The Ravens flew out to Arizona forward of their preseason recreation Sunday evening a couple of days early, hoping to take advantage of their time collectively as a crew. They practiced within the warmth. They frolicked at their lodge pool. They performed volleyball. They watched their rookies sing at a crew dinner.
After which, in extending their preseason successful streak to an NFL-record 22 video games, they gutted out a victory in prime time, an ending the entire crew might have fun. The Ravens’ 24-17 win over the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium was as a lot a testomony to the first-half excellence of tight finish Isaiah Seemingly and quarterback Tyler Huntley because it was to their clutch play late in all three phases.
Earlier than rookie working again Tyler Badie ran out the clock to increase the longest preseason successful streak by any NFL crew confirmed by the Elias Sports activities Bureau since 1995, the Ravens obtained a booming 56-yard punt from rookie Jordan Stout to pin Arizona deep. Then they obtained a few sacks from their line of defense and a fourth-down move breakup from security Ar’Darius Washington to finish Arizona’s hopes of a comeback from a 24-3 deficit.
“We have been on the final guys,” coach John Harbaugh mentioned. “We weren’t placing subs in there. These guys have been simply enjoying the entire time. So pleased with the way in which they did it, and now we transfer on.”
The Ravens will shut out their preseason schedule Saturday towards the visiting Washington Commanders. Right here’s a have a look at the risers and fallers from Sunday’s recreation.
Risers
TE Isaiah Seemingly
Mark Andrews didn’t have a preseason like this. Not many tight ends ever have a preseason like this. The fourth-round decide continued his breakout August with a efficiency so dominant it appeared inconceivable that Seemingly was bullying Solar Belt Convention defenders simply over a 12 months in the past. Seemingly completed the primary half with eight catches on eight targets for 100 yards and a landing. The Coastal Carolina product appeared to get open as simply as he slipped tackles; 55 of his yards got here after the catch. Over two video games, Seemingly has caught every thing thrown his method — actually. He has 12 catches on 12 targets for 144 yards and a landing, good for a 144.4 passer score when focused.
“He will get open,” Huntley mentioned. “He is aware of what’s occurring round him. He is aware of the performs. And like Coach [Harbaugh] mentioned, when he makes a mistake, he’s not going to make that very same mistake once more. He’s going to attempt to get higher at every thing. And it simply exhibits in his work and his manufacturing. He catches the ball and he runs after the catch.”
QB Tyler Huntley
One other environment friendly efficiency from Lamar Jackson’s backup, whose star rose (as a lot as any second-stringer’s can) in prime time. Regardless of enjoying with the Ravens’ reserve receiving corps, Huntley completed 13-for-14 for 129 yards and a landing (128.9 passer score). He improvised when he needed to, evading stress and increasing drives. He additionally fed the new hand, connecting with Seemingly eight instances; no different Ravens receiver was focused even twice within the first half. Over two preseason video games, Huntley is 29-for-32 for 238 yards and two touchdowns (118.4 score).
“I believe the timing, the precision, actually continues to go in that trajectory that you just need to see,” Harbaugh mentioned. “We’ve seen that in each preseason video games. The way in which he’s working the offense, his communication has been actually good. He’s getting out and scrambling and making performs along with his ft and preserving the protection trustworthy that method. … He’s a competitor, and you're keen on all of the issues about him, however in all probability that essentially the most.”
DT Travis Jones
The third-round decide continues to flash, even when he runs afoul of the rulebook. On the primary drop-back of Arizona’s third drive, the Connecticut product had such a clear pass-rush win that his straight-ahead surge for quarterback Hint McSorley delivered a glancing helmet-to-helmet blow within the Cardinals’ finish zone. On the third drop-back, he appeared to get one other stress and drive an incompletion. On the fourth and last drop-back, one other stress, one other incompletion. Jones opened his preseason along with his first sack, and if his injured knee is wholesome, he has sufficient expertise to finish his rookie 12 months with a pair extra.
P Jordan Stout
Generally you’re good, and generally you’re fortunate. On the fourth-round decide’s first punt Sunday, he was good, booming a 50-yard punt that rolled inside the ten, then the 5, till cornerback Kevon Seymour downed it on the 3. On his second punt, he was good, and in addition a bit fortunate. After hitting a 46-yard punt, the Penn State product watched Cardinals returner Greg Dortch sign for a good catch on the 3-yard line. On his last punt, late within the fourth quarter, he boomed a 58-yard punt out of bounds. Stout, who added a profitable extra-point try, had an “excellent” preseason debut towards the Tennessee Titans, particular groups coordinator Chris Horton mentioned. His follow-up would possibly’ve been even higher.
