Ravens–Panthers Takeaways

With a win over the New Orleans Saints last week, the Ravens improved their record to 6-3 while continuing to lead their division, the AFC North. The Ravens then had a bye week to get some rest and prepare for their next opponent, the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers, on the other hand, have struggled this season, with a record of 3-7. It’s interesting to see that after the Panthers beat the Falcons, they decided to “say” their quarterback, PJ Walker, was injured and would be replaced by Baker Mayfield for the upcoming game against the Ravens. Why? One reason could be that the Panthers’ organization believed that Mayfield would give them the best chance of beating the Ravens, because he’s had the most overall success against them.

Let’s be honest, the Ravens–Panthers’ game was not very exciting. At halftime, the score was a dismal 3-0 Ravens. The Ravens’ running offense struggled most of the game, which basically hindered their entire offense. Luckily, their defense looked great, achieving multiple sacks and two interceptions. There was only one play where the Panthers gained significant yards, but otherwise the Ravens held the Panthers in check. On the other hand, the Panthers’ defense also deserves credit. They were able to stall the Ravens’ run game, the only team able to do so effectively this season. 

With the upcoming game against the Jacksonville Jaguars this Sunday, hopefully the Ravens’ running offense can bounce back and push with the strong, unstoppable run game they’ve had most of the season. As long as the defense continues to play the way they have toward the second half of the season, the Ravens could log in another win and become a serious contender for the Playoffs this season.