(Photo: Action Network)
Intriguing Game- NFL, Week Three
Detroit Lions at Baltimore Ravens
Lions (1-1):
They were embarrassed by the Green Bay Packers in Week 1—nothing went their way. But the following week, they had the perfect opportunity to bounce back, and did they ever deliver. Once they got started against the Chicago Bears, they never let up. When the Lions play like they did in Week 2, not many teams can beat them, if you ask me. They got back to their identity—running the football—which forces defenses to crowd the line of scrimmage. That, in turn, opens up the passing game for Jared Goff. Speaking of Jared, he was nearly perfect in that win on Sunday: completing 23 of 28 pass attempts for 334 yards and five touchdowns. But the most impressive stat? He wasn’t sacked once, which is a testament to the offensive line. Yes, the Packers have been the talk of the league so far—and rightfully so—but let’s not forget about the Detroit Lions. After all, they’ve been the class of the NFC North for the past two seasons. I know they’ve heard the chatter: “They lost both their offensive and defensive coordinators.” I get it—but every team goes through changes. And based on how they played the other day, I think they’ll be just fine as the season progresses. Let’s also not forget—they won 15 games last season with key players out due to injury. Just imagine what they can do when fully healthy. On Monday night, the Lions head to Maryland for an inter-conference showdown.
Ravens (1-1):
If there’s one thing I’ve learned about this team, it’s exactly what happened on September 8th—and that’s why I still can’t fully trust them. They had the Buffalo Bills on the ropes and did everything to win that game—until they didn’t. So what happened? Simple: they got away from what was working—feeding Derrick Henry. When you give the big fella the ball, good things tend to happen. Why they went away from him is beyond me. And it cost them a game in which they had a 15-point lead. Now that the ugly part is out of the way, let’s talk about the good. What impressed me in Sunday’s win over the Cleveland Browns is that even though Derrick Henry didn’t have his best game and the ground attack wasn’t clicking, they still had number 8 under center. As long as Lamar Jackson is healthy and on the field, the Ravens will always have a chance to win. He threw four touchdown passes in that victory, and his growth as a pocket passer has come a long way. Looking at the AFC North right now: The Browns are… well, just a team in the division, The Bengals may be 2-0, but they’ll be without their quarterback until December, and the Steelers still feel like a question mark—soft on defense and inconsistent in the run game. To me, this is the Ravens’ division to lose. The Lions come to M&T Bank Stadium for a Monday night showdown.
Lions X-Factor: Jahmyr Gibbs:
He’s become a key piece of what the Lions want to do offensively. Alongside David Montgomery, the two have formed one of the top running back duos in the league—and they’ve earned the nickname “Sonic and Knuckles.” Gibbs is explosive, elusive, and incredibly versatile, which can give any defense fits. Yes, the Ravens are known for their elite run defense, but Gibbs could still complicate things—especially if Detroit mixes up its play calling with screens, misdirections, and play-action passes. If the offensive line can open up lanes, Gibbs could really go off—and force Baltimore to respect the run.
Ravens X-Factor: Roquan Smith:
He’s the heart of this Baltimore defense. I’ve been watching him since his college days with the Georgia Bulldogs, and his mentality hasn’t changed: fly to the football and bring physicality. Roquan consistently beats blockers with his speed, strength, and instincts. He plays with a ferocity that sets the tone. His mission is to shut down the run and make you play from behind the chains. He’s one of those players who leaves it all on the field—every single snap.
Final Thoughts:
I remember when these two teams met back in 2023—Lamar Jackson looked as good as I’ve ever seen him. When he plays like that, he’s the best player in the league, in my opinion. Now, we’ve got an exciting matchup to close out Week 3. Both the Lions and Ravens bounced back after disappointing Week 1 losses. There are so many intriguing matchups: Lamar Jackson & Derrick Henry vs. Detroit’s defensive front, Jared Goff vs. Baltimore’s secondary & Lions’ offensive line vs. Ravens’ pass rush. For Detroit, the key to containing Lamar Jackson is maintaining discipline—don’t let him extend plays with his legs. They also need to establish the run game to keep Baltimore’s defense off balance and avoid turnovers against this opportunistic unit. For Baltimore, it starts with neutralizing Jahmyr Gibbs and the ground attack. Maintain gap integrity, tackle well, pressure Goff, and don’t let him get comfortable. Offensively, they need to feed Derrick Henry to keep Detroit honest—and create opportunities for Lamar to strike deep. I see this being a shootout, and I’m leaning toward the Ravens on Monday night. Lamar has such a nice track record against the NFC.
