The Ravens got a historic performance from Justin Houston as Baltimore completed an emphatic beatdown of the Saints in New Orleans.
Lamar Jackson and the Ravens have let too many leads get away from them in 2022. This time around, Justin Houston and the defense didn’t let the opposition back in.
On Monday Night Football, Houston turned back the clock to log 2.5 sacks, five QB pressures and an interception as Baltimore bested the Saints, 27-13. The 33-year-old has spent much of the season proven he still has plenty left in the tank but this was his magnum opus.
NFL Twitter loved seeing Houston go wild, even if Andy Dalton was the one paying the price.
Best memes and tweets after the Ravens beat the Saints
The #Ravens have had some great defenses and Hall of Fame players in their history. How about this: Justin Houston is the first player in Ravens franchise history to record 2.5 sacks & an interception in the same game, per @ESPNStatsInfo
— Ed Werder (@WerderEdESPN) November 8, 2022
Lamar Jackson shows respect to Justin Houston during his post game interview, calling him a Hall-of-Famer
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) November 8, 2022
Justin Houston is unreal.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 8, 2022
Justin Houston is the first Raven in franchise history with three-straight multi-sack games.
— Ryan Mink (@ryanmink) November 8, 2022
He's up to 8 sacks this season.
Well AFC defensive player week is Justin Houston Offensive player is Mahomes. Ravens are scary. I’m not sure they’re not the best tm in AFC regardless of record.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) November 8, 2022
My dogs @Ravens balling 😈
— Marcus Williams (@MarcusWilliams) November 8, 2022
With that interception, the Ravens have forced at least one turnover (dating to last season) in 11 straight games, the NFL's longest active streak.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 8, 2022
Another game where the Ravens wore down the opposing defense on the ground. They had 56 rushing yards at halftime. At the 2-minute warning, they have 135 rushing yards in this half alone.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) November 8, 2022
Mostly Ravens fans left, including some who have made paper airplanes out of the Dome Patrol posters. That's how rough the night has been for the #Saints in the Dome tonight.
— Rod Walker (@RodWalkerNola) November 8, 2022
Andy Dalton dreaming about the Ravens defense tonight pic.twitter.com/2Oaenje9qK
— Pickswise (@Pickswise) November 8, 2022
Andy Dalton against the Ravens pass rush: pic.twitter.com/cANcW9H9Kf
— FanDuel (@FanDuel) November 8, 2022
It’s scary to think what this Baltimore team can accomplish with Lamar Jackson making plays at quarterback while backed up by a defense that only got better with the addition of Roquan Smith.
The Ravens took control from the get-go. Jackson hit Isaiah Likely for a 24-yard score in the first quarter before Kenyan Drake punched in the first of two touchdown runs to put Baltimore up 14-0. A Will Lutz field goal at the stroke of halftime salvaged something for the Saints with the score 14-3 at the break.
Field goals were all the rage in the second half. Justin Tucker hit from 32 and 41 yards while Lutz was good from 37 yards as Baltimore’s lead grew to 20-6.
Drake put the game away with a three-yard score following Houston’s night-capping interception in the fourth quarter.
Dalton’s 41-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson made the score look just a little bit less embarrassing for the Saints in front of their disappointed home crowd.
The win solidified Baltimore’s lead at the top of the AFC North over the Bengals. The loss for New Orleans kept them from creating a three-way tie at the top of the NFC South.