Lions’ Rushing Attack, Revitalized Pass Rush Lead Impressive Road Win Over Ravens

BALTIMORE — The Detroit Lions looked like a completely different team on Monday night, using a punishing rushing attack and a newly found pass rush to defeat the Baltimore Ravens 38-30 at M&T Bank Stadium. After a shaky start to their season, the Lions have now won two straight and are finding their groove on both sides of the ball.

For the Ravens, the loss drops them to 1-2, as costly turnovers from veteran running back Derrick Henry and an inability to protect quarterback Lamar Jackson proved to be their undoing.

Lions’ Dominant Performance: A Look at the Stats

The Lions’ offense, spearheaded by quarterback Jared Goff, was a force to be reckoned with. The running back duo of David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs put on a show, leading a ground game that amassed an impressive 224 rushing yards. Montgomery, in particular, was exceptional, running for 151 yards and two touchdowns. His performance was part of two key touchdown drives of at least 96 yards, a testament to the offense’s ability to grind out long, time-consuming possessions.

The Lions’ top playmakers—Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, and All-Pro receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown—all recorded touchdowns. According to ESPN Research, this marks the 10th game in which they all scored at least one scrimmage touchdown, the most of any trio in NFL history.

On the defensive side, the Lions found a new gear. After struggling to generate pressure in the first two weeks, Detroit’s pass rush exploded for seven sacks on Lamar Jackson, a career-high for the Ravens’ quarterback. Stepping up in the absence of an injured Marcus Davenport, defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad was a major contributor with 2.5 sacks.

Ravens’ Struggles: Costly Turnovers and Offensive Woes

For the Ravens, it was a night of missed opportunities. Veteran running back Derrick Henry continued his uncharacteristic trend of poor ball security, fumbling the ball in the fourth quarter for the second time in a row in a loss. The mistake proved to be a critical turning point that stalled any chance of a comeback.

While the Ravens’ offense did manage to put up 30 points, they were hurt by their defense’s inability to stop the Lions’ long drives. Baltimore allowed two touchdown drives of 95 yards or more, a rare occurrence that had not happened since 2010 on “Monday Night Football.”

Despite the loss, quarterback Lamar Jackson set a team record with his ninth straight game with two or more touchdown passes, a testament to his consistent aerial attack. However, his performance was hampered by a lack of protection, as he was sacked a career-high seven times, a statistic that has proven to be a losing factor for the Ravens in the past. Star tight end Mark Andrews also had a bounce-back game, catching 6 passes for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns after a slow start to the season.

What’s Next for Both Teams

The Lions (2-1) will look to build on their momentum at home when they face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.

The Ravens (1-2) will have a tough road ahead as they travel to Kansas City to take on the Chiefs (1-2) on Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET. Baltimore has an 0-3 record against Patrick Mahomes at Arrowhead Stadium since 2008.