The forecast for theBaltimore Ravens calls for sun and relatively clear skies. Winning does that. There is, however, a slight chance of rain. Lamar Jackson's ankle injury is concerning for obvious reasons. The vibes are still, for the most part, high, as some might say. Again, winning tends to have that effect.
Sunday's 24-18 victory over the Tennessee Titans wasn't perfect. The Ravens committed too many penalties, failed to score in the second half, and failed to capitalize on some opportunities. Even so, they secured their first home victory of the season and improved to 3-1 before a difficult road trip to face the Atlanta Falcons.
As always after an NFL Sunday, some conversations are rooted in fact. Others are fueled by emotion. Some will prove
accurate, while others may look very different a month from now. Regardless, these are among the discussions Ravens fans are likely having after Baltimore's Week 4 victory.
The Ravens' offense may be good enough to survive if Lamar Jackson misses time
Nobody is suggesting the Ravens are a better team without Lamar Jackson. That would be ridiculous. Still, Sunday's game reminded us that Baltimore has assembled enough offensive talent to remain competitive if Jackson is forced to miss time or play at less than full strength.
Tyler Huntley entered under difficult circumstances and completed eight of nine passes while keeping the offense organized. It seems fair to reason that he'd be better prepared if the expectation was he'd be playing
The bigger takeaway wasn't Huntley's performance as much as the infrastructure around him. Derrick Henry remains one of the NFL's most reliable rushing threats. Zay Flowers continues creating explosive plays. Mark Andrews remains a trusted target, and offensive coordinator Declan Doyle appears increasingly comfortable tailoring his approach to the personnel available.
MRI results and Jackson's recovery time will determine whether this discussion matters. Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said, while speaking with the media Monday, that he doesn't expect quarterback Lamar Jackson's ankle injury to be a long-term issue. He also said he couldn't say whether Jackson would be ready for Baltimore's Sunday night game against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5.
The Ravens may have found their true center unintentionally
Sometimes football answers questions when teams aren't looking for them. The injuries to Jovaughn Gwyn and Ethan Pocic forced Vega Ioane into a role few expected. What followed may have altered Baltimore's plans moving forward.
Ioane held his own against Tennessee's defensive front,especially Jeffery Simmons. Even more encouraging was Ioane's growing and continuing ability to handle the communication responsibilities that come with playing center.
The Ravens spent months cross-training offensive linemen to prepare for moments exactly like this. Now they face an interesting question. If Ioane continues performing at this level, is there any reason to move him away from center?
Zay Flowers looks capable of earning his first All-Pro nod
The Pro Bowl conversation feels too small now. Flowers has already established himself as one of the league's most dangerous playmakers, but this season feels different. His routes look sharper. His confidence appears higher. Most importantly, defenses know where the football is going and still struggle to stop him.
His eight-catch, 118-yard performance against the Titans continued a trend that has been building for weeks. If he can maintain this standard consistently, he could produce the best season of his career.
Wide receivers cannot throw themselves the football, so much of this discussion depends on Jackson's health. Even so, Flowers looks like a player capable of entering the All-Pro conversation if his current pace continues.
The Ravens still haven't played a complete game
This might be the most important takeaway. Baltimore won by six points despite building a 24-7 halftime lead. The Ravens committed 13 penalties for 131 yards. They failed to score in the second half. Tennessee entered the final minutes with a legitimate chance to complete a comeback.
Those aren't signs of a bad football team. They are signs of a talented football team still searching for consistency. The encouraging news is that Baltimore continues finding ways to win while leaving obvious room for improvement. The concerning news is that better opponents may not be as forgiving as Tennessee was.
The Ravens will gladly accept a 3-1 record. At the same time, Sunday's victory reinforced a belief many already held. Baltimore remains one of the AFC's most talented teams, but its best football still appears to be somewhere on the horizon.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Gut reactions after Ravens survive Titans' second-half rally in Week 4
