Ravens vs. Lions: 3 Winners and Losers

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Detroit Lions, 30-9, in the final preseason game for a good portion of the roster. Here are three players who helped and hurt their cause Saturday night.

The Ravens are 3-0 in the preseason after holding the Lions offense to 226 total yards and three field goals in a decisive victory at M&T Bank Stadium. All three units played well in the win and it looks as though the 5-11 season is well behind them.

Baltimore welcomed Joe Flacco and Terrell Suggs back on the field, and both players made their mark early. Flacco led the Ravens to points on his first drive since last November and Suggs had two tackles in limited action.

Mike Wallace looks to be Flacco’s favorite target, and I called the deep pass to Wallace in our game day preview. He might be the missing piece the Ravens were lacking in their offense last season, and a 1,000-yard season could be on the horizon.

The Ravens have to trim the roster to 75 players by Tuesday. Injured players will make up some of those roster decisions. Here are the players who have helped and hurt their chances of making the team.

Biggest Winners

Jeremy Butler: A player on the bubble in our prediction of who makes the roster, he certainly made a case to make the team. He leads the NFL in receptions during the preseason and last night’s touchdown grab was a thing of beauty. He should have had another touchdown, but a holding penalty negated the play. With the injury to Ben Watson, who I will touch on shortly, there is another opening on the roster and Butler has earned the right to make the final cuts.

Matt Judon: All this guy does it get to the quarterback. After leading the country in sacks a year ago, he has a sack in every game of the preseason. The fifth-round pick has been a menace for opposing tackles and the sack on Saturday came against Lions starting right tackle Riley Reiff. He has earned a spot in the rotation of pass rushers with his strong preseason.

Anthony Levine: The Ravens finished last in interception last season so seeing any player get their hands on the ball is a great sight to see. Levine has done it in back-to-back weeks and also recorded a sack on Matthew Stafford. A lot of teams are using safeties as linebackers in passing situations and Levine has thrived in that role.

Biggest Losers

Ben Watson: I hate to label him as a “loser” as this is about his injury. The Ravens had high hopes for Watson this season and it will be a huge blow to the roster. Achilles injuries are difficult to recover from and at 35-years old, we might never see him put on a Ravens uniform in a regular season game.

Matt Elam: Another player that will have season end due to injury, but he was going to struggle to make the team regardless. While Levine and Terrence Brooks have made plays when called on, Elam did little to merit a spot with the Ravens. The team will waive the former first-round pick and be placed on injured reserve if he clears waivers.

Shareece Wright: I hate to make it seem like I am picking on the guy, but he has done little to impress. Opposing teams are going after him and the guys behind him are playing well. Will Davis and Sheldon Price had strong showings against the Lions, as well as rookie Tavon Young. Wright’s spot with the team might not be in jeopardy, but his starting spot might not be secure.