Baltimore Ravens News: Oweh’s Big Week, Harbaugh Discusses Fourth Down Call, Bateman Update
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Odafe Oweh Named AFC Defensive Player Of The Week
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Odafe Oweh was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after a phenomenal performance in Sunday’s thrilling 36-35 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry took home Offensive Player of the Week honors, while Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Karson was named the Special Teams Player of the Week.
In the NFC, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray won Offensive Player of the Week. Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards was named the Defensive Player of the Week, and San Francisco 49ers punter Mitch Wishnowsky took home Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Oweh, drafted 31st overall by the Ravens, saved the Ravens from an 0-2 start when he forced and recovered a Clyde Edwards-Helaire fumble with 1:20 left. The Chiefs were in field goal range, facing a 2nd-and-3 situation, when Oweh made the play of the game.
The Ravens obtained the No. 31 selection from the Chiefs in the Orlando Brown Jr. blockbuster trade. So it was only fitting that Oweh would make the biggest play of his young career at the most opportune time against Kansas City.
This marked Baltimore’s first win against Patrick Mahomes, who held a 3-0 record against John Harbaugh and company.
Odafe and the Ravens will look to improve their record to 2-1 when they visit the Detroit Lions this Sunday (1:00 p.m. EST).
Baltimore is an eight-point favorite on the NFL lines for that game. Ravens fans who want to bet on games can read here more about Sports Betting in Maryland.
John Harbaugh On The Gutsy 4th-and-1 Call
Oweh’s game-saving fumble recovery may have been all for nothing if it weren’t for a risky play call by head coach John Harbaugh.
The Ravens faced a 4th-and-1 situation from their own 43-yard line with 1:05 remaining. Rather than give Mahomes the ball back — needing only a field goal to win the game — Harbaugh and Jackson dialed up a simple play call.
If the Chiefs defense stopped Jackson, Mahomes would have a short field with all the time in the world to set up a Harrison Butker field goal attempt.
But that was a moot point, because Jackson ran through the middle for a first down to ice the game. With the victory, Baltimore avoided their first 0-2 start since 2015.
After the victory, Harbaugh discussed the rationale behind the fourth down call to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated.
“I already knew we were going for it but it was just kinda … I just wanted to make sure,” Harbaugh said to Breer. “I really didn’t have an answer (if he didn’t say yes), but I think more than anything I just wanted to make sure he knew we were going for it because he was kinda moving back toward the sideline, and he was talking to somebody. Just wanted to make sure he was back in the huddle ready to go.
“And maybe he already knew we were going for it.”
Mahomes was having a field day against the Ravens, completing 24 of 31 pass attempts for 343 yards and three touchdowns. With eight career game-winning drives in the regular season already on his resume, the Ravens knew they couldn’t give the 2018 MVP the ball again.
“You want it to be close enough, and get a realistic shot…And like I told Lamar when we first went out there, I just said, ‘Get the first down. We gotta get the first down.’ We couldn’t give it back to Mahomes,” Harbaugh said.
Rashod Bateman Could Return Next Week
The Baltimore passing game could surely use rookie Rashod Bateman, who has been sidelined since August with a groin injury. Bateman needed surgery and was placed on the injured reserve.
Per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Harbaugh said “We’ll see” regarding the possibility of Bateman coming off the IR next week. Harbaugh added “It’s hard to predict that stuff.”
The Ravens selected the Minnesota wideout with the No. 27 selection in this year’s draft. Marquise Brown is the team’s leading receiver with 12 catches for 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Bateman’s arrival would add another element to an offense that has so far averaged a whopping 31.5 points per game.