Saints-Ravens score, takeaways: Lamar Jackson stars as Baltimore crushes New Orleans for third straight win

Andy Dalton, meanwhile, did not put up a fight

Andy Dalton entered Monday night's matchup with the Ravens, an old AFC North foe, on a surprise hot streak as the signal-caller for one of the NFL's most explosive offenses of late. Anyone betting on the ex-Bengals quarterback to show out in prime time, however, needed only to look to the other sideline to know better. Lamar Jackson, king of the highlight-reel play this side of Patrick Mahomes, seized the spotlight in Week 9's finale, carrying an otherwise erratic Baltimore attack to help the Ravens cruise past the Saints in New Orleans. His legs, coupled with a monster night for veteran pass rusher Justin Houston, headlined a 27-13 victory for the visitors, giving the Ravens their third straight "W" to stay atop their division.

The Saints, meanwhile, fall to 3-6 with the ugly defeat, and a full game behind the Buccaneers and Falcons in the sloppy NFC South. Despite another relatively productive night from rookie receiver Chris Olave, they failed to register any rhythm with the ball in their hands, and Dalton turned in his worst performance since taking over for Jameis Winston in Week 4.

Here are some additional takeaways from Monday night's Ravens rout:

Why the Ravens won

It wasn't because they figured out how to move the ball through the air with consistency; DeSean Jackson's debut predictably ended early due to injury, and James Proche was somehow the only receiver to log at least two catches. But Lamar Jackson still did his thing, finding Isaiah Likely on a perfect floater for an early touchdown and showcasing the moves of an elite running back in, around and beyond the pocket, teaming up with a busy Kenyan Drake (two TDs) to help fuel the game's superior backfield. Defensively, the Ravens were just as, if not more, impressive; Justin Houston, 33, took it back to 23 with 2.5 sacks and a tipped-pass pick, while Marlon Humphrey notched his own takedown on the blitz and newcomer Roquan Smith made his presence felt, recording a third-down stuff. Neutralizing Alvin Kamara, the "D" won against Andy Dalton from start to finish.

Why the Saints lost

Dennis Allen's squad simply lacked execution and energy on both sides of the ball. It was a totally hapless performance for a team under the lights on its own turf, with a chance to get even in an ugly division. Andy Dalton never looked comfortable facing pressure from Baltimore's front, taking some nasty shots in particular from Calais Campbell and Justin Houston. The ground game was nonexistent. Even worse, Allen's defense tried and failed to use a heavy dosage of blitzing to bottle up Lamar Jackson, whose athleticism won the night. In doing so, it also became something of a sieve against the run, allowing Jackson and Drake to combine for 175 yards. The Ravens were just physically faster and stronger -- downright better -- for the duration of the matchup.

Turning point

The Ravens only led 7-0 deep into the second quarter, so it's not as if Baltimore ran away with it out of the gate, but the minute the Saints went three-and-out following Lamar Jackson's first scoring drive, whatever air remained in New Orleans coming into the contest seemed to deflate. Taysom Hill opened the team's third offensive series but had a short run negated by a penalty, and then Dalton absorbed one of Houston's several sacks to cap the drive, preserving the Ravens' momentum. By the end of their subsequent series, the Saints had managed just 13 total plays through four possessions.

Play of the game

Give it to the one-man band on the Ravens offense: facing a third-and-1, up 17-6 in the fourth, Lamar all but sealed the victory with his elusive scramble past the sticks:

What's next

The Ravens (6-3) will rest up on their bye before returning in Week 11 to host the Panthers (2-7), who went back to Baker Mayfield in a big loss to the Bengals on Sunday. The Saints (3-6), meanwhile, will travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers (2-6), who lost to the Eagles before taking their bye this week.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 11:07 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

That'll do it for this one, folks. Thanks for spending your Monday evening with us.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 11:05 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Either way, Baltimore will move to 6-3, and New Orleans will drop to 3-6. The Ravens are on their bye next week, while the Saints will take on the Steelers. 

[Nov 7, 2022 at 11:04 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Third-and-2 coming up and if the Ravens get a first down here they can just kneel on it.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 11:00 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Drake has run really well in the second half. Doing a nice job filling in for the injured Dobbins and Edwards tonight.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:54 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Saints probably have to think about an onside kick here even though they have all three timeouts. They do need two scores, after all.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:53 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

I don't know if that can be overturned. He might be out of bounds but I don't think it's definitive.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:52 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Uh, it looks like all of the Ravens thought Juwan Johnson went out of bounds and he just didn't? And then he ran right to the end zone. 

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:49 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Chris Olave is the only Saint who has gotten much of anything going in this one, with his 6 catches for 71 yards. 

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:43 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Drake into the end zone yet again, and that will probably do it for this one. Three-score lead for the Ravens.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:41 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

What a monster game for Justin Houston. 2.5 sacks, 3 QB hits, and now an interception.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:36 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Bad drop from Isaiah Likely almost turned into something much worse. Ravens still get a shot at a Justin Tucker field goal after a calamitous end of that drive.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:33 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Lamar just had to push RT Morgan Moses out of the way so he could get downfield. That was great.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:30 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Drake is now up to 61 yards on 12 rushes. Over 5 per carry. Last few runs have been decent chunk gains.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:25 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Instead it's an incomplete pass and then Dalton gets demolished by Justin Houston and Calais Campbell on third down. Yikes.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:25 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Sure seemed like Patrick Queen got there a little early on the pass to Kamara. Probably should have been PI.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:22 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

LB Pete Werner is questionable to return for New Orleans, which is less than ideal. He and Demario Davis are one of the league's better linebacker combos.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:21 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Headed to the fourth quarter with the Ravens leading 17-6. This has been a fairly quick game so far, which is not surprising given all the rushing attempts, I suppose.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:13 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Corner blitz from Dalton's blind side and Marlon Humphrey gets his first sack of the season. Dalton had no chance. Already getting hit as he got to the top of his drop.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:10 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Chris Olave is already so good at finding the soft spots against zone coverage. He does a great job coming back to attack the ball instead of just letting it come to him as well.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:06 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Dalton tried to step up through pressure and got planted by Justin Houston. Looked like a fumble at first but apparently they're ruling it was caused by the ground.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 10:04 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Finally some room to run for Kamara, who has been bottled up for most of the game. He hasn't been able to get into open space very often.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:59 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

That's another one Lamar would like to have back. Both times he escaped from heavy pressure and found an open man, but just biffed the throw.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:58 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

If Lamar leads Oliver with that throw, it's an easy touchdown. One of his few real bad misses of the night. 

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:55 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Lamar is just so fast to the edge. Almost impossible to keep him from turning the corner when he hits the jets.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:51 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Best run of the night for either time with Kenyan Drake breaking off a nice clip through the left side of the Baltimore offensive line. Ravens have been searching for an effective back throughout the season due to their various injuries.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:49 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Baltimore has a chance to extend this lead to three scores with the opening possession of the second half. Given how the Saints offense has looked tonight, that might actually be enough to put it away.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:34 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Looks like there's enough time for one more shot to the end zone before the Saints bring Wil Lutz on for a field goal attempt.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:33 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

Wow, Dalton JUST missed a wide-open Callaway in the end zone. That would have been a huge score for the Saints.

[Nov 7, 2022 at 9:27 pm ET · Jared Dubin]

The Saints finally picked up another first down. They got one on the first snap of the game and hadn't gotten one since.