The Baltimore Ravens could spend the next several days focusing on the mistakes followingtheir 41-23 Week 1 win over the Indianapolis Colts. They probably will. That's the type of team they are. All we've heard this offseason is how focused they are on the details.
There were penalties, and a lot of them. There were a few missed opportunities. They'll need to monitor injuries as they look ahead. Any coaching staff can find teaching points after reviewing film. The bigger takeaway, however, is how many encouraging signs Baltimore showed.
Week 1 is often about finding answers. The Ravens left Lucas Oil Stadium with several reasons to believe their revamped operation is heading in the right direction.
144 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Derrick Henry
The Ravens wanted to remain a physical football
team despite changes to the coaching staff. Derrick Henry helped reinforce that identity immediately. He carried the ball 23 times for 144 yards while scoring three touchdowns. In total, Baltimore piled up 202 rushing yards as a team.
Henry and the rushing attack consistently controlled the tempo and wore down theColts as the afternoon progressed. When the Ravens needed to finish drives, they handed the ball to Henry. More often than not, he rewarded that trust, and here's the great news. A great rushing attack travels well.
Lamar Jackson posts a 124.2 passer rating.
The Ravens could not have asked for much more from their franchise quarterback. Jackson completed 17 of 25 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown while adding 40 rushing yards and another score on the ground. He finished with a 124.2 passer rating and looked comfortable operating Declan Doyle's offense throughout the afternoon.
Most importantly, Jackson controlled the game. He delivered explosive plays when they were available and avoided the mistakes that let opponents hang around. He looked like 'prime Lamar Jackson', which is encouraging given how this offense is still figuring things out.
So many weapons
One of the biggest questions entering the season centered on how Baltimore would distribute touches among its skill players. The early answer appears to be: everyone. Nine different receivers caught at least one pass from Jackson.
Zay Flowers delivered another explosive performance, but he was hardly the only contributor. The Ravens consistently moved the football by spreading opportunities throughout the offense, making it difficult for Indianapolis to focus on any one player.
An outstanding performance from the Ravens' new play callers
Declan Doyle's offense generated 41 points and more than 500 total yards. Jesse Minter's defense was equally impressive. Baltimore finished with two sacks, nine quarterback hits, an interception, six tackles for loss, four pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
The Colts converted only three of 10 third-down attempts and failed on their lone fourth-down try. For a coaching staff making its regular-season debut together, it was a strong opening statement.
The Ravens dominated time of possession and won the turnover battle
Winning football often comes down to controlling possessions and avoiding mistakes. Baltimore did both. The Ravens held the ball for 35:20 compared to Indianapolis' 24:40 and finished plus-one in the turnover margin.
Those advantages helped keep pressure on the Colts throughout the afternoon and prevented any serious comeback attempt from gaining traction. The Ravens will need to make corrections before Week 2 arrives. There always are. But if the Ravens were looking for a foundation to build upon, they left Indianapolis with plenty of it.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: 5 building blocks from Ravens' Week 1 win over the Colts
