Ravens Throttle Saints to Keep First Place in AFC North

Lamar Jackson and Justin Houston powered the Baltimore Ravens to a 27-13 victory over the New Orleans Saints on Monday night at the Caesars Superdome. The Ravens improved to 6-3 with the win and remain in first place in the AFC North. 

Jackson had a 24-yard touchdown pass and rushed for 82 yards on 11 carries (7.5 average), while Houston recorded five pressures, 2.5 sacks and an interception. With Jackson’s 82 yards rushing, he surpassed Hall of Famer Steve Young (4,239) for the fifth-most rushing yards by a quarterback in NFL history. 

The Ravens held onto first place with the AFC North and moved to 6-3 on the season, one game ahead of the second-place Cincinnati Bengals, who are 5-4. The Cleveland Browns are 3-5, one game ahead of the last-place Steelers at 2-6.

With Gus Edwards out with an injury, the Ravens leaned on Kenyan Drake in the running game and he came through with 24 carries for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

Lamar Jackson had a relatively quiet night through the air, throwing 22 times, completing 12 for 133 yards and a touchdown.

Rookie tight end Isaiah Likely caught the lone Ravens touchdown pass. Likely got the starting nod with Mark Andrews banged up and he was the leading Baltimore receiver, with one catch for 24 yards. James Proche II had two catches for 22 yards. Drake had two for 16.

In addition to Andrews, the Baltimore passing attack was missing wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who will miss the rest of the season with an injury.

The Ravens and Bengals have their bye this week, after the Steelers and Browns were off this past weekend.

The Steelers will play the Ravens in Pittsburgh on Dec. 11 in Week 14 and then in Baltimore on Jan. 1 in Week 17.