60% courting again to Week 10.

OT Roger Rosengarten

Photograph by Michael Owens/Getty Pictures

In his third profession begin towards the Steelers and seven-time Professional Bowl exterior linebacker T.J. Watt, the second-rounder fully neutralized the longer term Corridor of Famer for the second time in lower than a month. Watt was not solely held with out a sack for the fifth straight week however he didn’t even register a single deal with, stress or quarterback hit. After going viral earlier within the week for calling himself a “nobody” whereas making a humble request from the reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months within the newest episode of in-season ‘Hard Knocks’, Rosengarten proved that he’s positively a someone after blanking the 2021 recipient of that award in Watt. He helped pave the way in which for a pair of franchise-record speeding performances that included probably the most yards on the bottom as a workforce (299) and particular person participant—Derrick Henry with 186 and two touchdowns.

WR Devontez Walker

Photograph by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Pictures

Walker was lively for the fifth straight recreation and tenth time this season and noticed motion on offense and particular groups for the fifth week in a row. His two offensive snaps tied for his fewest of the season and lowest since Week 12. The fourth-rounder performed 18 snaps on particular groups which was the second-most amongst all rookies and workforce total. He missed out on his alternative to report his third deal with of the season when he whiffed on an opportunity to take down Steelers returner Calvin Austin III on the Ravens’ final punt of the sport.

CB T.J. Tampa

Photograph by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Pictures

The fourth-round cornerback was lively for the fourth straight recreation since being activated from injured reserve and prolonged his consecutive recreation streak of recording not less than one deal with to 3 straight. Despite the fact that he didn’t play a single snap on protection, he made his presence felt on particular groups the place he rallied to make his second solo takedown of his rookie season on the Ravens’ fourth and last punt of the sport to restrict the returner to a 14-yard return after Walker’s preliminary whiff.

Tampa’s first play he made on particular groups was when he face-guarded Steelers gunner James Pierre out of bounds with out touching him on the Ravens’ second punt return alternative of the sport. Since Pierre was the primary particular person to the touch the ball after voluntarily going out of bounds, he was flagged for unlawful touching which gave the Ravens a free 5 yards. Tampa’s 18 snaps on particular groups had been the second-most amongst rookies and third-most amongst all gamers on the workforce.

DB Sanoussi Kane

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After getting some motion on protection within the last two video games of the common season, Kane was again to enjoying completely on particular groups in his playoff debut. The seventh-round security performed 19 snaps within the third section of the sport which was probably the most amongst rookies and tied linebackers Malik Harrison, Chris Board and Kristian Welch for probably the most amongst all gamers on the workforce.