The Baltimore Ravens’ Week 5 matchup against the Oakland Raiders would have been different if Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (back) was available.
He wasn’t, though, and the Raiders simply aren’t the same team without Carr under center. Meanwhile, Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco and Co. took advantage of this en route to a decisive 30-17 victory on the road.
Flacco wasn’t overly stellar, but he didn’t have to be. What’s more important was he didn’t make mistakes — ones that have plagued Baltimore’s offense for the majority of 2017. All he had to do was get wide receiver Mike Wallace involved, testing a questionable Raiders defense in the process.
And with the Ravens defense holding its own against a Carr-less Raiders offense, this game seemed over before it even started.
Well, that’s what happens when Baltimore has a 14-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
Special teams, anyone?