Last minute stop of two-point conversion preserves streak for Baltimore.
While many older Ravens fans still see the Indianapolis Colts as part of an angry 34-year-old narrative, there are more pressing issues at hand. But even after so much time has passed, there are some similarities.
Courtesy: APG News
–For one thing, the slowly-disintegrating Colts missed the playoffs in each of their final six seasons in Baltimore. The present-day Ravens haven’t sniffed the postseason for the last three years and four of the last five.
–The Colts are banking their return–to Peyton Manning-era glory, that is–on the health of quarterback Andrew Luck. The Ravens, on the other hand, got a full and healthy offseason from their own signal-caller, Joe Flacco.
–Like many teams, Indianapolis has been hampered by poor offensive line play–thanks to lack of execution and quality depth. One can say the same for Baltimore, which has seen its own unit turn in spotty-at-best efforts over the first two preseason games.
The Ravens’ O-line struggled again on Monday night in front of 60,576 fans at Lucas Oil Stadium and a national television audience. But the outcome was positive, at least, a 20-19 win over the Colts.
The mostly-healthy Ravens–as many as 86 of 90 players participated in recent practices–registered their 11th straight preseason win, which is one shy of the franchise record (1998-2000). They’ll try to tie the mark this Saturday when they travel to play the Miami Dolphins (Aug. 25, 7 p.m., WBAL-TV; WIYY-FM).
The streak almost came to an end on Monday night. A blocked Ravens punt led to a short Colts touchdown with 2:24 to go, but rookie fourth-round draft pick Kenny Young stopped a quarterback draw on the two-point conversion to preserve the win.
The game was the first in a three-games-in-an-11-day stretch. It comes after an 11-day hiatus between the Ravens’ home win over the Los Angeles Rams and the contest against the Colts.
And this game (played without right guard Marshal Yanda, ankle, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who was hurt early in the second quarter) had a sloppy feel to it–including Luck’s rusty play.
With a paltry 25 QB rating, Luck didn’t have it Monday night against the Ravens (photo, Stampede Blue)
Luck and the Colts nearly capitalized on a rare Ravens special teams mistake. Tim White fumbled a punt deep in Baltimore territory with the Colts recovering at the 14. But Luck (6-for-13, 50 yards, interception, two sacks, 24.5 rating)–playing in his first home game in 596 days–rolled to his right and was picked off by Ravens’ safety Anthony Levine to end the drive.
Indianapolis (1-1) had another drive stall in Ravens territory, but this time a field goal would have to do. 23-year NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri booted a 57-yard field goal to put the hosts on the board first.
Meanwhile, the Ravens (3-0) seemed to have figured out the Colts’ new 4-3 defense. Baltimore drove to the 7-yard line early in the second quarter–thanks, in part, to a 29-yard strike to Michael Crabtree and steady play from Kenneth Dixon (32 yards, six carries; 24 yards, three catches) who was playing in his first game since 2016.
From there, Flacco (7-for-9, 72 yards, touchdown, sack, 137 rating) threaded a needle to find free-agent pickup John Brown in the back of the end zone to put the Ravens in front, 7-3. It was one of only four drives that Flacco would direct this night.
Flacco believes that rapport with new targets has translated into on-field success.
But even that score brought a dark cloud with it. Stanley was hurt on the kick and walked gingerly to the medical tent and off the field, presumably to get an X-ray. He returned to the sideline in the fourth quarter with knee wrapped.
Even worse, the Colts capitalized on Justin Tucker’s 59-yard field goal miss, taking the lead before halftime despite their ineptitude. Despite a hard hit from rookie safety DeShon Elliott that caused a fumble, the Colts’ Chester Rogers fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown and a 10-7 Colts lead.
Besides Stanley’s injury, the Ravens’ offensive line woes continued. Lamar Jackson (7-for-15, 49 yards, touchdown, sack, 76.8 rating) supplanted Flacco at quarterback and Jackson started the night with consecutive three-and-outs.
But with 1:24 left in the half, Jackson directed a fine two-minute drill that culminated in Tucker’s 38-yard field goal to tie the game.
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – Albert McClellan #50 and Kai Nacua #31 of the Baltimore Ravens make a tackle against Ross Travis #43 of the Indianapolis Colts in the third quarter of a preseason game at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 20, 2018, in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images, courtesy FOX59)
Jackson began the second half with a go-ahead, seven-yard scoring pass to Chris Moore, who has had a strong training camp. Then, former Cleveland safety Kai Nacua set up the Ravens in good field position by forcing a Colts fumble on the second-half kickoff. Chris Board recovered the fumble at the Colts 27.
But the sloppy look to this game continued. Returner Janarion Grant fumbled a punt runback to midfield and the Colts recovered. The home team drove to the Ravens’ 3-yard line but, on fourth down, Elliott broke up an end-zone pass. The Ravens had dodged a bullet.
Elliott is one of 29 Ravens without significant NFL experience, but linebacker Terrell Suggs doesn’t believe that will hamper this savvy defense. “We aren’t flinching,” Suggs said. “We believe in our coordinator [Don Martindale], we believe in this package, and most importantly, we believe in the players on the field. There’s no flinch. We don’t worry about it.”
Kaare Vedvik extended the Ravens lead to 20-10 with a 48-yard fourth-quarter field goal, but the Colts answered with a 43-yarder with six minutes to go.
Indianapolis then had a shot at a game-tying touchdown, but Stanley Jean-Baptiste hauled in an interception at the 2:49 mark. Indy’s late touchdown and failed two-point play followed.
Despite the sloppiness, it was another encouraging step for the Ravens.
