New York Jets vs Baltimore Ravens: How Gang Green beat Joe Flacco in NFL Week 7 24-16
The New York Jets defeated the Baltimore Ravens 24-16 in NFL Week 7. Gang Green improves to 2-5 in the AFC East. How did Todd Bowles beat John Harbaugh at Met Life Stadium?
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Ravens Head Into The Bye Pretty Banged Up « CBS Baltimore The banged-up Baltimore Ravens are limping into their bye week, while the New York Jets’ quarterback situation is still in flux. |
| Source: baltimore.cbslocal.com/2016/10/24/ravens-head-into-the-bye-pretty-banged-up/ | |
After David Johnson ran over them on 22 carries for 111 yards on Monday Night Football in Week 6, the New York Jets needed to improve their play. Not only did the Arizona Cardinals gash them for 171 total rushing yards but the defensive line had no pass rush against Carson Palmer. Muhammad Wilkerson, Sheldon Richardson and Leonard Williams took on quarterback Joe Flacco and running back Terrance West.
The New York Jets Defensive Line
The Jets were without Muhammad Wilkerson because he was inactive for the NFL game because of an ankle injury. Without the Pro Bowl defensive end by their side, Sheldon Richardson, Leonard Williams and defensive tackle Steve McLendon had to step up.
Going into the matchup against the Jets, RB Terrance West had run for 113, 95 & 87 rushing yards the last 3 weeks. As Baltimore’s featured back, he was averaging 20 carries per game. From the 1st series, Gang Green set the tone by tackling West near the line of scrimmage. The Ravens continued to run the football but to no avail. In the 2nd quarter, Terrance went up the middle from the Ravens 39 yard line on 1st down only to be brought down behind the line of scrimmage by Richardson for a 3 yard loss. At the end of the day, the Jets stopped Baltimore’s ground game and held West to 10 total rushing yards.
With the Ravens running game in check, New York turned to pressure Joe Flacco. Since West was not able to get any yards on 1st down because of the stout run defense from the Jets DL, Flacco constantly faced 2nd down & long and 3rd down & long. In the 1st quarter on 2nd down & 10, Sheldon beat the guard John Urschel to take down Joe for a 9 yard loss. The QB hurries kept on coming.
In the 3rd quarter, Flacco faced 2nd down & 13 after Richardson tackled West behind the line of scrimmage. Within seconds of snapping the football, the Jets DL was bearing down on Joe and he quickly threw the ball to his receiver Breshad Perriman. Cornerback Buster Skrine intercepted the pass at midfield and returned it near Baltimore’s endzone. From the Ravens 24 yard line in the 3rd quarter, the QB once again faced 3rd down & 10, with the pass rush coming. Knowing Darrelle Revis’ struggles covering against the deep passes in 2016, Flacco challenged Revis and heaved a long throw to Perriman but safety Marcus Gilchrist stepped in front, intercepted it at the 50 yard line and returned it to the Ravens 26 yard line.
By the end of the 3rd quarter, Gang Green’s defensive line were dominating the offensive line of Baltimore. On the next series, Baltimore began the drive inside their own 10 yard line. DT Steve McLendon pushed the center Jeremy Zuttah backwards, causing Zuttah to trip Joe as he was handing the ball off to RB Terrance. As the QB fell over his center’s leg onto the ground, he got sacked by the Jets. The continuous pressure from New York’s DL finally got to Flacco’s head.
In the 4th quarter from the Ravens 17 yard line on 3rd down & 11, he took the snap from the center. Leonard Williams broke through the right tackle, which the QB saw coming. He quickly released the football to his tight end Dennis Pitta but instead of throwing it to his teammate’s chest, Flacco threw the pass at Pitta’s feet. Joe was more concerned about not getting sacked by Leonard rather than completing the pass to his receiver. The phantom pass rush from New York’s DL was already in the QB’s mind.
After getting embarrassed by the Arizona Cardinals and David Johnson’s 3 touchdowns, Gang Green stopped the Baltimore Ravens run game. Not only did the New York Jets contain Terrance West but Sheldon Richardson, Leonard Williams and Steve McLendon were always harassing Joe Flacco. All the pass rush in his face caused the QB to commit turnovers and give the Jets great field position. With Richardson, Williams and McLendon dominating the trenches, the Ravens and their offensive line were overmatched.
