The only two teams with winning records in the AFC met on Sunday, and one team clearly established themselves as the class of the conference through seven weeks. In a rematch of last year’s AFC divisional round game, the Texans got their revenge. It is hard to believe that 10 minutes into the game the score was 3-0 Baltimore, but from then on the Texans would walk all over the Ravens to the final score of 43-13.
For the defense that leads the league in batted passes by a wide margin, the Texans again knocked six passes down. Two of those batted passes led to interceptions that both changed the complexion of this game. The Texans erased almost all doubt after their disappointing Week 6 home loss and proved they are one of the AFC’s best.
The Raven’s came in with serious injury concerns, and they left the game the same way. So far no one has stepped up in place of Lardarius Webb and the defense was a revolving door because of it. The hardest thing to swallow for the Ravens is how badly their offense played. The offense didn’t have any major injuries, yet still put up a dreadful performance. The Ravens' offense gave up nine points through a safety and an interception return, and only scored 13 of their own. The one bright spot for the Ravens though, was the return of Terrell Suggs, but it is disappointing that they couldn’t get the job done even with Suggs back.
Baltimore — Three Performances of Note
T-Sizzle
All the talk before this game centered on the questionable return of Suggs, and rightfully so. Many thought that he was rushing back solely to meet an arbitrary deadline he set out. With a bye next up many asked why not rest two more weeks? He must have known something we all didn’t because Suggs came out and had a heck of a first game back. He registered a sack, a hit, a hurry, and a batted pass on the day and was their most effective edge rusher. If he was supposed to be slowed by the lingering effect from his Achilles tear, we sure didn’t see it.
Flacco, Where You Throwing?
Joe Flacco may be an elite quarterback someday, but he was not one on Sunday. A week after the Texans’ defense gave up over 300 yards passing and six touchdowns, they held Flacco to only 147 yards. Flacco produced an Accuracy Percentage of only 62.2 percent, and had a season low 3.42 yards per attempt. Much of his struggles came from his complete inability to push the ball down the field. Flacco attempted passes of 10 or more yards eight times and completed only two of those passes for 24 total yards. Throwing only short passes and throwing them inaccurately is a bad combination and that is why Flacco finished with a grade of -4.8, his worst of the season.
Trouble at the Corners
A season ago Jimmy Smith looked like one of the most promising cornerbacks in the rookie class. This season has been the complete opposite. He already has three games with lower grades than his lowest from all of last year and is currently our 96th-ranked corner overall for the season. Taking over for the injured Webb, Smith put up little resistance giving up 68 yards on four of five passing. On the opposite side of Smith, Cary Williams didn’t do any better. Williams let up seven of the eight targets that came his way for 74 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens are going to need both to pick up their games quickly, or they risk watching their once vaunted defense become a weak spot.
Houston — Three Performances of Note
What a Difference a Week Makes
On Sunday Night Football, Cris Collinsworth highlighted the Green Bay Packers picking on Glover Quin. Against the Ravens he wouldn’t have been able to find any of those plays. Quin played a great all-around game resulting in a grade of +3.1, a week after grading out at -1.2. He batted down two passes and came away with an interception in a stellar performance. Quin surrendered just three completions on seven attempts aimed at his coverage, for 19 yards. The Texans needed some players to step up after last weekend and he was certainly one that did.
First-Rounder Comes Through
It was very curious this past spring when the Texans chose Whitney Mercilus with their first-round selection, just a year after selecting Brooks Reed in the early second round. It was even more so after Mercilus saw little action through six weeks and only registered one hurry in total. In only 16 snaps on Sunday though he looked every bit the first-round pick. Mercilus had a sack and four hurries to go along with the pass he knocked down that was intercepted by Quin. It was very limited action, but it may be enough to warrant more playing time considering the general ineffectiveness from starters Connor Barwin and Reed so far this season.
A Legitimate Threat
A big day from No. 2 wide receiver Kevin Walter means it’s all positive performances this week for the Texans. The Texans have struggled in looking for a deep threat outside of Andre Johnson this year. Tight end Owen Daniels has been their second-best receiver, but his lack of speed limits his big-play ability. That is why it was a sight for sore eyes to see Walter catch a 25-yard touchdown and also streak behind the defense for a 34-yard pass — he even got wide open behind Smith on a go route that was overthrown by QB Matt Schaub. If he can keep beating his man and getting open deep, good luck stopping this Texans’ offense.
Games Notes
– J.J. Watt now has 10 batted balls on the year. Since we started doing our thing in 2008, nobody has ever managed more than that in a season.
– The new starting duo at corner for the Ravens, Williams and Smith, allowed a combined 11 of 13 for 142 yards and a touchdown. You'll be missed Lardarius.
– Schaub completed 8 of 12 on balls aimed over 10 yards in the air, for 137 yards and two scores.
Game Ball
Texans fans must be sick of this by now, but J.J. Watt did it all again. There was no bigger play than Watts tipped pass that was returned for a touchdown by Jonathan Joseph. The Ravens only called 10 running plays all day and Watt was probably the biggest reason why.
Follow Mike on Twitter: @PFF_MikeRenner
© 2025 PFF - all rights reserved.