Baltimore Ravens Passing Game Overshadowing Stellar Run Game, Says NFL Insider

All eyes have been on the Baltimore Ravens' passing attack, but NFL Insider Mike Garafolo says the running game is still just as potent.

Much of the season has been focused on the Baltimore Ravens' new-look pass-centric offense under Todd Monken, and rightly so, but the staple of Ravens' offenses in previous years is still producing.

Under former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, the Ravens were a run-heavy offense and, at times, were borderline unstoppable. But now, with the focus on getting Baltimore into a more pass-orientated system under Monken, some might be overlooking that the running game is still just as potent as ever.

With so much attention on the passing game, NFL Insider Mike Garafolo is reminding everyone that the Ravens' run game is one of the best in the NFL.

“We talked so much about what Todd Monken was going to do with this passing game, and we certainly saw that on display on Sunday, but we probably didn’t spend enough time talking about how they’re still the Baltimore Ravens,” Garafolo said on The Insiders.

“What does that mean? [They’re] Going to run the football effectively, they have yet to be held under 100 yards as a team in any game this season. They are still the Baltimore Ravens, and they are still going to play fundamentally sound football.”

Looking at the stats, Garafolo is right.

Through seven games, the Ravens are averaging 145.0 rushing yards per game, which ranks third in the NFL. Conversely, Baltimore ranks 18th for passing yards per game (230.0), but the offense averages 8.0 yards per play, which ranks third.

So, while the passing game gets on the highlight shows, the Ravens' biggest strength again appears to be the running game.

Current AFC Player of the Week Lamar Jackson leads the team in rushing yards (363), followed by Gus Edwards (346) and Justice Hill (196). Collectively, the trio has accounted for 10 rushing touchdowns through seven games.

Additionally, the Ravens have the second-highest rushing yard total in the NFL (1,015) behind only the Miami Dolphins (1,136) through seven games.

Many fixate on Monken's vertical passing game, but what makes the Ravens go is still their vaunted running game.