The Ravens opened their season with the kind of performance that turns heads fast: a 41-23 win over the Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium, and a game that felt every bit as dynamic as the hype around Baltimore’s new-look staff suggested it could be.
There were rough patches mixed in, sure, but the overall picture was hard to miss. Jesse Minter’s defense came out with real bite, Declan Doyle’s offense was packed with motion and deception, and a healthy Lamar Jackson looked like the biggest difference-maker of all. Baltimore left Week 1 with a statement win and plenty to sort through afterward.
Jackson, in particular, looked sharp from the jump. After an injury-riddled season and plenty of offseason noise, he answered with a clean, explosive start to 2026: 17-for-25 for 324 passing yards, 40 rushing yards, and 2 total yards.
His legs looked fresh, and his throws had the kind of zip and precision Baltimore wants from him. That version of Jackson changes everything.
Doyle’s offense also made a strong first impression. The Ravens were constantly moving pieces around pre-snap, using motion, shifts, and misdirection to keep Indianapolis guessing.
The play-action game was especially dangerous, and Jackson and Zay Flowers found themselves in a rhythm that made the whole thing look easy. It was a creative, fast-moving attack that felt designed to overwhelm.
The line did enough, but it wasn’t spotless. Baltimore entered the game with questions about the interior, and those questions didn’t disappear.
At times Jackson had all day. At other moments, the pocket got messy and he took some shots.
The unit held together, but there’s clearly work ahead there.
The penalties were a bigger issue. Baltimore finished with 10 penalties for 86 yards, and that kind of self-inflicted damage can wreck a game against stronger opponents. The offense was humming, but it also kept stepping on its own toes.
On the other side of the ball, Minter’s first outing had some encouraging signs and a few growing pains. His defense started with energy and aggression, using blitzes and tight coverage to make life difficult early.
It didn’t stay perfect for four quarters, and the unit did give up 23 points, but there were adjustments, pressure, turnovers, and enough late-game control to shut things down. He’s 1-0, and the early returns were solid.
One player who made the most of his opportunity was Chris Moore. He looked like a real answer in the return game, which Baltimore had been missing, and he contributed on offense as well.
Moore finished with 1 reception for 53 yards, 4 returns for 121 yards, and 1 tackle in punt coverage. If the injuries to Zay Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane linger, his role could grow quickly.
At the very least, he made a strong case for a 53-man roster spot.
And then there was Tyler Loop, who looked like a different kicker than the one Baltimore saw in his rookie year. After competition clearly lit a fire under him, Loop was perfect in Week 1, making all five extra points and drilling field goals from 45 and 57 yards. For a player whose distance had been an issue, that was a clean answer.
In Other News...
Ravens Fans Got The Zay Flowers Update They Needed
Zay Flowers Week 1 exit with a hamstring issue was enough to make Ravens fans hold their breath, but the early read on the injury is encouraging. The second-year receiver came up hurt against the Indianapolis Colts, and Baltimore kept him out the rest of the way with the game well in hand.
Head coach Jesse Minter offered the update ahead of Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, and the important part for Baltimore is that Flowers is simply day-to-day. It leaves the Ravens monitoring one of their top playmakers, but not dealing with what sounds like a major setback heading into a matchup that will matter a lot more than a lopsided opener. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Moore Just Made The Ravens Roster Decision A Lot Harder
Chris Moore gave the Ravens a reminder of why he still matters in a big way in Week 1 against the Colts, handling the primary kick return role and turning it into a productive afternoon. He brought back four kicks for 121 yards and also chipped in a 53-yard reception, finishing with 174 all-purpose yards in a game that put his versatility back in the spotlight.
Jesse Minter was complimentary of Moore afterward, and the timing could hardly be better for a player trying to force his way onto the 53-man roster. With Baltimore also dealing with an injury at wide receiver, Moores special teams value and his ability to contribute on offense have made this a much tougher roster call than it looked a week ago. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face An Early Test Fans Have Seen Go Wrong Before
The Ravens got the start they wanted in Week 1, handling the Colts and opening the season with a win that should have settled some nerves around the building. Now comes the part of September that usually tells Baltimore a little more about itself, with a trip through the kind of game it is expected to win, but only if it stays sharp enough to do so. Kyle Hamilton and others have already pointed the conversation toward New Orleans, where the emphasis has been less on momentum and more on staying locked in.
That approach makes sense because the Saints did not look like a soft landing in their Week 1 loss to the Lions. New Orleans moved the ball well enough to remind opponents that an opening-week defeat does not always mean an easy follow-up, and that is the sort of early-season wrinkle the Ravens have learned not to brush aside. Baltimore is favored, but this is the kind of matchup fans have seen wobble before, which is why the focus inside the locker room has been on the job ahead rather than the record next to the opponent's name. [Read more 🡒]