The Ravens absolutely went off to kick off their 2026 regular season, ripping into the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium with a massive 31-13 halftime lead. Jesse Minter’s debut couldn’t have started better, showing off an explosive offense that dropped 326 total yards on Indy while holding them to just 112, even with six penalties costing 55 yards. Lamar Jackson was slinging it, 12 of 18 for 229 yards and a touchdown. But the real fireworks, the truly historic stuff, came from Derrick Henry, along with an absolute masterclass from Zay Flowers and a sudden, terrifying scare.
Zay Flowers Was UNSTOPPABLE Until…
Talk about a debut for offensive coordinator Declan Doyle! His offense scored touchdowns on their first two possessions. Jackson himself punched one in with a rushing score to answer Indy’s opening touchdown. Then, Derrick Henry followed up with a 4-yard touchdown after Jackson pulled off a wild 16-yard scramble on third-and-16 to escape pressure. Doyle was cooking, even getting a 19-yard gain for Henry with a trick play that included a fake handoff, fake jet sweep, and a screen pass, keeping Indy’s defense guessing.
And speaking of cooking, Zay Flowers was the most dynamic player on the entire field. He opened Baltimore’s first drive with a massive 49-yard reception, repeatedly burning Justin Walley for separation. Flowers later motioned out of the backfield, snagged a short pass, and absolutely raced 54 yards for a touchdown. His five receptions for 150 yards? That’s an average of 30 yards per catch! Pure dominance. But then the concern hit: Flowers was listed as questionable to return with a hamstring injury. Fingers crossed that’s nothing serious. Meanwhile, the Ravens’ defense, after giving up a seven-play, 59-yard touchdown drive to start (Daniel Jones going 5-for-7 for 59 yards, Jonathan Taylor with the 1-yard score), locked it down. They allowed minus-1 yard per play on Indy’s second possession and a measly 0.3 yards per play on their third. Tavius Robinson snagged Baltimore’s first sack of the season, and Roquan Smith intercepted Jones after Kyle Hamilton created pressure despite a double-team. Marlon Humphrey topped it off by stripping Taylor and recovering the fumble, giving Baltimore two first-half takeaways. What a bounce-back!
King Henry Rewrites History as Penalties Loom Large
Derrick Henry, the absolute legend, was running wild. He rushed 11 times for 63 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. His first score was his 123rd career rushing touchdown, which tied him with Marcus Allen for third in NFL history. As if that wasn’t enough, Henry then busted out a 32-yard touchdown later in the half! That monster run gave him 129 career touchdowns, moving him past Hall of Fame wide receiver Marvin Harrison for ninth place in league history. King Henry is officially climbing the record books, and it is incredible to watch.
The only real speed bump in this first-half masterpiece? Penalties. All six of Baltimore’s first-half flags were committed by the offense, totaling 55 yards. Jovaughn Gwyn’s holding penalty erased Ja’Kobi Lane’s first career touchdown, which is just brutal. Rookie right guard Vega Ioane was called for holding twice, one of which wiped out Rashod Bateman’s first reception. Ronnie Stanley added a false start and a chop block, while Mark Andrews got hit with a false start. The offensive line had some great plays, no doubt, but those mistakes repeatedly put Jackson behind schedule. Tyler Loop sealed the half with a career-long 57-yard field goal, an absolute laser.
What a first half! The Ravens showed pure firepower, with King Henry climbing the record books and Zay Flowers putting on a show. But that hamstring scare for Flowers and those relentless offensive penalties? Those are the storylines to watch. Can they clean up the mistakes and keep the momentum rolling, or will the Colts find a way back in this wild one? We’re all glued to see what happens next in Lucas Oil!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
Leave a Reply