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Playing their second road game in as many weeks, Baltimore was looking to recover after a stinging Week 1 defeat at the hands of the Browns when Justin Tucker missed a game-tying, 43-yard FG with :02 on the clock. The Ravens didn't have to wait long as their game against the Colts in Indy was decided rather quickly.
After returning the opening kick-off to the 27, Baltimore marched downfield against the Colts, passing on only one of their seven plays - a 30 yard completion from QB Lamar Jackson to RB Justin Jackson that gave the Ravens a first down on the Colt 5. From there, RB JK Dobbins carried the rock twice, the second being a 6 yard TD. Justin Tucker's PAT was true. Baltimore 7-0.
Indy chose not to return the KO and took the ball at their own 25. QB Nick Foles called a play action in hopes of baiting the Raven LBs into covering the run, then hitting a slanting WR for a big gain on first down. DL Quinnen Williams had other ideas and put the heat on Foles, who had to dump the ball off to RB Gabe Nabors. Before the ball got there however, Raven CB Marcus Peters sniffed it out and stole the ball right out of the air. Six plays later (5 run and 1 pass), RB Josh Adams hit paydirt. Tucker's PAT was straight again. Baltimore, 14-0.
Indy KR KJ Osborne chose to return this KO and took it in 3 yards deep. Raven Isaiah Rogers met him at the 20 head-on. Osborne coughed up the ball and Quinnen Williams, of all people, recovered the pigskin. Ravens ball on the Indy 20.
Barely catching their collective breath, the Ravens O was back out on the field. All Lamar Jackson could do was look at WR Marquis "Hollywood" Brown and smile and they knew what to do. Hut-Hut...slant...and Brown was gone. 20 yard TD. Baltimore, 21-0 and Indy had run only one play from scrimmage.
On the ensuing possession, Indy cautiously handed the ball to RB Jonathan Taylor three straight times, but only gained 7 yards. Coach Dustin Wienke noticed the dark clouds collecting overhead when P Rigoberto Sanchez prepared to punt. Like a lightning bolt Raven Marlon Humphrey raced around the edge and blocked the punt. Teammate Yannick Ngakoue recovered on the Indy 20 with 2:38 left in the 1st quarter!
Throttling back, Baltimore ran the ball three times, gained 8 yards and trotted Justin Tucker out to boot a 30-yard FG. Baltimore 24-0/b with :18 remaining in the opening quarter.
Baltimore scored again 5 minutes before the half and Indy managed to get into FG range on the back of Taylor who ran four times for 38 yards. Jake Elliott booted a 39-yard FG to make it 31-3 Ravens at the half.
The teams played out the second half with few fans in the stands. Most were on their way home when Taylor scored Indy's first TD of the season, a 3-yard dive early in the 4th, but Baltimore countered with a 49-yard Tucker FG after the teams exchanged turnovers.
FINAL SCORE: BALTIMORE 34, INDIANAPOLIS 10
In the end, the numbers, outside of the final score, were remarkably even. First downs were even at 13. Indy outgained Baltimore 251 yards to 223. Baltimore held a slight edge in rushing yards 133 to 122 while Indy's Nick Foles out paced Baltimore's Lamar Jackson through the air, 127 yards on 15 of 25 compared to 87 on 8 for 11. As could be expected, turnovers were instrumental with the Colts giving it to the Ravens 4 times and the Ravens giving it to the Colts only once.
Baltimore (1-1) heads home to host the Seahawks (1-1) in Week 3. The early line say this one is even.
Indianapolis (0-2) heads to Cleveland (1-1) in Week 3 where the Browns are 6 point favorites.
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