Unsung heroes from the Ravens’ Week 4 win over the Bills

The Ravens received impressive performances from several unheralded players in their second win of the 2024 season.

In Week 4, the Baltimore Ravens produced the most shocking result when they blew out the previously undefeated Buffalo Bills 35-10 at home on Sunday night. It improved their record to 2-2 and only has them one game back in the AFC North standings behind the Pittsburgh Steelers who suffered their first loss of the season to none other than a Joe Flacco-led Indianapolis Colts.

In a game where they were slightly favored to win, the Ravens got up but double digits and never looked back or even let the Bills get within 10 points as they found a way to dominate for all four quarters. However, they secured the victory thanks to some underrated yet impactful performances from a handful of well-known starters and several of their less-heralded players making plays on both sides of the ball.

This article highlights the players whose performances flew under the radar but were still clutch — the unsung heroes.

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Offensive Line

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After being viewed as a much-maligned weakness during the Ravens’ 0-2 start, their starting blocking unit proved to be an overwhelming strength for the second week in a row. They paved the way for the team’s third outing of 400-plus yards of total offense that included over 270 rushing yards in back-to-back games with 199 of them coming from four-time Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry. They were also excellent in pass protection with how they gave quarterback Lamar Jackson consistently clean pockets and ample time to throw from on most of his dropbacks.

“I just think they took a lot of heat during the season,” Henry said. “They didn’t complain [and] went back to work and kept improving. I told them, ‘I go as they go.’ [We’re] all tied in together, [so] when they [are] getting criticized, then I’m with them. I’m just proud of them, and they’ve been playing [their] butts off. Let’s just keep it going.”

Jackson went out of his way to praise the unit for their dominant performance, took sole responsibility for the one sack that was allowed when tried to scramble up the middle and singled out third-year pro Daniel Faalele for his much-improved play at right guard for the second week in a row.

“The offensive line did a great job; two weeks back-to-back,” Jackson said. “I believe we had one sack tonight; I believe that was my fault. I believe I should have gotten out of that, but the offensive line did a great job tonight. Like I said, [it’s] not just Pat Mekari, but Danieel Faalele, as well, because that’s the guy who they were sleeping on the most. Just all the guys, they just blocked their tail off, and they did what they were supposed to do.”

With starting left guard Andrew Vohrees out with an ankle injury, veteran utility lineman Patrick Meraki made his first career start at that spot, the only one of the five he had yet to check off. That shuffling led to second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten getting to make his first career start and he performed well.

“I have to give credit to the rest of my colleagues on the offensive line,” Rosengarten said. “These guys have played a lot of snaps in the NFL, so I get any information that I can from them. I got my first start and they came up to me and they believed in me. They said I got this. And with that 87-yard touchdown run, we couldn’t ask for a better start. No doubt.”

FB Patrick Ricard

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Whenever the Ravens’ offensive line is recognized, it’s safe to assume that their fourth-time Pro Bowl fullback also played a significant role in the offense’s success as well and that was the case again this week. Ricard could often be seen leading the way for Henry and the rest of the team’s ball carriers on several of their explosive runs sometimes taking out multiple defenders on the same play and finished as the fifth highest-graded player on the team according to Pro Football Focus with an overall grade of 83.

“When you have guys like Justice [Hill], Lamar and Derrick, it makes you want to block to the whistle and really move guys, because you know that they’re going to make someone miss, they’re going to run someone over, [and] they’re going to get that extra yard,” Ricard said. “For me, that’s why I’m here – is to block – and I take great pride in it, so I make sure that I play to the whistle, [and] I move guys. It’s just been a lot of fun this year, so far.”

Fullback is a position that by nature often goes overlooked and unsung but not in Baltimore and not in this offense as Ricard is an integral piece to the Ravens’ success. While all the dirty work he does usually results in those he is blocking for getting rewarded with touchdowns after Henry fumbled a carry at the one-yard line in the fourth quarter, somehow Ricard emerged from the scrum with the ball and his first touchdown of the season and the first of his career that didn’t come on a reception.

“I might not sleep tonight, but I might get a little sleep knowing that Pat got a touchdown,” Henry said. “But I always tell Pat I appreciate his unselfishness. Just going in there and blocking unwillingly; banging his head – he had a cut on his nose [and] still [was] practicing hard each and every day. In the game it’s not an easy position for somebody to just go in there and bang their head [and block] guys running full speed at them. Pat’s been doing this [for] a long time; he’s a Pro Bowl player and I’m glad I’m able to be his teammate and he’s the one blocking for me now. So, it’s been fun.”

TE Mark Andrews & Isaiah Likely

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For the second week in a row, the Ravens elite tandem at the position had minimal impact on the outcome of a victory as pass catchers but were doing the lord’s work as blockers in the run game on the perimeter. Likely was targeted twice and caught one for 26 yards on an explosive play and Andrews dropped his lone target of the game that would’ve resulted in a first down and then some. However, they both made several key blocks to spring the ball carriers for big gains including on Jackson’s nine-yard touchdown late in the third quarter to complete the momentum swing back in the Ravens favor after the defense forced a turnover on a Kyle Van Noy strip sack.

“Mark had some phenomenal blocks out there – I mean some dominant blocks; so did Isaiah,” Harbaugh said Monday. “Mark Andrews is going to definitely have big games here catching the ball. Isaiah [Likely]’s going to have big games catching the ball.”

DT Travis Jones

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Sacks are far from the only or even best barometer for how dominant an interior defensive lineman is playing at any given time and no player personifies that more than the third-year pro right now who has zero in four games but looks every bit of an All Pro candidate. With veteran nose tackle Michael Pierce out with a shoulder injury, Jones played a season-high 69% of the team’s total defensive snaps against the Bills and continued to be a disruptive force against both the run and as a pass rusher. He led the team’s defensive linemen in total tackles with four including a solo, tied outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy for the most pressures according to PFF with four and delivered a crushing blow to the Bills’ star signal caller on the same trick play he was stripped sacked on.

“I think Travis Jones is playing at a dominant level,” Harbaugh said. “That’s where the game is won and lost. Travis Jones is dominating inside.”