• Marcus Williams' coverage prowess returns as he gets healthier: He has come into his own over the past three games, earning PFF coverage grades above 70.0 in each outing.
• Ronnie Stanley returns to form as a pass blocker: He bounced back with an 86.4 PFF pass-blocking grade in Week 14 after recording a season-low mark in Week 12.
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Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes
The Baltimore Ravens moved to 10-3 with a 37-31 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14.
They are in the driver's seat for the AFC's top seed but face a tough final stretch as they look to hold onto that advantage with four weeks left in the regular season.
Here are the five things we learned from the Week 14 victory.
Lamar Jackson was inconsistent but delivered when it mattered
For an offense that put up 31 points in regulation, the Ravens were inconsistent. And that started with quarterback Lamar Jackson. Five of Jackson's pass attempts traveled 20 or more yards downfield in the first half, tied for the second most among quarterbacks this week. He had two touchdowns on those throws, but both came on plays where coverage errors left receivers wide open. Jackson missed on the other three throws, including for his only interception of the game.
He was dialed in when the Ravens needed him the most, though, leading a would-be game-winning drive during which he went 7-of-10 for 73 yards and a touchdown. His best two throws of the game were on that series, hitting rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers for a 21-yard touchdown before finding him again for the two-point conversion. The conversion was even more impressive than the touchdown, with Jackson cutting away from pressure and getting the ball away as a huge hit loomed.
Ronnie Stanley has his best pass-blocking game of the season
Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley was coming off his lowest-graded game as a pass blocker this season against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 12, allowing six pressures on 38 pass-blocking snaps.
He bounced back with an 86.4 PFF pass-blocking grade in Week 14, his best mark of the season. He allowed just one pressure — a hurry rather than a sack or quarterback hit — on 44 pass-blocking snaps.
Keaton Mitchell shows why the Ravens are right to give him the bulk of carries
The Ravens' ground game never really got going in the rain against the Rams, with Lamar Jackson recording a team-leading 70 rushing yards thanks to his work on scrambles. However, what we did see was undrafted rookie free agent Keaton Mitchell out-carry Gus Edwards, taking nine carries to Edwards’ six.
Mitchell ripped off the Ravens' longest run of the day, a 27-yard scamper, once again showing that he brings juice that other running backs on the roster lack. Even on a day when Baltimore was limited on the ground, Mitchell proved why the Ravens are right to trust him with the bulk of the carries, showing the ability to generate explosive plays if he sees enough touches.
Kyle Van Noy puts together his best performance as a Raven
The Ravens picked up Kyle Van Noy after the season began, and the edge defender has proven to be a key addition. Week 14 marked his highest-graded game of the year so far, with Van Noy earning an 80.5 mark.
He registered five pressures in the contest, all of which were quarterback hurries, and made a pair of tackles resulting in a defensive stop. One of those stops was particularly crucial, taking down Kyren Williams for an eight-yard loss on third-and-7 with 3:06 left in the third quarter to force the Rams out of field goal range.
Marcus Williams continues to find the football
A lot was made of Williams’ struggles as he returned from an injury earlier in the year, but he has come into his own over the past three games, earning PFF coverage grades above 70.0 in each outing.
Against the Rams, he allowed two receptions for 12 yards and a touchdown in coverage and recorded a pass breakup. Over the past three games, Williams’ five pass breakups are tied for second most in the NFL.
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