Big plays from Lamar Jackson doomed the Jets in the second half
A new season’s opener yielded only the same results for the 2022-23 New York Jets.
Lamar Jackson threw three touchdown passes, including two to Devin Duvernay, en route to a 24-9 victory for the Baltimore Ravens, who doomed the Jets (0-1) to their fourth consecutive opening week loss.
The teams exchanged punts over their first four combined possessions, but the Jets broke the streak in the most distressing way possible: Joe Flacco’s pass to a fallen Lawrence Cager instead ended up in the arms of newcomer Marcus Williams, a turnover that set up Justin Tucker’s short 24-yard field goal.
WELCOME TO BALTIMORE @MarcusWilliams ‼
TUNE IN ON CBS. pic.twitter.com/vFGY4oDXZx
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 11, 2022
Though the Jets’ defense held the Ravens’ offense in check (namely a run game that was missing J.K. Dobbins), their offense, with perhaps the exception of running back Michael Carter, failed to generate any forward momentum. Their most lucrative drive, a 44-yard, eight-play trek in the second quarter ended in a missed 45-yard field goal from Greg Zuerlein.
Baltimore struck further paydirt toward the end of the first half, when Jackson and Duvernay hooked up for their first score of the day.
Devin Duvernay snags an absolute dime tossed by Lamar Jackson. Filthy. #Ravens pic.twitter.com/EhzfUhIGyP
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltimoree) September 11, 2022
The Jets got on the board toward the end of the frame on a duplicate attempt from Zuerlein, making it 10-3 with 24 seconds left in the half. Quincy Williams had one sack for the Jets while Jermaine Johnson and Jacob Martin shared another.
Jermaine Johnson 🙌🙌 pic.twitter.com/IQeOjstx6h
— David Wyatt-Hupton (@DWyattHupton) September 11, 2022
Though the Jets continued to disallow Baltimore from long, time-consuming drives, they used more big plays to build its sizable advantage. Another Duvernay score, this one from 17 yards away, made it a two-possession game while Rashod Bateman more or less put the game out of reach with a 55-yard score of his own. The former touchdown came after a mere 20-yard punt from Braden Mann.
Lamar Jackson to Devin Duvernay x2!!! Touchdown Baltimore!! 🟣⚫✈️#BALvsNYJ#RavensFlock #TakeFlight pic.twitter.com/BdmQPlPWpX
— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) September 11, 2022
Lamar Jackson with a perfect 55-yard TD to Rashod Bateman.
Not great for the "he can't throw" crowd.pic.twitter.com/eC060hakpI
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 11, 2022
New York did manage to get on the board when all was said and done, as Flacco found Tyler Conklin for a three-yard score with exactly one minute remaining, though Zuerlein missed the extra point.
Jets avoid getting kept out of the end zone when Flacco hits Tyler Conklin for the TD. Jets missed the extra point, because of course they did. pic.twitter.com/82VAoe5CLz
— Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) September 11, 2022
The Jets will continue to work through an opening AFC North gauntlet in Week 2 when they battle the Cleveland Browns on Sunday on the road (1 p.m. ET, CBS).
