As Ravens running back Jamal Lewis took carry after carry late in the fourth quarter Sunday, he provided the Atlanta Falcons a reminder why he has been one of the most consistent running backs in the NFL over his seven-year career.
Lewis wasn?t flashy, but he was effective as he bulldozed his way through the Falcons? defensive front for 32 yards on eight carries, including a five-yard touchdown run to cap Baltimore?s 24-10 victory in front of 70,790 fans at M&T Bank Stadium.
For the game, Lewis finished with a workmanlike 91 yards on 22 carries while tying a career-high with three touchdown runs, all of which came in the second half. Lewis? other two scores came in the third quarter when he ran it in from two and 16 yards out. The latter touchdown represented the eventual game-winner, giving Baltimore a 17-10 lead with 20 seconds left in the quarter.
“It?s that great cliché,” Ravens head coach Brian Billick said. “Give a back enough of a chance to get going, and particularly Jamal. He?s a punishing style of runner that you can wear them down. I think that?s what we saw in the fourth quarter.”
Sunday?s game marked Lewis? first multiple-touchdown game since he had two on Sept. 19, 2004 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. His only other three-touchdown game came Dec. 7, 2003 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
While Baltimore has done more to establish its passing game this year with quarterback Steve McNair and receiving threats like wideouts Mark Clayton and Derrick Mason and tight end Todd Heap, the Ravens showed Sunday they still have faith in Lewis despite the fact he only had 12 yards on six carries in the first half.
“The coaches told us to go out there and be physical and execute, and we?re going to run the football,” Lewis said of the difference in the second half. “The offensive line took that to heart and went out there and played their best.
“A couple of times, it felt like old times. But it?s really not me; it?s the offensive line pushing guys down the field. The defense was tired and we took advantage of that, and it showed in the third and fourth quarter.”
Lewis? performance was even more impressive considering he ran behind two guards ? Chris Chester and Jason Brown ? that weren?t starters at the beginning of the season. Brown is playing in place of Edwin Mulitalo, while Chester got the starting nod in place of an injured Keydrick Vinson.
“I thought they were wearing down a little bit late in the third and into the fourth quarter,” Ravens center Mike Flynn said. “We got a little more physical with them and had some better runs, and that takes its toll. Not to mention, our defense was putting a lot of pressure on their offense, so they didn?t have a lot of time to sit and catch their breath.”
Baltimore Ravens
