Redskins at Ravens Week 5 : Highlights, score and recap

A sputtering offense and shaky special teams saw the Baltimore Ravens slip to a second-straight defeat, after losing to the Washington Redskins 16-10.

The Ravens made several key defensive stops, but still couldn’t overcome a very generous special teams and some blunders on both sides of the ball. Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins threw for a score, but the Ravens hit him often and took away his running game.

Baltimore passer Joe Flacco also threw a touchdown, connecting with Crockett Gillmore for the day’s first score. But it was Flacco’s other tight end, Dennis Pitta, who consistently undermined the Washington defense.

His clutch catches, along with tough and smart running from Terrance West, always gave the Ravens hope. They needed the hope after Jamison Crowder took a punt back 85 yards for the Redskins.

His six-point return was not Washington’s only big play in football’s third phase. Not when cornerback Will Blackmon ripped off a huge kick return, only for the Baltimore D’ to stand strong again.

But Pierre Garcon reeled in a 21-yard strike from Cousins, and Dustin Hopkins kicked a field goal, as the Redskins took control in the third quarter.

The Ravens should have bounced back quickly, but a depleted offensive line couldn’t protect Flacco, and wasted more good running from West.

Highlights

Three Stars

1. Terrance West

Washington’s D-line may have swarmed on Flacco, but the group couldn’t slow West. He impressed for the second time in as many weeks after replacing Justin Forsett as starter.

West consistently hit holes hard and made some snazzy jump cuts to wriggle free in traffic. One of his most impressive qualities was his acceleration. Whenever West saw daylight, he seemed to put the pedal to the metal and turn it up a gear, a major reason why he had runs of 35 and 28 yards, as part of an 11-carry, 95-yard day.

West is in because the Ravens wanted to go younger in the running game. What he’s done is change the nature of this ground attack. It’s not merely grind-it-out fare anymore.

Instead, these Ravens are now all about big plays between the tackles.

2. Dennis Pitta

Whenever Flacco needed a play, he simply looked for Pitta, and the veteran tight end delivered. He’d tallied 43 yards off four grabs, before finishing with seven catches for 59.

This was Pitta turning back the clock after a two-year injury nightmare. He was always available and never stopped working underneath to give his quarterback a get-out ball.

Flacco is struggling, but Pitta is in the kind of form to help get his quarterback back on track in a hurry.

3. Ziggy Hood

Trust a former Pittsburgh Steeler to enjoy wrecking the Ravens offense. If Flacco struggled, it’s because he rarely had time in the pocket, and Ziggy Hood was a big reason why.

In fact, the 6’3, 305-pounder consistently crushed the pass pocket. He split gaps and got in Flacco’s face, logging a sack and knocking down a pass on a key third down to kill another drive.

As usual, Washington couldn’t stop the run. But the Redskins made life uncomfortable for Flacco and his receivers thanks to an aggressive approach at both ends.

Defensive coordinator Joe Barry employed an uncharacteristically physical and risky man coverage it approach. It was a strategy that demanded a ton of heat up front to ease the pressure on those pass defenders matched up one-on-one.

Hood did his part to help Barry’s gamble pay off.

Next: NFL Week 5: 5 best games on Sunday

Next Week

The Ravens take on NFC East opposition again, when they face the New York Giants in Week 6. Speaking of the East, the Redskins will be involved in a vital divisional battle with the Philadelphia Eagles.