The Baltimore Ravens’ multifaceted hurrying assault, which drove the NFL a year ago by almost 1,000 yards, was delayed to get moving in the principal half against the Houston Texans.
Regardless. Imprint Ingram, quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Ravens beat away at Houston after halftime and fled with a 33-16 triumph.
“We knew we left some stuff out there,” Ingram said. “We didn’t run the ball much in the first half but I just told the backs to stay on point.”
Jackson tossed for 204 yards and a score and had 54 yards hurrying as the Ravens increased 230 yards on the ground to Houston’s 51. Ingram ran for a TD and Baltimore included a score guard.
The triumph is Baltimore’s fourteenth in a row in the customary season, the longest streak in the NFL since Carolina won 18 of every a column in 2014-15.
The Ravens (2-0) were up by 10 right off the bat in the final quarter when Ingram took an immediate snap on fourth-and-1 and ran 30 yards to the end zone to make it 30-13.
“That’s something we’ve been practicing for many weeks now,” coach John Harbaugh said. “We’ve gotten a lot of reps on it. Of course, Mark executed it really well. … That was a turning point in the game. It gave us a little breathing space.”
Ingram punched and roundhouse-kicked an image of Houston’s mascot on the divider in the end zone to praise the score that was the knockout blow.
“We feel like we have the best backfield in the league. We just try to prove that, week in, week out,” Ingram said.
Baltimore had 186 yards surging in the subsequent half.
“We finished the game strong,” Harbaugh said. “I thought our guys holding onto the ball was a big part of the game.”
The Ravens fabricated a 20-10 halftime lead with the assistance of a mishandle return for a score in the second quarter by L.J. Fortification.
Deshaun Watson tossed for 275 yards and a score, yet additionally tossed a capture attempt and was sacked multiple times and hit 13 different occasions for the Texans (0-2), who played their home opener without fans on account of the Covid pandemic.
“We’ve got to get better,” Houston coach Bill O’Brien said. “We’ve got a long way to go and a short time to do it.”
Watson has lost two games in his NFL profession by in excess of 14 focuses and them two have been to Jackson and the Ravens, who overwhelmed Houston 41-7 last season.
“It’s never good to be 0-2,” Watson said. “No one likes to lose. At least I don’t like to lose (but) you can’t get discouraged. It’s a long year.”
The Ravens were up 3-0 when Houston pulled out all the stops on fourth-and-1 from its 34 late in the primary quarter. Watson’s pass was fragmented, giving the Ravens a short field.
Four plays later, Jackson discovered Patrick Ricard for a 1-yard score to stretch out the lead to 10-0.
The Texans slice the lead to three when Watson associated with Darren Fells on a 10-yard score pass. That score was set up by Brandin Cooks’ 38-yard gathering two plays prior.
The Ravens included a field objective before Keke Coutee made a short gathering and Marlon Humphrey took the ball out of his hands. Fortress scooped it up and ran 22 yards for a score to make it 20-7 with around five minutes left in the primary half.
Houston’s next drive likewise finished with a turnover when Marcus Peters made a plunging block attempt.
Jackson was sacked twice on Baltimore’s next drive and the Ravens needed to punt. The Texans included a field objective as time lapsed to slice the lead to 20-10 at halftime.
Baltimore included a field objective halfway through the second from last quarter and the Texans slice the lead to 10 with a field objective right off the bat in the fourth before Ingram’s score.
Injuries
Ravens: CB Tavon Young harmed his knee in the main quarter and didn’t return. Harbaugh said after the game that his physical issue seems, by all accounts, to be season-finishing.
Texans: FB Cullen Gillaspia left the game in the subsequent half to be assessed for a blackout and didn’t return.
Protests
O’Brien, Watson and a few different Texans stooped during “The Star-Spangled Banner” after the group decided to remain in the storage space while the song of praise was played in the season opener. Numerous Ravens players likewise stooped during the song of praise.
Watt a game
Houston protective end J.J. Watt had two sacks to give him 26 multi-sack games in his vocation, which is the most in the NFL since 2011. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year likewise hit Jackson three different occasions and smacked down one of his goes in the final quarter.
“It’s good to get sacks, but I prefer wins,” Watt said.
Ejected
Houston newbie guarded tackle Ross Blacklock got a superfluous harshness punishment late in the final quarter and was shot out. Watt was solicited what he thought from the youngster’s slip-up
“It was an inept play,” Watt said. “It was childish … what’s more, it’s idiotic.”
Up Next
The Ravens have Kansas City on Monday, Sept. 28.
Houston visits Pittsburgh next Sunday.