Inconsistent Lamar: Ravens Trail Colts 10-7 at Half

The Baltimore Ravens' replacements are putting forth a respectable effort but turnovers in the second period have afforded the Indianapolis Colts a small lead at intermission.

Lamar Jackson has literally been perfect for the Baltimore Ravens in the early going but that hasn't been enough to change their fate. 

Jackson completed each of his first seven passes over the first half-hour of the Ravens' Sunday afternoon tilt against the Indianapolis Colts and also scored the first touchdown of the affair in the opening period. Indianapolis has countered with a scoring hook-up between Gardner Minshew and Zack Moss alongside a Matt Gay triple to go up 10-7 at the halftime break at M&T Bank Stadium.

Ravens (7)

PASSING: Lamar Jackson (7-of-7, 89 yards)
RUSHING: Lamar Jackson (5 carries, 31 yards, 1 TD)
RECEIVING: Mark Andrews (2 rec., 25 yards)

Colts (10)

PASSING: Gardner Minshew (14-of-20, 103 yards)
RUSHING: Zack Moss (15 carries, 70 yards)
RECEIVING: Michael Pittman Jr. (5 rec., 26 yards)

He's a Little Runaway

Tick tock, Mr. Jackson. Back in action after a literally painful early ending to last season, it has taken Jackson a few games to get his land legs back. A slow start from the Ravens' division rivals gave him some breathing space and room for error. But it's clear from Sunday's early effort that he's thinking he's back: with the Ravens' ground game sputtering after injuries to J.K. Dobbins and Justice Hill (as well as a lost Kenyan Drake fumble), Jackson perhaps partook in his most active half of the season, scoring Baltimore's first touchdown on an end-around. Everyone knew that it would take Jackson a few more games to get comfortable again ... but if it came this soon, things could get ugly real quick in the North. His fumbles, of course, leave much to be desired, but he'd likely be the first to let you know that.

Kyle Hamilton, Sir

A heartbreaking loss for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish ended with the famous gold headgear wearers putting just 10 men on the field over the final two plays against Ohio State. Perhaps they were saving a spot for Hamilton, who invaded the backfield to the tune of three sacks of Gardner Minshew (the last causing a fumble recovered by Indianapolis). Many in Baltimore have waited for Hamilton to make his mark in the traditional box score, and he's certainly fulfilling the requirement this time around: he's tops on the Ravens with nine tackles (including fourfor a loss) and has been credited with two further hits on Minshew. 

Replacements' Reckoning

Let's keep the Keanu Reeves references rolling: Hamilton's done a solid job rotating in the nickel but an offensive line missing both Tyler Linderbaum and Ronnie Stanley has forced Jackson on the run and has struggled to gain any traction for the rest of the run game. The lack of time to throw has further complicated the receiving game with Odell Beckham Jr. out, but things might get even more difficult if David Ojabo misses any extended Sunday efforts: if that's the case, newly-hatched Ravens Jadeveon Clowney and Tavius Robinson might have to get wise in a hurry.