Lamar Jackson had an impressive outing, throwing for 323 yards and rushing for an additional 40 yards, leading the Baltimore Ravens to a 30-23 victory over the Washington Commanders. Jackson showcased his passing skills, connecting with Zay Flowers for nine completions in the first half, although he did not target him again afterward. Mark Andrews bounced back from an interception caused by a ball bouncing off his hands to catch his first touchdown pass of the season.
Derrick Henry contributed significantly, rushing for 132 yards and scoring two touchdowns, bringing his NFL-leading total to nine this season. Flowers also had a standout game, recording a career-high 132 receiving yards. This win marked the Ravens’ fourth consecutive victory, improving their record to 4-2.
Jackson stated, “Just a pick your poison offense,” highlighting the team’s offensive versatility. Andrews noted the importance of their offensive distribution, saying, “Guys are going to get their touches and get the ball and good things will happen, and that’s what happened today.” He tied Todd Heap for the most touchdown catches since the team relocated to Baltimore, reaching 41 touchdowns in his career.
Despite the efforts of rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels, who threw two touchdown passes to Terry McLaurin, the Commanders (4-2) struggled to match Baltimore’s offensive output. With Brian Robinson Jr. sidelined due to a knee injury, Washington managed only 52 rushing yards.
Daniels acknowledged the challenge, stating, “B-Rob is a great player, but it’s next man up. We have to go out there and do our job.” The Commanders’ defense faced difficulties in containing Jackson and Henry, as Baltimore accumulated 484 total yards in the game.
Henry became the first player to rush for a touchdown in each of his first six games since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2005. He emphasized the collective talent of the team, saying, “That’s what you want as an offense.”
The Ravens executed two lengthy scoring drives of 93 and 94 yards, with Henry’s 7-yard touchdown run late in the third quarter proving pivotal. Flowers remarked, “Those two drives were much needed. I feel like we needed those drives to set the tone that this offense is going to keep going all game and we’re just going to keep scoring, either running or passing.”
Although Daniels completed 24 of 35 passes for 269 yards, Baltimore’s ability to outscore their defensive struggles secured the win. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh labeled the performance as the ultimate team win, stating, “All three phases contributed to the win when they had to. Guys answered today in a lot of ways.”
After the game, when asked if this performance indicated the Ravens have the best offense in the league, Jackson responded with caution, asserting, “We’re just proving we can win games. There’s always room for improvement.”
