Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens Run to Blowout Victory Over Seattle Seahawks
Justice was served. The Gus bus drove. Keaton Mitchell made it a family business.
Where there was a narrative, there was a way. More importantly, there was yardage.
The Baltimore Ravens' latest statement victory, a 37-3 shellacking of the then-NFC West-leading Seattle Seahawks was a literal runaway effort. Ravens running backs accumulated 298 yards and three scores with the undrafted rookie Mitchell leading the way with 138, needing only nine attempts to get there.
Yet another warning to the rest of the league perhaps no better messenger than Mitchell, the son of one of the Ravens' original champions in 2000. In Charm City lore, Mitchell's father Anthony is best known for his momentum-shifting scoring return of a blocked field goal in the AFC Divisional round victory in Tennessee. Three weeks later, the elder Mitchell earned a Super Bowl ring by partaking in the 34-7 dismantling of the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV.
"He's been raised the right way. He's a football family kid. He's a player's son and he has an amazing family," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said in the aftermath, per Ryan Mink of the official team site. "He's humble. He works hard. He knows how hard it is. (He) doesn't take anything for granted, and he doesn't get too frustrated with the injuries and things like that. He just fights through it every single day, and then (to) see it pay off for him is great."
For the time being, Sunday is the culmination of the junior Mitchell's eventful maiden voyage in the NFL after lingering in the team's system after joining as an undrafted rookie out of East Carolina. Early injuries in the Baltimore rushing room granted him an awkward, if not exciting, opportunity.
With Baltimore (7-2) looking for new avenues of mastery with another NFC division leader in town, they let Mitchell loose on Sunday. All but two of his 10 touches (nine carries and a reception) went for at least eight yards, including a scoring burst from 40 away that more or less sealed Seattle's fate. It was also the first official tally of his fledgling NFL career, making the Mitchells the first father-son duo to score six in Baltimore.
Not to be outdone, Mitchell set up the Ravens' most emotional score of the afternoon when he went 60 yards to set the offense up at the cusp of the red zone. Six plays later, backup quarterback Tyler Huntley found Odell Beckham Jr. for his first score in purple on his birthday.
While descending from niche Ravens royalty, Mitchell appears to left his own signature on his teammates, particularly those that have danced the undrafted mambo.
"I think everyone saw it from the very beginning," one of his blockers, Patrick Mekari, said. "Just how he holds himself, how he runs, he's hungry. Being an undrafted free agent too and seeing him do so well and seeing the fans be all about him, it's very cool, very well deserved."
Mitchell was far from the only rusher who penned the Seahawks' demise: two of Gus Edwards' five carries reached the end zone on a 52-yard day while Justice Hill ate away at the clock with 40 on 13 tries. Quarterback Lamar Jackson also had a chance to showcase his dual talents, strengthening his potential MVP case with 60 yards to accompany 187 in the air.
The final tally of 298 yards was good for the fourth-best rushing outing in Ravens franchise history. A pair of merciful Huntley kneels was the one thing that kept Baltimore away from the triple-century mark last earned when they put up a record 404 in the 2020-21 regular season closer against Cincinnati.
Baltimore's next speedy showcase is scheduled for next Sunday when they return to divisional affairs against the Cleveland Browns.
