One Baltimore Ravensgame certainly won't define a season. Every NFL fan knows that. Coaches preach it. Players repeat it. The smartest observers usually avoid sweeping conclusions after Week 1. That said, sometimes a performance leaves an impression that is hard to ignore. The Ravens looked every bit like a contender duringSunday's 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. The offense rolled up more than 500 yards. Lamar Jackson looked comfortable. Derrick Henry looked unstoppable.
The new coaching staff and its team passed its first test with flying colors. It's still early, but here are a few gut feelings and knee-jerk reactions after Baltimore's season-opening victory.
Derrick Henry can land somewhere between 1,700 and 1,800 rushing yards
After rushing for roughly 150 yards and three touchdowns in the opener, it's
difficult not to dream big. Let's be conservative and say Henry averages 100 rushing yards per game the rest of the way. That pace would put him around 1,750 yards for the season. By his standards, that's hardly an outrageous projection.
There will be tougher matchups ahead, and there will undoubtedly be afternoons when defenses slow him down. There will also be games where he completely takes over. Sunday's performance felt like a reminder that Henry remains one of the most dominant runners of his generation.
Lamar Jackson can be an MVP finalist again
That was quite a statement from Baltimore's 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 looked decisive, explosive, and fully in control of the offense.
It's also worth noting that both of his MVP seasons came while working with a new offensive coordinator. Everything we've heard about Declan Doyle suggests he understands how to maximize Jackson's strengths. If Sunday's performance is a preview of what's ahead, another MVP conversation could be waiting.
Is Declan Doyle flirting with a one-and-done season?
Every year, NFL teams search for the next offensive mastermind. Declan Doyle's offense generated more than 500 yards in its first meaningful game. The Ravens didn't play their starters in the preseason, and many of these players are still learning the system. That's the scary part.
What happens when the operation becomes even more comfortable? Here's a theory. If Baltimore continues producing at this level, Doyle's name could start appearing on future head coaching candidate lists much sooner than expected.
Do the Ravens need help at wide receiver already?
This isn't panic. It's a question worth monitoring. After a fantastic showing, Zay Flowers left the game with a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Ja'Kobi Lane exited the contest with a wrist injury and did not return.
Suddenly, what looked like a relatively thin group feels a little thinner. The Ravens have options, but they may need someone to step up quickly if either injury lingers, especially since there's something else about this corps worth noting.
Rashod Bateman remains one of the biggest unanswered questions
Bateman's lone catch was erased by a penalty. Remove that play, and he officially finished without a reception while drawing only one other target. It's far too early to overreact, especially considering Baltimore's offensive success. Still, for a player seeking a bounce-back season, this wasn't the start many envisioned.
The larger question is whether Week 1 was simply a product of circumstance or an early glimpse of Bateman's place in the pecking order. Derrick Henry touched the ball 23 times. Zay Flowers remained Lamar Jackson's most explosive weapon before leaving with an injury. The Ravens spread the football around to nine different receivers. Opportunities were always going to be limited.
Still, Bateman enters Week 2 as one of the roster's more intriguing storylines. If Flowers or Ja'Kobi Lane miss time, Baltimore may need him to assume a larger role sooner than expected.
Of course, that's the nature of Week 1. One game creates as many questions as it answers. The Ravens leave Indianapolis with a 1-0 record, a dominant offensive performance, and plenty of reasons to be optimistic. If these early impressions prove accurate, Baltimore may have left Lucas Oil Stadium with something even more valuable than a victory — evidence that this team could be every bit as dangerous as its lofty expectations suggest.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Knee-jerk reactions after Ravens' impressive offensive showing vs. Colts
