Final, Ravens 37-20: The Baltimore Ravens knocked the Patriots from the ranks of the unbeaten Sunday night, using their top-ranked rushing offense to pound New England’s defense into submission en route to a 37-20 victory at M&T Bank Stadium.
The Ravens rushed for 211 yards in the win and recovered from a third-quarter lull to close out the game with two eight-plus minute touchdown drives. Baltimore’s defense also scored on a 70-yard fumble return touchdown and hassled Tom Brady throughout the evening.
One silver lining for the Patriots was the performance of recently acquired receiver Mohamed Sanu, who caught 10 passes on 14 targets for 81 yards and a touchdown in a losing effort.
New England, which fell to 8-1, now enters its bye week. The Patriots will visit the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11.
Fourth quarter, 3:12, Ravens 37-20: Two costly Patriots penalties — offsides on Dont’a Hightower and illegal hands to the face on Jason McCourty — wiped away third-down stops, extending another time-consuming Ravens drive.
This drive produced what should be the game-sealing touchdown, with Lamar Jackson wriggling his way into the end zone from one yard out.
The Ravens have racked up 213 rushing yards tonight — the most by any Patriots opponent since the New York Jets put up 218 in 2014 — and the Patriots have possessed the ball for just 2:07 in this fourth quarter.
Fourth quarter, 12:47, Ravens 30-20: A desperation heave to Mohamed Sanu on third down landed in the arms of Earl Thomas for a Ravens interception. Sanu never touched Thomas after he caught the ball, allowing the veteran safety to stand up and gain 24 extra yards for Baltimore.
Tom Brady, who nearly had a different pass picked off two plays earlier, absorbed a massive hit from Matthew Judon as he released the ball, continuing a theme that’s persisted for much of the night.
Fourth quarter, 14:54, Ravens 30-20: The Ravens’ offense has reawakened.
After three consecutive drives to nowhere to close out the first half, Baltimore drove 86 yards in 14 plays to take a 10-point lead seconds into the fourth quarter.
Earlier in the drive, the Ravens converted on fourth-and-4 — getting away with borderline offensive pass interference in the process — and picked up another first down a remarkable scramble by Jackson.
Jackson also moved the chains on third down with this pretty completion to Mark Andrews:
A rare missed extra point by Justin Tucker — just the second of his career — kept this a 10-point game.
Third quarter, 8:03, Ravens 24-20: The Ravens’ defense seems to be tiring, and the Patriots are taking advantage.
The Patriots responded to Baltimore’s fumble return touchdown with an 11-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by James White.
White carried the ball on six of the final seven plays of the drive, including runs of 6, 7 and 8 yards.
Third quarter, 12:21, Ravens 24-13: Talk about a momentum swing.
The Patriots were in the midst of a productive drive to open the second half (completions of 11 yards and 15 yards to Mohamed Sanu and 9 yards and 7 yards to Julian Edelman) when Edelman had the ball jarred from his grasp while he was fighting for extra yardage. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey recovered and returned the fumble 70 yards for a Ravens touchdown.
The touchdown snapped a streak of 13 consecutive points scored by the Patriots.
Halftime, Ravens 17-13: The Ravens will enter the locker room with a four-point advantage after the Patriots got another chip-shot field goal by Nick Folk in the final seconds of the first half.
Folk’s successful boot, this one a 19-yarder, came after two superb catches by Julian Edelman and James White.
White nearly scored on the play before Folk’s kick but was ruled down just shy of the goal line.
The Patriots’ defense has shown clear improvement since the Ravens’ third touchdown (29 total yards and a fumble on the last three meaningful drives). Their offensive line now must find a more effective way of protecting Tom Brady. Brady was hit 12 times in the first half, more than they allowed in seven of their first full games this season. New England’s single-game season-high in that department is nine allowed QB hits in Week 5 against the Redskins.
It’ll be Patriots ball to begin the second half.
Second quarter, 1:43, Ravens 17-10: The Ravens punted after Adam Butler swatted down a pass on third down. The Patriots take over with 1:43 left in the first half and a chance to tie the game. (They’ll also get the second-half kickoff, for what it’s worth.)
