Ravens Fall Short of Rushing Record
BALTIMORE — The Indianapolis Colts managed to halt the Ravens' high-powered running attack, becoming the first team in more than three years to hold Baltimore to under 100 yards rushing.
As a result, the Ravens also fell short of an NFL record, but still stunned the Colts 31-25 in overtime on a record-setting night by quarterback Lamar Jackson. Baltimore finished with 72 yards on 22 carries.
The Ravens will remain tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers (1974 to 1977) for the most consecutive games with 100 or more yards rushing at 43,
It was also the first time the Ravens did not for 100 yards or more since Jackson has been the starting quarterback.
However, Jackson became the first quarterback in NFL history to complete 85% of his passes in a 400-yard game. He recorded the highest completion percentage in a 40-pass game in NFL history (86.0%). Jackson went 37 of 43 with a franchise record 442 yards with four touchdowns. He threw the game-winning score 5-yard pass to Marquise Brown with 5:25 left in overtime. Jackson had one of the greatest performances in franchise history.
"Like I’ve said, it’s not a narrative that we’re thinking about," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. "We’re trying to win the next game whatever way we can. We didn’t doubt that we could throw the ball. We didn’t doubt any of our guys’ ability to make plays in the passing game.
"We’re just trying to be as good as we can be from one week to the next. We have to get better next week; these guys know it. We have to keep improving.”
The Ravens created a controversy when they tied the record
Jackson got Baltimore over the 100-yard rushing mark on the last play of the game in a 23-7 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 4. With the game in hand, the Ravens could have easily taken a knee, but Jackson ran for five yards to keep the streak alive.
Harbaugh defended the decision and said that streak is important to his players and coaches.
“One hundred percent my call,” Harbaugh said. “That’s one of those things that are meaningful. As a head coach, you have to be mindful of your players and your coaches and what it means to them.”
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey is not an active participant in the steak, but he is still proud of the record.
"It was really cool. I think it’s just such a big testament to … Kind of like ‘Harbs’ [head coach John Harbaugh] said, there’s been so many different O-lines, this guy goes down, that guy goes down, and it just hasn’t fell off. It’s crazy to do that," Humphrey said. "Our O-line, and ‘Joe D’ [offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris], ‘G Ro’ [offensive coordinator Greg Roman] – it’s just a big testament to that.”
