INDIANAPOLIS - Baltimore came out firing Sunday and never really let Indianapolis breathe.
The Ravens rolled to 31 first-half points and finished off a 41-23 win over the Colts in Jesse Minter’s debut as head coach, building the kind of early cushion that let them dictate everything. They found the end zone on four of their first five possessions, and 30-year-old offensive coordinator Declan Doyle made an immediate impression in his first game calling plays.
The biggest early spark came from Zay Flowers, who opened the afternoon with five catches for a career-best 150 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a hamstring injury before halftime. Derrick Henry was just as punishing on the ground, piling up 144 yards and three touchdowns. That pushed him past Marcus Allen for third in NFL history in career rushing touchdowns, giving him 125.
Indianapolis got a quick answer from Daniel Jones, who looked sharp on the opening drive in his return from a torn Achilles and led the Colts to a touchdown right away. After that, though, the day turned messy. Jones finished 19-for-31 for 166 yards with one touchdown and one interception.
For Baltimore, Minter’s first game had the feel of a coach willing to lean into risk. A notable call came in the second quarter with the Ravens up 14-6 and facing fourth-and-goal from the 3.
Minter kept the offense on the field. The Ravens came up short, but the decision fit the aggressive edge he seems determined to build around.
The game wasn’t clean - Baltimore gave the ball away at a bad time, drew too many penalties on offense and didn’t close the way Minter probably wanted - but the identity was easy to spot.
Doyle’s debut also came with some interesting wrinkles. Flowers was moved into the backfield before his 54-yard touchdown catch, and on Baltimore’s first score, a five-yard Jackson run, Doyle lined up a left tackle on the right side and put Mark Andrews in a blocking role.
He leaned on “11” personnel more than his predecessor did, and Jackson was under center much more often. The through line was simple: Doyle wanted explosives, and Jackson looked comfortable running the show.
If the Ravens’ offense looked dangerous, the Colts’ defense looked overwhelmed. Baltimore piled up 506 total yards, and the most glaring issue was the secondary, which was supposed to be Indianapolis’ strength.
Jackson didn’t throw his first incompletion until there were 38 seconds left in the first quarter. Even then, he immediately answered with an 18-yard strike to Flowers on third-and-12 to keep the drive alive.
Justin Walley, making his NFL debut after missing his entire rookie season with a torn ACL, spent plenty of time matched up with Flowers and took some hard lessons early. Indianapolis had moved on from Kenny Moore II, expecting Walley to step into the nickel role, but that choice didn’t hold up well Sunday. Sauce Garnder and Charvarius Ward Sr. were also quiet for most of the afternoon, and Jackson took advantage.
The run defense didn’t fare any better. Henry carried 24 times for 144 yards and three touchdowns, giving him his 56th 100-yard rushing game.
The Colts managed a sack-fumble on Jackson from Laiatu Latu and Arden Key, but that was the rare moment the front got Baltimore off schedule. Most of the time, Jackson had all the room he needed to work, and Henry kept hammering downhill.
Jones’ return offered a little encouragement, at least at the start. Nine months after rupturing his right Achilles tendon, he moved well in the pocket, scrambled for four yards and, just as importantly, got up after every hit. He had not taken a preseason snap, so the first real contact mattered.
But the offense stalled after that opening drive. Jones threw an interception to Roquan Smith on Indianapolis’ second possession, and the next four drives went punt, punt, lost fumble and punt.
That slump wasn’t all on him. Alec Pierce and Tyler Warren were quiet for much of the afternoon, and Keenan Allen finished with six catches for 32 yards.
For the Colts, the defensive problems and the lack of pressure up front made the afternoon look even worse. Baltimore had time to throw, room to run and answers everywhere. And for the Ravens, the one sour note was at receiver: Flowers and Ja’Kobi Lane both left with injuries, with Lane dealing with a wrist issue.
By the end, Baltimore was down to Rashod Bateman, return specialist LaJohntay Wester and Chris Moore, who had been elevated from the practice squad mainly for special teams help. Devontez Walker is nearing a return from a groin injury, and rookie fourth-round pick Elijah Surratt could also be moved into the mix.
If Flowers and Lane are out for a while, the Ravens may need to look outside the building. For now, they likely have enough to patch things together for a few weeks.
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