Quarterback: B+
Lamar Jackson was outstanding before leaving the game late in the second quarter with a back injury. Jackson completed 7 of 10 passes for 101 yards and made multiple off-script throws after winning time. He combined with Zay Flowers for a couple of long passes in the air, and one of his three blemishes was a dropped ball. To Jackson’s relief, Tyler Huntley performed well in the second half, scoring back-to-back touchdowns at one point. Huntley completed all but 1 of his 10 pass attempts for only 65 yards, 2 of which fell on the ground.
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Running back: B+
Derrick Henry’s fumble late in the first quarter was an early negative turning point as it killed the Ravens’ momentum. They eventually rebounded enough to take a double-digit lead late in the game. Henry had rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown, but fumbled for more production after the hiccup. He totaled 128 yards on 18 carries and scored two touchdowns. Although Henry was dominant in the third quarter, he was oddly on the sidelines for the final two possessions of the game. It was a quiet night compared to the rest of the running back room. Keaton Mitchell had just 13 yards on nine carries, while Rasheen Ali had two catches for 2 yards.
Wide Receiver: B
Flowers did almost everything right all game until his final touch of the night, when he fumbled the ball with less than two minutes left. The Ravens may not have run down the field and scored the go-ahead touchdown anyway, but Flowers’ fumble sealed the loss. Flowers totaled seven catches for 84 yards and added an 18-yard rushing touchdown in the third quarter. He makes big catches and moves his stick, but dropping the ball has always been his Achilles’ heel and a costly flaw. Deandre Hopkins was outstanding, catching four passes for 41 yards and making multiple catches on third down to extend the pass. Rashod Bateman again blanked both of his targets, while Devontez Walker was held off target.
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Tight End: C
Mark Andrews was once again a minimal factor in the passing game, with just two catches for 21 yards. He also attempted a head-scratching lateral pass just before halftime that almost resulted in a costly turnover. This was ruled an illegal field goal, preventing a fumble that would have brought the Patriots within scoring range. Charlie Kolar had a nice 18 yard grab and surprisingly Isaiah Likely was not targeted. The tight ends collectively made a positive impact in the run blocking and helped create some routes for Henry.
Offensive line: B+
Aside from some frustrating opening miscues on the same offense, the Ravens’ offensive line appears to be one of the better performers in recent weeks. Jackson was not sacked in the first half, while Huntley was sacked just once in several possessions. The Patriots had five quarterback hits, but Baltimore’s pass protection was solid. Against the run, they opened lanes for Henry all night and helped create space for Flowers to find the end zone on his 18-yard touchdown run. As a team, the Ravens rushed for 171 yards and three touchdowns, averaging 5.2 yards per carry.
Defense: C+
The Ravens’ defensive line resisted the run pretty much the entire game until Lamond Stevenson broke them open with two long drives late in the fourth quarter. Stevenson’s 21-yard touchdown and 11-yard first pass catch were both stunning. Derek Meyer and Trayvon Henderson were stranded on the ground. In terms of pass rush, the Ravens defensive front did little to pressure Meyer through the interior. Travis Jones hit a quarterback, but there was a lack of significant push downfield.
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Charger: C+
Speaking of the lack of pass rush, the issue extends to edge rushers as well. The final numbers of four sacks and ten quarterback hits looked good on paper, but Meyer often had a clean pocket and had enough time to run multiple plays in a row. Dre’Mont Jones was strong again with a timely sack and two quarterback hits, and Kyle Van Noy broke up a pass attempt for what would have been a touchdown catch. The Ravens’ rushers deserve credit for playing solid run defense for most of the game, but they desperately needed more energy and disruption.
Defender: C+
Roquan Smith finished with a team-high 10 tackles and joined Trenton Simpson in making some contributions against the run. However, considering Smith’s prominent role, his lack of noteworthy performance is disappointing. Simpson suffered one sack and two tackles for loss in his starting role, while Teddye Buchanan (knee) is out for the remainder of the year. The former third-round pick made a nice open-field tackle against Henderson. The Patriots were able to complete some longer passes over the middle of the linebacker’s head. Their tight ends Hunter Henry and Austin Hooper combined for eight catches and a 69-yard touchdown.
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Cornerback: C+
Marlon Humphrey’s night started after he threw an interception on the Patriots’ opening drive. From that point on, his performance went downhill. Humphrey was beaten on a long touchdown pass from Kyle Williams on a lone reception, giving the Patriots a much-needed life in the fourth quarter. He also gave up receptions to Stefon Diggs as the primary defender on multiple occasions, and should have been called for defensive pass interference on a long pass attempt to Keyshon Boutte late on. Nate Wiggins had two passes broken up and nearly had an interception late in the game. He timed the slant break perfectly, but couldn’t pull it down, which would have given the Ravens the lead and the ball back with minutes left in the game. The Ravens will certainly be hoping to get help from Chidobe Awuzi, who is ruled out with a foot injury.
Safety: B-
Alohi Gilman had an up-and-down night, hampered by some missed tackles in the open field, but also finished with eight assists and a pass breakup. Kyle Hamilton came up with a strong interception for a fumble, stopping Henderson’s long run and his own pass breakup. Adalius Washington was involved in one of the defensive plays of the game, forcing a fumble from Meyer just before halftime. This prevented the Patriots from fielding a field goal or touchdown and taking the lead at halftime. Washington finished with two quarterback hits, a sack and a tackle for loss. Late in the game, he was beaten by Diggs on a crucial fourth-down short pass. Malachi Starks had three solo tackles on the night.
Special Teams: C+
The special teams play of this game was the Ravens crushing the Patriots’ fake punt attempt late in the third quarter, and Devontes Walker did a great job guarding the Patriots’ fake punt attempt. Other than that moment, it wasn’t a great night for the unit. Tyler Loop went deep on a 56-yard attempt in the second quarter while completing another attempt and scoring all three extra points. Jordan Stout’s two punts went 40 and 45 yards respectively.