Ravens Commanders: Lamar Jackson beats Jayden Daniels

Quarterback Lamar Jackson passed rookie sensation Jayden Daniels as the Ravens defeated the neighboring Washington Commanders 30-23 and extended their winning streak to four games on Sunday.

Jackson overcame a first-quarter interception and an early deficit at M&T Bank Stadium to finish the game 20-26 for 323 yards and a touchdown. He added nine carries for 42 yards.

Jackson led an explosive and varied passing attack in his second Battle of the Beltway. Wide receivers Zay Flowers (132 yards) and Rashod Bateman (71 yards) set season highs, combining for 13 catches on 13 targets. Tight end Mark Andrews, who failed to field the pass that Washington (4-2) intercepted on the Ravens’ first drive, also recorded a season-high, finishing with three catches for 66 yards and a touchdown.

Running back Derrick Henry ran 24 times for 132 yards and two touchdowns, helping the Ravens (4-2) win the possession battle against a Commanders offense that entered Sunday’s scoring game leading the NFL.

Daniels went 24-for-35 for 269 yards and two touchdowns, including an unlikely 6-yard score to wide receiver Terry McLaurin on fourth-and-goal, cutting the deficit to 27-20 early in the fourth quarter. The Ravens held Washington’s rushing offense, which ranked second in the NFL in yards per game, to 18 carries for 52 yards.

Kicker Justin Tucker went 3 of 3 on field goals, including a 39-yarder in the fourth quarter, extending the Ravens’ lead to double digits, 30-20.

Jackson delivers – and so do his WRs

Sometimes Lamar Jackson makes it look so easy as a passer. On Sunday he had impeccable help.

Wide receivers Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman combined for 203 yards and caught all 13 of their combined targets. The Commanders had no answer for Flowers in the first half and couldn’t slow down Bateman either. They seemed to be open whenever they wanted against an overwhelmed Commanders secondary.

Her performance won’t entirely silence the parts of the Ravens fan base that are clamoring for another weapon, but it should be a reminder of what’s possible. Give Derrick Henry too much attention, and Jackson has the talent and tools to make you pay. Ignore Henry and – well, that’s never advisable. Pray, I think.

– Jonas Shaffer, Ravens reporter

A good win indicates greatness

This was another case of how, for the most part, only the Ravens can beat themselves. Although they had a strong game overall, as the scoreboard shows, this could have been a blast. The Ravens got off to a good start, but saw their impressive drive halted by an interception. They built momentum on the next drive, but a fumble forced a field goal instead of a touchdown.

The defense also saw mistakes that ruined the good. At a critical moment at the end of the game, the Ravens made the third-down stop. However, the Commanders tried on fourth down and a pass interference by Nate Wiggins moved the chains. They ended the drive with a field goal and made the game a single point in the final minutes.

There were cases where the Commanders simply defeated the Ravens. Jayden Daniels made impressive throws that were matched by equally impressive catches. That was a really great win against a really good team. But it had the potential to be a comfortable win against a really good team. If the Ravens can tighten things up, their fans won’t have to bite their fingernails until time runs out.

– Giana Han, Ravens reporter

The difference lies in defense

This Ravens secondary needs a lot of heat, and it deserves it for many weeks. But the defense is superior to many competitors. It forced the Commanders (albeit without top running back Brian Robinson) into a one-dimensional offense. Big separations from Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins and Brandon Stephens prevented the Washington offense from gaining momentum. Jayden Daniels made some excellent shots, but also took a number of teeth-chattering hits from players like Roquan Smith and Michael Pierce.

Compare that performance to what Washington did to the Ravens offense: a whole lot of nothing. The commanders were unable to stop either the run or the pass. The biggest obstacle to the Ravens’ drives were their own mistakes (a tipped pass INT, a strange snap fumble). Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry each made a ton of explosive plays. Todd Monken had an excellent game and the Commanders suffered injuries up front. But the realization is that the commanders cannot be elite because their defense is not efficient enough. Baltimore’s defense, however, does.

—Kyle Goon, columnist

Big brother energy

Jayden Daniels looks like a budding superstar, but Lamar Jackson is the reigning Most Valuable Player.

Washington must be overjoyed by the impressive play of its rookie quarterback, who has shown why he is an early favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. But Daniels operates behind a worse offensive line than Jackson and with far fewer weapons. It’s a reminder that the Ravens’ organizational strength has helped Jackson succeed after all these years. Daniels could help the Commanders reach new heights in the next few years, but they can only strive to do what Jackson has in Baltimore.

– Paul Mancano, co-host of the Banner Ravens Podcast

A professional victory

The Ravens maintained their lead in the second half, and that’s what counts. The commanders are far from a complete team, but they have suddenly become an extremely competent team, at least on offense. That wasn’t easy.

Baltimore’s inability to block passes to the middle of the field remains concerning, one reason why I’m not entirely sure this team is a clear Super Bowl contender. On the other hand, the offense is performing at a level we have rarely seen, distributing the ball and attacking in so many ways. So it’s not that the Ravens can’t win a shootout; That’s just not a common way for championship teams from this city to operate.

—Chris Korman, editor