Commanders @ Ravens
Final Score: Ravens 17, Commanders 15
Writer: Justin Herrera (@Semtexmex93 on Twitter)
The battle of the Beltway between the Ravens and the Commanders resumed on Saturday during Week 4 of the Preseason. The starters sat for each team, but that didn’t matter as the backups gave us a show. We got to see rookie Sam Howell play against undrafted free agent Anthony Brown in a very close matchup between two deep rosters. The game was close for its entirety but got real interesting at the end with the Commanders making a push to tie the game, but just fell short. The game result was Baltimore Ravens 17, Washington Commanders 15.
Washington Commanders
| Preseason Week 1 | Preseason Week 2 |
Quarterback
Sam Howell: 24/35, 280 yards, TD | 8 carries, 62 yards
Chris Paul does a nice job picking up this twist.
Sam Howell has VETERAN pocket presence. He always seems poised, and has excellent mobility when things break down. pic.twitter.com/CS2310PVbI
— Mark Tyler(Hogs Haven) (@Tiller56) August 28, 2022
Sam Howell is a natural leader and the perfect backup quarterback who might become the starter sometime down the line. The Commanders’ offensive line was dominated by the Ravens’ front seven, allowing twelve quarterback hits and five sacks. Howell throughout the game had numerous elusive runs for 13, 12, 10, and eight yards while tallying 62 yards on eight carries. Early on, Howell had a great connection with former Tar Heel teammate Dyami Brown, connecting on two passes of 26 and 16 yards. Brown, unfortunately, dropped a 26-yard touchdown due to a lack of concentration on Brown’s part. Another guy Howell often relied on was Jaret Patterson. The fourth-string running back was on full display as a receiver reeling in all four of his targets for 45 yards. Howell also utilized Marken Michel heavily, giving him seven targets, none bigger than a 28-yard pass that lead to the team’s lone touchdown. That touchdown went to Reggie Bonnafon on a 13-yard catch and go that brought the Commanders within two points. Although Howell failed to connect with Matt Cole for a two-point conversion. The final drive saw Howell miss Cole deep to turnover the ball on downs.
Running Back
Jaret Patterson: 11 carries, 47 yards| 4 targets, 4 receptions, 45 yards
Reggie Bonnafon: 10 carries, 24 yards | 3 targets, 2 receptions, 19 yards, TD
The running backs for the Commanders were also their most reliable receivers. Jaret Patterson looked good, albeit against players that are not first-teamers. Reggie Bonnafon started the game with 10 yards on his four first drive carries and would only tally 14 more yards on six carries. Bonnafon’s best play of the game was the flat route that he took to the house for a 13-yard TD. Patterson had 92 total scrimmage yards with big runs of 14, and nine yards, while his biggest play of the night was a screen that went for 18 yards. This set up a field goal and pulled the Commanders within a one-score game. Overall the best runner was Sam Howell, who scrambled for 62 yards.
After further review, it's a Reggie Bonnafon TD and the @Commanders are within two! pic.twitter.com/scm1UmBCfp
— NBC Sports Commanders (@NBCSCommanders) August 28, 2022
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Dyami Brown: 5 targets, 2 receptions, 42 yards
Marken Michel: 7 targets, 3 receptions, 41 yards | 1 carry, 1 yard
Dax Milne: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 37 yards
Matt Cole: 3 targets, 2 receptions, 36 yards
Alex Erickson: 5 targets, 5 receptions, 36 yards
Kendall Blanton: 1 target, 1 reception, 18 yards
Armani Rogers: 1 target, 1 reception, 6 yards
Sam Howell is getting actively sabotaged, I can’t take this pic.twitter.com/DpXXX9v5he
— Nico (@elitetakes_) August 27, 2022
Dyami Brown looked good early but dropped the ball on a 26-yard would-be touchdown. Outside of that lapse in focus, Brown strongly connected with his former college quarterback, as they connected on passes of 26 and 16 yards. After two drives, Brown took a seat and will likely cut. Marken Michel was the next man up, receiving seven targets. Michel snagged a 28-yard pass across the middle of the field and barely missed out on two touchdowns. One came on the fifth drive of the game, where Howell placed the ball on Michel’s fingertips in the corner of the endzone. The second TD missed was a slant on the third to last drive where he was taken down on the one-yard line. Dax Milne caught all four of his targets for 37 yards and will most likely be competing with Brown for the fourth receiver spot on the chart. Matt Cole high-pointed a ball for 28 yards and finished with two receptions and 36 yards. Alex Erickson worked well underneath catching all five of his targets for 36 yards.