Second quarter, 3:36, Ravens 17-10: As rough as their start was, the Patriots trail by just one score with 3:41 remaining in the first half.
Nick Folk converted his first field-goal attempt as a Patriot after Earl Thomas broke up a pass to Julian Edelman at the goal line. New England’s defense helped set up the score by forcing a fumble on the previous Ravens possession. Kyle Van Noy did the honors on that one, with Lawrence Guy — who’s made several plays in this first half — recovering.
Guard Shaq Mason was called for holding during the brief scoring drive — the Patriots’ fifth penalty of the game. The Ravens have yet to be flagged.
Second quarter, 7:24, Ravens 17-7: Penalties for intentional grounding on Tom Brady and offensive holding on Marshall Newhouse put the Patriots in a third-and-25 hole, and the Patriots punted after a Rex Burkhead fumble on third down was overturned.
Justin Bethel, who’s been excellent tonight, helped pin the Patriots pin the Ravens at their own 6-yard line.
Second quarter, 10:21, Ravens 17-7: New England followed its first touchdown with by far its best defensive series of the night. The Patriots forced a three-and-out, stopping Lamar Jackson for harmless 2-yard gains on first and third down.
Cornerback Jonathan Jones appeared to be spying Jackson on third down. He and Dont’a Hightower teamed up to drop him for a short gain.
Second quarter, 12:02, Ravens 17-7: The Patriots are on the board thanks to one old friend and one new one.
Baltimore initially forced New England’s third consecutive three-and-out, but former Patriot Cyrus Jones muffed Jake Bailey’s punt. Former Raven Justin Bethel recovered, giving the Patriots new life.
Tom Brady proceeded to pick up 16 yards on a screen pass to James White, then found Mohamed Sanu in the end zone for the veteran wideout’s first touchdown catch as a Patriot.
New England employed a bunch formation to create traffic on the touchdown play, with tight end Ben Watson bowling over cornerback Jimmy Smith to help clear space for Sanu to slide into the flat. Ravens coach John Harbaugh was furious after the play, seemingly arguing that Watson had committed offensive pass interference, but replays showed he initiated contact with Smith within the 1-yard limit.
Second quarter, 14:06, Ravens 17-0: Three plays, 77 yards, one touchdown for the rampaging Ravens.
Fifty-three of those yards came on one run by Mark Ingram, who already is up to 92 yards on the night. The final 12 came courtesy of Gus Edwards, who went in practically untouched for Baltimore’s second score.
First quarter, 0:41, Ravens 10-0: The Patriots are having a very difficult time protecting Tom Brady thus far. His four dropbacks have resulted in one sack, two QB hits and no completions.
Sony Michel did rip off a 10-yard run to open New England’s second possession, but he was stopped for 3 yards and no gain on the next two snaps, and Patrick Onuwasor sacked Brady to force a Patriots punt.
First quarter, 7:49, Ravens 10-0: The Ravens have begun this game with back-to-back 11-play drives, gobbling yardage with relative ease against the Patriots’ top-ranked defense. The Patriots kept them out of the end zone on their second possession, getting a Lawrence Guy sack and a strong pass rush by Chase Winovich to force Baltimore to settle for a field goal.
New England has tried several different strategies to slow down the Ravens’ powerful running game, including one personnel package that featured just three defensive back. So far, not much has worked. The Ravens are averaging 6.3 yards per carry and 6.0 yards per play.
First quarter, 7:49, Ravens 7-0: Ugly opening possession for the Patriots. They went three-and-out with three straight incompletions, with Tom Brady absorbing hits on the final two.
Phillip Dorsett was shaken up after a collision on second down and wasn’t on the field on third down. The Patriots only dressed four receivers for this game with Gunner Olszewski and N’Keal Harry inactive.
First quarter, 8:13, Ravens 7-0: We haven’t seen an offense move the ball that easily on this Patriots’ defense all season.
