It took six games, but running back Willis McGahee finally reached his goal.
Whether it’s been suffering a rib injury, getting poked in the eye or reinjuring his surgically repaired left knee, the team’s primary running back had yet to make it through a game without retreating to the sideline.
Until this past Sunday.
The 6-foot, 232-pounder rushed for 105 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries in a 27-13 victory over the Dolphins in a performance that demonstrated why he made the Pro Bowl by rushing for 1,207 yards last season.
McGahee’s performance gave the Ravens (3-3) their first 100-yard rushing performance of the season. The team finished with 140 yards on 35 carries against the Dolphins after running for just 51 yards in a 28-point loss to the Colts a week earlier.
Still, the Ravens’ effort to run the football, which is their primary focus, must improve against the Raiders (2-4) on Sunday afternoon at 1 at M& Bank Stadium.
“Is the running game where we want it?” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said. “I think it was good last week. But as we all know, one week to the next doesn’t guarantee anything. I’m sure Oakland is going to be cranked up to stop that running game, so we’ve got to find a way to run it against them, and to throw it and to run the screen game and to protect the quarterback and all the things we have to do.”
The Ravens ranks seventh in the league with an average of 134.3 yards per game, but their average of 17.5 points per game ranks 26th. The Raiders have struggled stopping the run — they allow 136.2 rushing yards per game — and were shredded by Jets running back Thomas Jones for 159 yards and a touchdown last week.
“We feel like we’re right there,” Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco said. “We feel like we’re going to be there sooner rather than later. We’ve got to keep the confidence up and make sure everybody knows they’re going to be involved. And if everybody just goes out there with the mindset that we’ve got to be better from what we did last week, and we’ve got to continue improve, then we’re eventually going to get there.”
McGahee’s effort against the Dolphins marked the 20th time he rushed for at least 100 yards — and first since running for 104 yards against the Dolphins during an overtime loss last December. But it was nearly overshadowed when he fumbled on the Miami 5-yard line following a 35-yard screen pass from quarterback Joe Flacco. The next series, McGahee punctuated the scoring with a five-yard touchdown run.
“After that fumble, that was the worst highlight of my career,” McGahee told reporters after the game. “It was a good screen, a good run and it wasn’t a good finish, like it was all meant for nothing.”
RAVENS (3-3) vs. RAIDERS (2-4)
When: Sunday, 1 p.m.
Where: M&T Bank Stadium
TV/Radio: WJZ-13/ 1090 AM, 97.9 FM
RUSH HOUR
Here are the NFL’s top individual rushers
Name Team Yards YPG
1. Clinton Portis Redskins 818 116.9
2. Adrian Peterson Vikings 684 97.7
3. Michael Turner Falcons 597 99.5
4. Chris Johnson Titans 549 91.5
5. Marion Barber Cowboys 540 77.1
6. Frank Gore 49ers 535 76.4
7. Brandon Jacobs Giants 516 86
31. Willis McGahee Ravens 293 58.6
Here are the NFL’s top rushing teams
Team Yards YPG
1. Giants 1,018 169.7
2. Falcons 978 163
3. Redskins 1,107 158.1
4. Titans 927 154.5
5. Raiders 858 143
6. Patriots 815 135.8
7. Ravens 806 134.3
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