The Baltimore Ravens offense struggled to get going in their 23-10 victory over the New York Jets, but the defense picked up the slack.
It now seems like a long time ago that the Ravens had the worst defense in the league. The Ravens have held their last six opponents to under 20 points and are 5-1 in that span, including a five-game winning streak.
As the Ravens have tied the Pittsburgh Steelers for first place in the AFC North, their defense has been a major catalyst, and their confidence is growing every week.
Confidence Boost
The Ravens went through the fire in the early part of the season, especially on defense, but the trials and tribulations have only made Zach Orr’s defense stronger as a unit.
Star linebacker Roquan Smith echoed these sentiments in his post-game press availability on Sunday. Speaking about the growing confidence that the defense has developed. Ravens.com provided the transcript of Smith’s answer.
“Yes, I think it’s just a bunch of dudes that are willing to go out there and put it all on the line for one another,” Smith said. “The communication is outstanding throughout the week, and it echoes throughout the game. So, when we’re all on the same page – and we have the talent – so the talent is there.”
Smith then reflected on how the communication within the defense has improved throughout the season.
“Then the communication, once you have that and then when you have the mindset of willing to put your face in [the fan] and defend every single play, and you have those types of guys that’s not worried about ‘me, me, me‘ and more like ‘us, us us‘ and when you have that, it’s the perfect combination for a really good defense,” Smith continued. “But I think we’re just on our way to where we’re going, and it’s just another step in the road, and [it was a] great win today, but onto Cincinnati.”
The Ravens’ increased communication has led to more of one of the most valuable commodities in football: Turnovers.
Increased Takeaways
For the sixth straight game, the Ravens held opponents under 20 points, and for the sixth straight game, the Ravens had a turnover.
The turnover this week occurred in the fourth quarter when Marlon Humphrey forced a fumble from Breece Hall inside the 5-yard line, and Alohi Gilman recovered the fumble.
Turnovers have become a welcome addition to the Ravens’ defensive identity. Clifton Brown of Ravens.com, in a November 24 article, discussed the Ravens’ new takeaway prowess and how key Humphrey has been to the defense.
“Takeaways win games. Early in the season, the Ravens weren’t getting enough, but they are now,” Brown said. “Humphrey deserves extra credit for missing just one game after getting his finger pinned. Humphrey plays hurt, plays outside and inside at cornerback, and does it all well, which is why he’s a four-time Pro Bowler and one of the team’s defensive leaders.”
The Ravens’ defensive turnaround has been led by their star players stepping up in big moments, and their growing swagger could carry them to repeating as AFC North champions.
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