It was a sloppy game in Indianapolis throughout, with the two teams combining for seven turnovers. After being held to two field goals on their first 10 drives, the Ravens finally found the end zone and cut the Colts’ lead to seven with seven minutes left to play.
On the Colts’ ensuing possession, they kept the clock running and moved down the field, well into field goal territory. Just when it looked like the Colts were either going to run the clock out, or at the very least kick a field goal, Matt Elam gave the Ravens one last chance by stripping the ball out of Ahmad Bradshaw’s arms. Baltimore’s comeback came up short, though, and Indianapolis held on for their third win of the season.
Here’s a look at a few notable individual performances from each team.
Baltimore Ravens — Performances of Note
C.J. Mosley, ILB: +3.0
Breakdown: Following a stellar performance last week, the rookie first-round pick followed it up with another solid outing. It wasn’t a perfect day for Mosley, who missed three tackles and allowed a touchdown pass, but certainly a positive performance overall. Grading positive in run defense and in pass coverage, Mosley was responsible for six stops. While his six receptions allowed on seven targets may seem high, they only went for 27 yards.
Signature Play: At 10:58 in the first quarter, Mosley sheds Jack Doyle’s lead block and makes a tackle for no gain on fourth down, forcing a turnover on downs just outside of the red zone.
Marshall Yanda, RG: +3.7
Breakdown: After a down year last season, Yanda seems to have gotten back to the level of play we were accustomed to seeing from him in the years prior. He has earned ‘green’ grades in all five games and currently sits with the highest overall (+12.1) and run blocking (+10.5) grades for a guard this season. Yanda was called for a holding penalty as he tried to pick up a stunt on a passing play, but it was the lone hiccup in what was otherwise a seemingly flawless performance.
Signature Play: With 10:29 left in the third quarter, Yanda is able to drive back Ricky Jean-Francois with one arm, allowing Ricky Wagner to easily pick up the block, and then continues to the second level to get a good push on Josh McNary as Bernard Pierce picks up 13 yards and a first down.
Lardarius Webb, CB: -2.0
Breakdown: It was a somewhat rough outing for Webb in his first significant action of the season. He led the defense in targets (10), receptions (seven), and yards (91), as he gave up six first downs through the air.
Signature Stat: Four of his seven receptions allowed came on out routes for first downs.
Indianapolis Colts — Performances of Note
Bjoern Werner, OLB: +4.7
Breakdown: Werner looked like the impactful player the Colts’ had in mind when drafting him in the first round in 2013. He was a force rushing the passer, picking up six pressures (two sacks. four hurries) and a batted pass that helped earn him a career-high +4.7 overall grade. With that said, how much was positive play from Werner in comparison to a poor performance from Ravens’ undrafted rookie LT James Hurst (-5.9)?
Signature Play: Werner picks up his first of two sacks against Hurst (Q1 4:19) with an excellent acceleration burst at the snap to beat Hurst to the outside.
Dwayne Allen, TE, +2.2
Breakdown: Allen found the end zone for the fourth time this season, but certainly had more impact than that as his three other receptions went for first downs. He also had a few good blocks in the run game to earn his highest run block grade (+1.1) of the season.
Signature Play: (Q3 2:40) Despite being thrown to the ground at the snap by Elam, Allen is able to quickly get up, continue downfield to catch a pass from Luck, and pick up a first down.
Jonotthan Harrison, C: -2.2
Breakdown: Despite A.Q. Shipley playing splendidly in the first four games and earning the third-highest grade for a center coming into the game, the rookie found himself starting in place of Shipley. Harrison wasn’t great in run blocking as he was beaten a couple times for run stops. He also had a high snap that cost the team 10 yards and another time failed to snap the ball on the correct snap count, causing a false start on the rest of the offense. It wasn’t all bad for Harrison, though, who was stout in pass protection.
Signature Stat: Harrison did not allow a pressure in 55 pass block snaps. Only two centers have taken more pass block snaps in a single game this season without allowing a pressure.
PFF Game Ball
Regardless of whom he was going up against, Bjoern Werner had an impressive outing and was a large part of holding Joe Flacco to just two completions on 14 drop-backs when under pressure.
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