Baltimore Ravens
| Preseason Week 1 | Preseason Week 2 |
Quarterback
Anthony Brown: 15/19, 256 yards, TD | 3 carries, 8 yards, TD
Tyler Huntley: 2/4, 25 yards
Anthony Brown goes deep to Demarcus Robinson for a 67-yard @Ravens TD!
📱: Stream #WASvsBAL on NFL+ https://t.co/ban2xDl7Z8 pic.twitter.com/L6Hm9NTCXN
— NFL (@NFL) August 27, 2022
Tyler Huntley went two for four for 25 yards, with a 17-yard pass to Josh Oliver. After two drives, Anthony Brown came in and found DeMarcus Robinson deep for a 67-yard touchdown. The Brown-Robinson connection accounted for more than half of Brown’s passing yards. And if Robinson had gotten two feet in on the first drive of the 2nd half, then he would’ve added another TD to his night. Brown was slinging the deep ball all night, hitting Oliver for 24 yards and Binjimen Victor for 50. Brown would also show off his scrambling ability by running in a six-yard touchdown. Overall, Brown should be a good practice squad stash for this team. It was also interesting to hear Brown say he’s been learning a lot from Huntley this offseason, who had a similar path to the NFL as an undrafted free agent. I sincerely hope this guy either sticks in Baltimore or finds a home in the NFL.
Running Back
Tyler Badie: 5 carries, 12 yards | 1 target, 1 reception
Nate McCrary: 4 carries, 1 yard | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 1 yard
Mike Davis: 2 carries
Anthony Brown TD ❗️@DafeOweh likes that❗️
Tune in on WBAL pic.twitter.com/VABvKo2YAg
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 28, 2022
Tyler Badie had a run of 12 yards, and that was just about it for this running back core. The Ravens relied a lot on their passing game in this game. While Anthony Brown did run in a touchdown, it was very uncharacteristic of a Ravens team to not run the ball. Mike Davis, who might be the Week 1 starter, received two carries and logged zero yards. Nate McCrary also ran the ball four times for one yard.
Wide Receiver/Tight End
Demarcus Robinson: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 135 yards, TD
Binjimen Victor: 6 targets, 4 receptions, 74 yards
Josh Oliver: 2 targets, 2 receptions, 41 yards
Makai Polk: 2 targets, 1 reception, 10 yards
Raleigh Webb: 1 target, 1 reception, 8 yards
Shemar Bridges: 2 targets, 1 reception, 8 yards
Ben Mason: 1 target, 1 reception, 4 yards
New #Ravens WR Demarcus Robinson in tonight's preseason game: 4 catches, 135 yards, 1 TD.
This route was filthy. pic.twitter.com/J1JcKhaBn5
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) August 28, 2022
DeMarcus Robinson showed why he was an off-and-on starter in Kansas City. He made quite an impression with his wide-open 67-yard touchdown and then opened up the game again with a 52-yard catch and run. Robinson missed a second touchdown by not dragging his foot in the endzone. Overall he’ll be on this roster on opening day and might have some value in fantasy football. Josh Oliver was another guy who impressed, snagging two big gains of 17 and 24 yards. With Isaiah Likely and Nick Boyle making this 53-man roster, I think Oliver will be cut but may find a home somewhere else or on a practice squad. Binjimen Victor also had a big 50-yard play in this game.