AFC North: Ravens use Voodoo, join Browns, Bengals on top

Ravens use Voodoo to beat Lions, 19-17

Not to take anything away from the Ravens…aw, let’s not kid ourselves! Let’s DO take a lot away from the Ravens’ win. The Lions deserved to win that game, and it took three miracles in a row for the Ravens to win. Credit the Ravens for massive heart and not giving up. But this is sheer Voodoo.

No team has done more in the face of adversity than Baltimore after losing so many star players to injury, especially since their entire is a running team, and they lost first, second, and third-string running backs to season-ending injuries. They also lost Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters, which might be the most damaging blow to their team.

Running backs J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, and Justice Hill are out for the year. Ronnie Stanley, counted on to be an All-Pro caliber left tackle, is not fully recovered from an injury sustained last season, apparently. First-round draft pick wide receiver Rashod Bateman is also on IR, as is Miles Boykin, tight end Nick Boyle, linebacker L.J. Fort, and guard Tyre Phillips.

All teams suffer injuries, but this is an abnormal number of key injuries. Logically no team can withstand this number of injuries and still win.

The Lions had the Ravens on the ropes, facing fourth and 19 at their own 16-yard line with only 26 seconds left, and the Lions ahead, 17-16.

But  Lamar Jackson hit Sammy Watkins for 36 yards.

Then Jackson spiked the ball to stop the clock, though he appeared to have done so a split second late and should have been called for a delay-of-game penalty. However, after the game, the officials explained that they watch to see the play clock go to zero and then shift their eyes to the long snapper, which automatically adds a few split seconds to the play clock. Kudos

to Kirkland Crawford over at the Detroit Free Press for getting down to the nitty-gritty, despite the emotions running high on this play. Referee Scott Novak explained to pool reporter Justin Rogers that the play appears to have been called correctly. The team attempting the field goal doesn’t have to have the ball in the air at the instant the play clock hits zero; they actually get an extra split second for the official to shift his vision from the play clock to the long snapper to see if the ball is in motion or not.

That doesn’t make anyone in Detroit or Cleveland feel any better to know that the Ravens have incredible luck. It’s just further proof that the Ravens practice Voodoo.

Having succeeded in stopping the clock. out trots Justin Tucker, who is arguably the most dangerous kicker in the history of the NFL. Dawg Pound Daily prides itself on its ability to ridicule field goal kickers, but Tucker is something else. You can never engage the Ravens in a close game because they do not even have to get to midfield. Tucker has proven he can score if they just reach their own 48-yard-line.

So that is exactly what he did. He doinked it off the crossbar from 66 yards away and broke the Lions’ fans’ hearts. Now they are sitting at 2-1 and are tied with the Browns and Bengals at 2-1.

This cannot happen forever. Baltimore, of course, has been decimated by injury but has played well so far this season, using smoke and mirrors to make up for whatever shortfalls in talent may exist. The Ravens were built to run by retired GM Ozzie Newsome, though new GM Eric DeCosta seems to have visions of converting Lamar Jackson to a pocket passer, at least to some extent, by drafting wide receivers high in the draft and signing Sammy Watkins as a free agent.

Jackson was contained through the air, held to 16 completions on 31 attempts for 287 yards with a touchdown and an interception. His passer rating was 81.0. Credit the Lions defense for playing a generally solid game and sacking Jackson four times on Sunday.

The Ravens were only so-so on the ground. Jackson led the team in rushing yards with seven carries for 58 yards and 8.29 yards per carry. The nominal ball carriers were held in check but were not terrible.

Latavius Murray had 28 yards on seven carries for 4.00 yards per carry and Ty’Son Williams and 22 yards in five attempts for 4.40 yards per carry. Overall the Ravens produced only 116 yards in 22 carries, which is 5.27 yards per carry. That’s not bad for a team down to its fourth-string running back.

There’s no scientific explanation. It’s Voodoo, pure and simple, and do not bet against them. Detroit fans, Browns fans feel your pain.

In fact, 116 rushing yards looks pretty good to the Pittsburgh Steelers, who could not run at all against the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals took them behind the tool shed and beat them up, 24-10.