The Baltimore Ravens entered Sunday’s Week 9 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks at 6-2 and looking to continue their winning streak. Seattle came into this one as a tough and scrappy team with a good run defense. For the Ravens, that posed no challenge as Baltimore’s running game dominated the Seahawks’ defensive line. A defensive line that just acquired Leonard Williams and signed back Frank Clark. Baltimore’s defense was, once again, dominant. They cruised and pressured Seattle quarterback Geno Smith and almost pitched a shutout at home again. Baltimore came away with its second consecutive lopsided home win, 37-3, and its fourth straight win overall to advance to 7-2.
Ravens Pressure And Running Game Key In Win Over Seahawks
Ravens Defense Disruptive
The defense, once again in their history, has been the leading force of this Ravens team all year long. They came into the game leading the league in sacks, with constant pressure on the quarterback. They sacked Smith four times and forced him outside the pocket thanks to their powering defensive line. Kyle Van Noy, who continues to be a driving force on this defense, notched two more sacks on Sunday. That includes Van Noy coming up huge after the Ravens committed a turnover on offense with a fumble by Odell Beckham Jr.
Van Noy sacked Smith on back-to-back plays, with the second being a fumble and picked up by Baltimore. This happened just before halftime, and the Ravens would kick a field goal heading into the locker room up 17-3. Justin Madubuike continued his monster season with another sack. He has a sack in six consecutive games, a franchise record. Odafe Oweh also contributed with a sack. Geno Stone notched another interception as he continued to impress. His six interceptions lead the NFL as we head into the second half of the year. Overall, this defense is very, very good.
The Keaton Mitchell Game
On offense, the Ravens ran and ran some more against the Seattle defense with almost 300 yards on the ground. Gus Edwards had two more rushing touchdowns just a week after scoring three in Arizona. Justice Hill carried the ball 13 times for 40 yards. Lamar Jackson ran it ten times for 60 yards of his own. However, the big story of the day was the breakout performance by undrafted free-agent rookie Keaton Mitchell. Keaton, the son of Ravens 2000 playoff hero Anthony Mitchell, rushed for 138 yards on nine carries and a big touchdown run for 40 yards. He had another big run shortly after for 60 yards. The Ravens loved Mitchell’s speed, and he showed it before suffering an injury. With Mitchell healthy, he looks to be a vital cog in the Ravens running game, which now looks very dangerous again.
A Birthday Touchdown
While the game was well in hand for the Ravens when this moment happened, it was still fun and special. Odell Beckham Jr, who has been searching for a touchdown all season and on his birthday, no less, finally found the end zone for his first score as a Raven. Beckham caught a six-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Huntley, and the whole team showed just how happy they were for him. It was a great moment for Beckham in what has otherwise been a tough year for him.
What’s Next
The Ravens continue this three-game home stretch with a big division game against the Cleveland Browns. Last time in Cleveland, the Ravens and their defense dominated the Dorian Thompson-Robinson-led Browns 28-3. This time, the Browns will have Deshaun Watson back under center. In Week 9, the Browns defeated the Arizona Cardinals 27-0 to go to 5-3 on the year. The Ravens lead the all-time series 36-13, and John Harbaugh is 25-6 against the Browns.
Main Photo: Jessica Rapfogel – USA Today Sports
