Lamar Jackson Leads Ravens to Victory Over Vikings

The Baltimore Ravens secured a 27-19 win against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, marking their third consecutive victory. Lamar Jackson, making his 100th regular-season start, played a crucial role in the team's success. His calm and strategic approach, especially in his second game back from injury, helped the Ravens overcome the Vikings' defense. The Ravens' defense was a standout, with J. J. McCarthy's inexperience proving to be a significant challenge for Minnesota. Marlon Humphrey and Malaki Starks each intercepted deep passes from McCarthy, highlighting the Ravens' defensive prowess. The Ravens turned three takeaways into 13 points, showcasing their ability to capitalize on opponents' mistakes. Kyle Hamilton, a two-time Pro Bowl safety, noted that the team is starting to play to their potential. The Ravens' defense has improved significantly, allowing less than 15 points per game in their last four games after a rough start. This improvement can be attributed to the acquisition of Alohi Gilman, which allowed defensive coordinator Zach Orr to implement a three-safety scheme. Lamar Jackson's performance was impressive, with 17 completions out of 29 attempts for 176 yards and a touchdown pass to Mark Andrews. He also ran nine times for 36 yards, demonstrating his dual-threat capability. Despite his strong performance, Jackson acknowledged that the team needs to score more points to be truly confident. The Vikings struggled on offense, committing eight false-start penalties and making several overaggressive decisions. J. J. McCarthy finished with 20 completions out of 42 attempts for 248 yards and ran five times for 48 yards. Aaron Jones played through a shoulder injury but had limited touches against the Ravens' strong defense. Injuries were a factor for both teams. For the Ravens, Marlon Humphrey was sidelined late in the game with a finger injury. The Vikings lost OLB Jonathan Greenard to a shoulder injury and had several other players on the injury list. The Ravens will next play the Cleveland Browns, while the Vikings will host the Chicago Bears.