Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens Lead Detroit Lions 28-0 at Halftime

The Baltimore Ravens amplified their championship case with a sterling first half against the surging Detroit Lions.

Detroit, rocked city.

Behind touchdowns on each of their first four possessions, the Baltimore Ravens have tamed the NFC-leading Detroit Lions, leading a darkhorse Super Bowl preview 28-0 on Sunday afternoon at M&T Bank Stadium.

Lamar Jackson is responsible for three of the four scores, finding Nelson Agholor and Mark Andrews for aerial tallies while running one in alongside Gus Edwards.

Ravens (28)

PASSING: Lamar Jackson (17-of-21, 255 yards, 2 TD)
RUSHING: Gus Edwards (6 carries, 38 yards, 1 TD)
RECEIVING: Zay Flowers (4 rec., 75 yards)

Lions (0)

PASSING: Jared Goff (11-of-18, 99 yards)
RUSHING: Jahmyr Gibbs (3 carries, 9 yards)
RECEIVING: Amon-Ra St. Brown (4 rec., 32 yards)

Red Back From the Dead

With a single catch, Billy Madison warned a group of first-graders that they were all in "big, big trouble." Did the Ravens just do it with two?

After relying on Justin Tucker for an encouraging yet troubling six successful attempts last weekend in London, the Ravens earned touchdowns on each of their first four red zone entries. One obviously would like to see more sustained red zone success but doing it against the roar of the Lions' defense is an encouraging sign and could help Baltimore creep into the conversation concerning the AFC's elite. 

MV-QB?

If things keep up the way they're going, debate will certainly surface over whether Sunday's game says more about Baltimore and Detroit. While the Lions were maybe offered a chance to realize that they still have a lot to learn, Jackson's work is proving worthy of an MVP crusade. 

The Ravens' body of work when Jackson's hurt speaks for itself, but Jackson's contributions in all areas of the box score continue to be inspiring. Sunday's offensive diversity is particularly intriguing: the opening half-hour alone saw eight Ravens reach the receiving department, with Zay Flowers and Odell Beckham's breakouts being particularly reassuring.

Mended Defense

The best thing one can say about the Ravens' defense is that they've hardly been noticeable ... it's hard to do that when you're on the field for a mere nine snaps by the midway mark of the second quarter. 

Even with Marcus Williams sidelined, Baltimore has flown to the occasion, placing pressure on the surging Jared Goff, stuffing the rushing lanes, and denying a chance for touted rookie Jahmyr Gibbs to find any sort of desirable rhythm. Arthur Maulet has been particularly impressive, once again showcasing an uncanny backfield-invading ability and covering Amon-Ra St. Brown on a desperate fourth down attempt by Detroit to flip momentum.