“Jordan Stout bombed a pair,” Harbaugh mentioned. “We had one the place I assumed the gunner obtained held and tackled on the sideline. Simply didn’t get known as. And it didn’t matter as a result of he put it about 60 [yards] proper out of bounds. In order that was good to see.”
CB Damarion “Pepe” Williams
About the one factor that didn’t go proper for the fourth-round decide was Kevin Burkhardt’s pronunciation of his nickname. “Peppy,” because the Fox play-by-play man appeared to name him, continued his energetic preseason with one other high-volume recreation. The Houston product had a pleasant kind deal with within the first quarter to drive a fourth-down move that cornerback Kyle Fuller intercepted. Within the third quarter, he jumped a move from McSorley for an interception that he returned 29 yards. Williams additionally had a 12-yard punt return, persevering with to construct on his candidacy if All-Professional returner Devin Duvernay’s ever extra wanted on offense.
“Pepe simply does it daily,” Harbaugh mentioned. “He does it in follow. He does it in video games. He doesn’t get flustered in any respect.”
ILB Malik Harrison
Harrison completed with 4 tackles on protection and added a fifth on particular groups. His laborious hitting stood out on an evening when the Ravens held the Cardinals to simply 2.6 yards per carry. Late within the second quarter, Harrison helped smack McSorley wanting the aim line on a scramble. One play later, he got here unblocked off the left facet of Arizona’s line to drop working again Eno Benjamin for a 3-yard loss. After a misfire on third down, the Cardinals needed to accept a 21-yard discipline aim simply earlier than halftime. Harrison’s capacity within the open discipline stays a query mark, however the third-year backup generally is a punishing run defender.
Fallers
G Tyre Phillips
Early in coaching camp, offensive coordinator Greg Roman was requested how he evaluates his offensive line play. “Initially, it’s communication,” he mentioned. “The offensive line is 5 individuals performing as one, and with the ability to talk, regulate, make the right changes. One mistaken adjustment can blow up a play.” Synchronicity was an issue for Phillips. Lined up at guard, he had two penalties in a one-minute span within the second quarter: one for a false begin and one for being illegally downfield on a run-pass-option throw. Lined up at deal with, he had one other false begin within the third quarter. That’s not one of the simplest ways to wrestle the beginning job away from Ben Powers.
DB Brandon Stephens
Stephens missed time in coaching camp with a soft-tissue damage, and maybe he’s nonetheless working his method again to full energy. Working primarily towards Cardinals reserve huge receiver Andy Isabella, the second-year defensive again wasn’t at his greatest. On the sport’s first play from scrimmage, he was flagged for pointless roughness on Dortch after giving a late push out of bounds. Just a few performs later, he allowed a first-down completion to Isabella on third-and-long. Within the third quarter, the speedy Isabella obtained a step on Stephens on a vertical route, resulting in a 37-yard pass-interference penalty. His protection improved later, however on particular groups, he was pancaked on Jonathan Ward’s 48-yard kick return.
Working again readability
One other week, one other jumbled mess to kind out. There have been loads of positives to have fun: Starter Mike Davis (six carries for 18 yards) moved the pile on a few downhill runs. Rookie Tyler Badie (12 carries for 34 yards) confirmed spectacular acceleration and mushy palms on a 3-yard landing catch. Justice Hill (5 carries for five yards) spun out of a deal with try, as he did within the opener. Nate McCrary had one carry for 9 yards earlier than being sidelined with a knee damage. However who seems essentially the most prepared to start out in Week 1 if J.Okay. Dobbins is unavailable? Exhausting to say. Perhaps the preseason finale will supply a revelation.
Huge receiver momentum
With beginning huge receivers Rashod Bateman and Duvernay sitting out the sport, and James Proche II (mushy tissue) and Tylan Wallace (knee) nonetheless on the mend, the Ravens’ on-the-bubble wideouts entered Sunday’s recreation figuring out they’d have a giant stage. However with Seemingly dominating within the first half, the crew’s high candidates not often noticed the ball.
Undrafted rookie Shemar Bridges, who had 4 catches for a game-high 62 yards towards Tennessee, had one catch for 8 yards on three targets towards Arizona. Apply squad huge receivers Jaylon Moore and Binjimen Victor mixed for no targets on a mixed 22 first-half routes run, in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus, and ended the sport and not using a goal. Undrafted rookie Makai Polk, one other standout towards the Titans, had only one catch, an ad-libbed 19-yarder from Huntley. The Ravens’ best huge receiver was Raleigh Webb (two catches for 46 yards), whom Fox confused for Stout — they each put on No. 11 — on its landing graphics.
Preseason, Week 3
COMMANDERS@RAVENS
Saturday, 7 p.m.
TV: Ch. 11
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