Torrey Smith Leads Ravens To Win Over Patriots

After somewhat of a down week last Sunday, the NFL was back up again yesterday, and all is right with the world.

Week 3 NFL Ratings

(Photo via Jennifer Stewart-US PRESSWIRE)

Injuries to star players are piling up

If there was one theme of Week 3, it was injuries. Star players from were dropping like flies out there. Read the detailed analysis of the key players in our injury report wrap-up.

The Ravens look like they’ll be just fine. For now, anyway. And that short week will be easier to handle after a win like this.

For more Patriots coverage, check out Pats Pulpit. For more on the Ravens, head over to Baltimore Beat Down.

For more Patriots coverage, check out Pats Pulpit. For more on the Ravens, head over to Baltimore Beat Down.

After the Ravens ran one play to center the ball in the middle of the field and run down the clock to :02 remaining, Tucker snuck the kick through and above the right upright.

via assets.sbnation.com

There’s only one way to celebrate a pass interference flag, if you’re into that sort of thing. Mind you, pass interference isn’t a big catch or a touchdown. It’s kind of like drawing a charge. But if you’re going to celebrate, turn that swag on and up.

/clicks and saves.

Nothing. Not even Bill Belichick could believe it, and that guy’s been around for awhile.

The Ravens kicked a 27-yard field goal that didn’t split the uprights or miss wide. Instead, it went straight over the the right upright, a result that is not reviewable because it went over the goalposts. The Ravens got the three points and the win. Watch:

Here’s Michaels after back-to-back flags late in the fourth quarter:

Here’s the crowd in Baltimore with a loud, simple message for the officials on the field:

Smith cuts back to his left to shake the defender, and by shake the defender we mean get an extra inch of breathing room to make the catch. It’s only a five-yard touchdown, but his moves in the end zone make it highlight worthy.

Smith has six catches on 10 targets for 127 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Baltimore has been talking up Smith’s ability to transcend the label of just another speedy role player. He looks to be living up to that on Sunday night. He came into this game with 108 receiving yards and no touchdowns in his first two outings of the season.

Reed got the flag, as you might expect, as this is the type of hit the NFL would like to make disappear amid widespread concerns and a class action lawsuit over head injuries.

Rice got the handoff from Flacco, as he often does, and ran it up the middle in a gap so wide Moses might have done a double take. He ran it seven yards for the score, his first of the night. Watch it happen in the GIF below:

That was rushing attempt No. 15 for Rice. He has 78 rushing yards and an average of 5.2 yards per carry. He also has two catches for four yards. Rice was averaging 6.4 yards per attempt through the first two games of the season. Surprisingly enough, he has yet to break the 100-yard barrier for rushing in a single game this year.

It was Pitta’s first catch of the night, but he gets big style points for the spin move on the catch and leaping over Patriots safety Steven Gregory on his way past the goal line.

Smith’s incredible speed has been a real asset for the Ravens this season. He had no problems getting past a lone defender as he streaked down the sidelines and into the end zone.

That one is Smith’s only catch of the evening, which made it a one score game for the Ravens, who now trail 13-7. A win would be the real upswing on an emotional roller coaster of a day for Smith.

Avert your eyes, kids. Uncle Bill is making bad words.

The refs have lost control of the Patriots-Ravens matchup. It’s a matchup that’s filled with bad blood anyway, but without any control, things are going to be feisty. And hey, that’s okay. Not my problem.

I’m just here for the boxing match.

Heading into this game, through two weeks of play, the Patriots had the fifth-most rushing attempts of any team in the league and the ninth-most rushing yards.

Edelman was streaking into the end zone, with what should have been a touchdown catch. He bobbled the ball and didn’t see Reed coming.

Ouch.

It would’ve been funnier if Tom Brady got hit in the footballs with a football, but this GIF will do. Centers, always make sure your quarterback actually wants the ball snapped. Otherwise, hilarity will ensue.

Good start for the Patriots.

For more Patriots coverage, check out Pats Pulpit. For more on the Ravens, head over to Baltimore Beat Down.

Two teams who have been great for a while. Here are three things to key in on:

My money’s on the offense.

In the initial Tweet, Smith said “this is the hardest thing ever,” and proceeded to Tweet a picture of his younger sibling. ESPN corroborates the report that Smith left the team hotel early in the morning after hearing of the accident. According to Evan Silva via Twitter, Sal Paolantonio said that Smith informed the Ravens that he still wants to play on Sunday:

There is plenty of time to make that decision. The Ravens don’t play until 8:20 p.m. ET, as they’re the showcased game for Sunday Night Football against the Patriots. Inactives come out approximately an hour prior to the game, so if it’s not reported by then, that will be the first indication of Smith’s playing status following this tragedy.

Time and Date: Sept. 23, 8:20 p.m.

Location: M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Md.

Local Boston writers don’t think the Pats have a very good chance, either. An NESN.com staff of two gave the nod to the Ravens as well. There’s no home cooking in New England.