Ravens’ Reinvented Pass Rush Shuts Down Bengals in Statement Win
Back in training camp, the Ravens’ pass-rushing hierarchy looked pretty straightforward. Justin Madubuike, a two-time Pro Bowler, was the clear leader.
Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, both fresh off double-digit sack seasons, weren’t far behind. Rookie Mike Green had the kind of raw tools that had coaches buzzing.
If defensive coordinator Zach Orr needed a big play, the assumption was he’d turn to one of those guys.
Fast forward to Sunday, and the Ravens closed out a dominant 24-0 win over Joe Burrow and the Bengals with a trio that no one saw coming: defensive lineman Travis Jones and outside linebackers Dre’Mont Jones and Tavius Robinson. That group shared the field for 19 defensive snaps - and they didn’t just hold their own. They helped pitch Baltimore’s first shutout since 2018 and left the Bengals frozen in place, much like the ice-covered seats at Paycor Stadium.
On Burrow’s 18 drop-backs against that unit, the Bengals quarterback went just 7-for-15 for 54 yards. He scrambled twice for a total of five yards, took a sack, and threw two interceptions - the last of which turned into an 84-yard pick-six courtesy of Kyle Van Noy and safety Alohi Gilman. That sequence sealed the game and summed up the day: total defensive dominance.
The numbers back it up. When Travis Jones, Dre’Mont Jones, and Robinson were on the field together, Cincinnati averaged just 2.5 yards per play and had a success rate of only 21.1%. That’s about as close to defensive perfection as it gets in today’s NFL.
Burrow didn’t mince words afterward: “When your quarterback plays like that, your team is not going to have a chance to win. I’m obviously disappointed in my play today, so I have to be better.”
But Burrow wasn’t just off - he was overwhelmed. And that’s largely because this trio, which had never played together before Sunday, brought relentless energy and chemistry.
Travis Jones has been a steady force all year, stepping into a bigger role after Madubuike’s season-ending neck injury in Week 2. Dre’Mont Jones was acquired just before the trade deadline to bolster a linebacker group that had lost Oweh to a midseason trade and seen Van Noy struggle at times. Robinson, meanwhile, was making his first appearance since breaking his foot in Week 6.
Coming into the game, the three had just 9.5 combined sacks. But they looked like a seasoned unit.
According to NFL Next Gen Stats, they were responsible for seven of Burrow’s 14 pressured drop-backs. The Ravens posted a 38.9% pressure rate with that group on the field - just a tick below the league-leading Vikings, who sit at 41%.
Dre’Mont Jones didn’t record a sack, but he was the headliner. He racked up five quarterback hits and seven pressures - his most in a game since 2022. He won with speed, he won with power, and he did it against both tackles on a Bengals line that had protected Burrow well just a couple of weeks ago.
“That’s kind of why we wanted him,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s a good football player.
He plays really hard and tough, and he has good balance when he’s rushing. He stays on his feet and gives you the best chance to wrap up a quarterback like Burrow, who’s tough to get down.”
While Dre’Mont Jones drew the spotlight, Travis Jones and Robinson made their presence felt as well. Both recorded sacks and worked in sync with their new teammate, especially on pass-rush games like stunts and twists.
On those plays, they crashed into Bengals linemen to open up lanes for each other. On Gilman’s pick-six, Jones and Van Noy faked inside rushes and dropped into coverage, which left Robinson with a clear path to Burrow.
“We had both those guys [Dre’Mont Jones and Robinson] out there at the same time a number of times,” Harbaugh said. “Two heavy-handed pass rushers, that’s the biggest impact. Our defensive personality has always been what it is, so he fits it really well.”
The Ravens will need more of that pressure this Sunday night. They’ll face Patriots rookie quarterback Drake Maye, a legitimate MVP candidate and dangerous dual-threat weapon. Maye’s been sacked 43 times this season - fourth most in the league - and Dre’Mont Jones already got to him once back in Week 7, when he was still with Tennessee.
“We have guys who all can rush, and I can rush myself,” Dre’Mont Jones said after the win. He rattled off the names and nicknames of his fellow pass rushers. “They all have to do their part so I can do my part, too.”
RPO Watch: Jackson’s Efficiency, Fewer Opportunities
Lamar Jackson’s longest completion on Sunday was also one of his simplest - a 32-yard catch-and-run to DeAndre Hopkins off what looked like a run-pass option (RPO). Jackson faked the handoff, saw Hopkins streaking across the middle, and delivered a dart. Easy money.
But while the Ravens haven’t scrapped RPOs entirely, the volume has dipped. According to Pro Football Reference, Jackson ran 95 RPOs last season for 724 yards, including 59 pass attempts for 566 yards. This year, limited in part by lower-body injuries, he’s logged just 37 RPOs for 367 yards - with 21 pass attempts for 289 yards.
Sports Info Solutions paints a similar picture. Jackson had 18 RPO drop-backs last season, going 11-for-14 for 57 yards.
This year? Just five - but he’s completed all five for 71 yards.
So while the Ravens aren’t leaning on the RPO game as much, Jackson’s still making the most of the looks when they come. And with the playoffs approaching, don’t be surprised if they dial that package back up when defenses least expect it.
Charlie Kolar: The Unsung Hero of the Ground Game
Tight end Charlie Kolar isn’t making headlines with flashy catches, but he’s quietly becoming one of the Ravens’ most valuable pieces - especially in the run game.
He earned a game ball Sunday for his special teams work, recording three tackles on kickoff coverage, including two inside the Bengals’ 30-yard line. But his impact went far beyond that.
Of the Ravens’ six designed runs that went for 10+ yards, Kolar was on the field for five of them. He cleared a path on Keaton Mitchell’s 15-yard run, got out in front as a downfield blocker on Derrick Henry’s 29-yard misdirection play, and sealed key blocks on two of the team’s longest runs of the day - a 22-yard inside carry by Henry and a 22-yard outside run by Mitchell.
According to Sports Info Solutions, over the past two games - during which the Ravens have rushed for 406 yards - the offense is averaging 7.4 yards per carry and 3.4 yards before contact when Kolar’s on the field. That’s elite-level blocking impact.
As a receiver, Kolar’s on pace for a career-best season with nine catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. But the real value he’s adding right now is in the trenches.
With his rookie contract winding down, he’s showing that he’s more than just a pass-catching tight end - he’s a tone-setter in the run game. And that kind of versatility?
It gets noticed - and paid.
The Ravens are finding new ways to win, and it’s not just the stars doing the heavy lifting. Whether it’s a reimagined pass rush, a scaled-back but efficient RPO game, or a tight end doing the dirty work, this team is peaking at the right time - and they’re doing it with depth, grit, and a whole lot of next-man-up mentality.