The Ravens held on to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 13-12, in their second preseason game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Here are my five thoughts from the game:
Josh Johnson Tossed a Perfect Game
Johnson has an important role as Lamar Jackson's backup, and this performance showed why the coaching staff has displayed trust in him.
Johnson went 11-of-11 in the first half for 120 yards and a touchdown, and his experience and poise were on display. Eight different players caught passes from Johnson, who looked much sharper than the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles when he was just 4-of-12 for 62 yards.
His most impressive throw was a pinpoint 31-yard completion to Tylan Wallace on a crossing pattern that set up first-and-goal at the 6-yard line. Three plays later, running back Owen Wright caught a pass from Johnson and stretched into the end zone for a touchdown that gave Baltimore a 7-3 lead.
Preseason work is important for Johnson, who can't count on getting consistent practice reps once the season begins. But if Jackson is sidelined at any point, the Ravens can't ask Johnson to look better than he did against Atlanta.
"It happened to just be that day was a rough day. But we got another opportunity," Johnson said. "We moved on past it and we improved. And now we're going to stack."
David Ojabo, Other Young OLBs Flash in Game Action
While David Ojabo wasn't credited with a tackle, he had a quarterback hit and a few strong rushes. It was his first game action since being cleared for contact during his recovery from last year's season-ending knee injury.
The third-year outside linebacker has been missed most of his first two seasons due to injuries, but he's becoming more of a presence as the season draws closer. This game could be another step in Ojabo's potential to become part of the outside linebacker rotation, particularly as a pass rusher.
The Falcons pulled to within 13-12 during the game's final minute, but linebacker Tavius Robinson's tackle thwarted Atlanta's two-point conversion attempt.
The second-year outside linebacker flew into the backfield and corralled Jase McClellan almost before he ever got started. After playing all 17 games as a rookie with 335 defensive snaps, it would not be surprising to see Robinson earn even more playing time in 2024.
"I went straight to the running back to make the play there," Robinson said. "Confidence kind of grows every day. It's been good camp. When I'm on the field, I'm always trying to run to the ball like I'm the one making the play."
The Ravens were also encouraged by what they saw from rookie outside linebacker Adisa Isaac before he left the game with cramps. Isaac missed most of the offseason due to a hamstring injury, so he's still building up his conditioning.
Starting Offensive Line Is Still Not Etched in Stone
Andrew Vorhees (left guard), Daniel Faalele (right guard) and Roger Rosengarten (right tackle) started and saw significant action. That may indicate that they are the favorites to start Week 1, however Head Coach John Harbaugh wanted to evaluate the film before making any declarations.
Vorhees was beaten for a third-down sack on the Ravens' opening drive. The Ravens averaged just 2.4 yards per carry on the ground, and starting running back Owen Wright had eight carries for nine yards.
Patrick Mekari started at center with Pro Bowler Tyler Linderbaum not playing. However, Ben Cleveland made a major mistake when he sent an errant snap past Johnson, who wasn't expecting the ball to be snapped, and resulted in a turnover.
Cleveland may still be the favorite to be the backup center, but Harbaugh, new Offensive Line Coach George Warhop, and the entire staff will have plenty to weigh as they decide on the offensive line pecking order.
"You've got to go back and watch the tape," Harbaugh said. "There were some good plays and some bad plays."
Undrafted Rookies Are Shining
It was a strong game for three undrafted rookies – quarterback Emory Jones, wide receiver Dayton Wade and safety Beau Brade.
Wade and Jones hooked up for a third-quarter touchdown they'll long remember. After a stop-and-go move that froze Falcons cornerback Anthony Johnson, Wade exploded downfield and hauled in a beautiful toss from Wade. While Wade has made himself noticed during training camp, he and Jones are both longshots to make the 53-man roster.
However, Wade (two catches, 67 yards) has led the Ravens in receiving yards in both preseason games. If he continues to make plays, it will only help his chances to find a landing spot in the NFL somewhere.
Meanwhile, Brade led the defense with eight tackles and nearly made a diving interception after a strong few weeks of training camp. The University of Maryland product is making the most of his opportunity.
Extra Points
- The Ravens didn't have a sack but Pepe Williams, Trenton Simpson, Brent Urban, and Ojabo had quarterback hits.
- Deonte Harty, who is expected to be the Ravens' primary returner, saw his first preseason action, averaging 11.0 yards on two kickoff returns. Harbaugh said Harty wouldn't have brought those kickoffs out in a real game.
- Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo missed three field goals. Eagles kicker Jake Elliott missed a field goal and extra point last week. The Ravens can hope opponents' kicking woes continue in the regular season.
- Former Ravens linebacker Matthew Judon, who was traded from the New England Patriots to the Falcons this week, exchanged greetings with numerous Ravens before the game including Mark Andrews, Marcus Willliams and Marlon Humphrey.
