Lamar Jackson didn’t waste any time letting the league know what he thought of Baltimore’s new offensive coordinator.
After the Ravens rolled to a 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 1 and piled up 500 yards of offense with ease, Jackson had a simple, four-word review of Declan Doyle: “dialing it up.”
That kind of praise matters. Jackson is a two-time MVP, and when he’s speaking that confidently about a first-time play-caller, it says plenty about how the Ravens’ offense looked in Doyle’s debut.
Baltimore was explosive from the jump, and the box score backed it up. The Ravens needed only nine third downs all afternoon, averaged nearly eight yards per play, and paired a 300-plus-yard passing day with more than 200 rushing yards as a team.
Nine different Ravens also caught at least one pass.
The result was an offense that looked sharp, varied, and hard to slow down. And while it’s far too early to draw any sweeping conclusions, Baltimore’s opener suggested Doyle may be the biggest new addition on the staff.
Doyle arrived in Baltimore after serving as the Chicago Bears’ offensive coordinator last season. Before that, he worked as a position coach and assistant with the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos.
The Ravens won’t have it this easy every week, but if this is the version of the offense Doyle can help unleash right out of the gate, Baltimore has reason to feel good about what comes next.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson Looks Reborn In Ravens Offense But One Concern Looms
Lamar Jackson looked every bit like the MVP version of himself in Baltimores Week 1 win, delivering a sharp, efficient performance that gave the Ravens an immediate payoff for their offseason offensive overhaul. With Declan Doyle stepping in as offensive coordinator, the new scheme seemed to unlock Jackson quickly, as he worked through the passing game with confidence and paired it with his usual damage on the ground.
Jackson spread the ball around and found Zay Flowers for several big gains before the receiver exited with a hamstring injury after a 150-yard day. For a Ravens offense that finally had a smooth, explosive opener, Flowers status is the detail worth monitoring now, because the early signs of chemistry and rhythm were as encouraging as anything Baltimore has shown in a while. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Leave Week 1 Win With A Concern Fans Can't Ignore
The Ravens opened the season with a win over the Indianapolis Colts, but the celebration came with an immediate injury scare that could shape the early weeks ahead. Zay Flowers exited after putting together a career-best day with 150 receiving yards and a touchdown, while Ja'Kobi Lane left with a wrist injury and T.J. Tampa departed with a knee issue, leaving Baltimore to sort through a depth chart that already had to lean on extra help as the game unfolded.
Coach Jesse Minter did not offer an update on any of the three after the game, which is the kind of silence that tends to linger a little longer after a Week 1 win. The Ravens at least got meaningful snaps from Chris Moore and Carl Jones, both elevated from the practice squad, and their contributions on offense and special teams helped steady things in the moment, but the bigger question now is how long Baltimore might have to manage without three players it could ill afford to lose at once. [Read more 🡒]
Zay Flowers Exit Leaves Ravens Facing An Immediate Passing Game Concern
Zay Flowers gave Baltimore exactly the kind of fast start it wanted in Week 1 against the Colts, piling up five catches for 150 yards and a touchdown before heading to the sideline late in the second quarter with a hamstring injury. The Ravens listed him as questionable to return at halftime, and he was still without a helmet to start the second half, a worrying sight for an offense that has leaned on his speed and explosiveness to stretch the field.
The timing matters because Flowers was already doing damage before the injury interrupted the night, turning himself into the games most dangerous pass-game threat. Any extended absence would force Baltimore to adjust quickly in an area where his ability to separate and turn short touches into big gains has become a central part of what the Ravens want to do through the air. [Read more 🡒]