After Lamar Jackson evaded pressure to find Marquise Brown for 6 yards on third-and-5 early in the drive, the Ravens reeled off consecutive gains of 13, 26, 5, 7 and 5 yards to move into the red zone.
An excellent play by Lawrence Guy on third down forced Baltimore to settle for a field goal, but Shilique Calhoun jumped offsides on fourth-and-3, extending the drive.
One play later, Jackson beat Jamie Collins around the edge and waltzed in for the game’s first touchdown.
First quarter, 15:00, 0-0: The Patriots won the toss and deferred. Jake Bailey will kick off to get things started here in Baltimore.
7:25 p.m.: We’ll get our first look at new Patriots kicker Nick Folk tonight. Folk was iffy from distance in warmups, missing short on three attempts from 53 yards.
Folk should have more range than his predecessor, the recently released Mike Nugent, but we’ll see if that translates.
Speaking of special teams, Julian Edelman, Patrick Chung, Mohamed Sanu and Jakobi Meyers all have taken punt return reps during warmups. The Patriots need someone new back there with Gunner Olszewski inactive.
6:50 p.m.: Your Patriots inactives:
WR N’Keal Harry
WR Gunner Olszewski
RB Damien Harris
TE Matt LaCosse
QB Cody Kessler
CB Joejuan Williams
OT Korey Cunningham
— Harry officially is inactive. He won’t make his debut until Week 11 (two Sundays from now) at the earliest.
— Right guard Shaq Mason and tight end Ryan Izzo are active after missing the last one and two games, respectively. Having Mason back is a big boost for the Patriots’ O-line.
— Running backs James White and Rex Burkhead both are active after being listed as questionable.
6:15 p.m.: Bad news for folks hoping to see N’Keal Harry’s NFL debut tonight: Harry currently is running through the pregame stretch/sprint routine typically reserved for inactive players, suggesting the first-round draft pick will not play tonight.
Joining him are receiver/punt returner Gunner Olszewski, quarterback Cody Kessler, cornerback Joejuan Williams and offensive tackle Korey Cunningham. Expect all five to be inactive, as well as tight end Matt LaCosse, who was ruled out yesterday. The team will need to designate one additional inactive.
With no Olszewski, it’ll be interesting to see who returns punts tonight. Julian Edelman? Patrick Chung? Jakobi Meyers?
5:50 p.m.: N’Keal Harry’s game status won’t be confirmed for another hour, but we caught our first glimpse of the rookie wideout when he strolled onto the field in workout gear a few minutes ago.
Third-string quarterback Cody Kessler also is going through his standard pregame routine with assistant QBs coach Mick Lombardi. Kessler is back with the team after re-signing earlier this week.
3 p.m. ET: Greetings from M&T Bank Stadium, where the New England Patriots and Baltimore Ravens are gearing up for a highly anticipated matchup on “Sunday Night Football.”
The Patriots enter this game undefeated (an NFL-best 8-0) and newly replenished on offense following rookie receiver N’Keal Harry’s activation off injured reserve on Saturday. We’ll get confirmation at 6:50 p.m. on whether or not Harry will be active tonight.
Standing in their way of a 9-0 start are the 5-2 Baltimore Ravens, who boast the NFL’s top rushing offense and it’s most dynamic dual-threat quarterback, Lamar Jackson. New England and Baltimore tank first and second in the league, respectively, in points scored per game, but the Patriots have a clear edge defensively, entering Week 9 as the league leader in points allowed per game, interceptions, takeaways, sacks and a slew of other categories.
On the injury front, the Patriots ruled out tight end Matt LaCosse (knee) and listed seven players as questionable, including five more offensive skill players and their starting right guard:
WR Julian Edelman (chest/shoulder)
RB James White (toe)
RB Rex Burkhead (foot)
TE Ryan Izzo (concussion)
G Shaq Mason (ankle)
S Patrick Chung (chest/heel)
WR Gunner Olszewski (ankle/hamstring)
Kickoff is set for 8:20 p.m. ET. Keep it here throughout the afternoon for full pregame coverage.
