Running back Justin Forsett wasn’t even supposed to be one of the main factors of the Baltimore Ravens offense this year. But because of the transgressions of former star running back Ray Rice and his subsequent dismissal from the team and the stalled efforts of running backs Bernard Pierce and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro, somebody in the running back core had to step up. Well, tonight and for a solid portion of the season that somebody was Forsett, who carried 22 times for 182 yards and 2 scores which provided the Ravens the impetus to beat the New Orleans 34-27 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
Forsett who stands just 5 feet 8 inches and 197 pounds, leads the Ravens (7-4) in rushing yards with 903 this season. Forsett has never had a 1,000 yard rushing season in his seven year NFL career, but now he’s just 97 yards away from that feat with five games left in the season. In a career where he has always served as the change of space speedy tailback or that other guy in a running back core, where his season is going this year has to be refreshing to him.
Forsett was signed for $730K in the offseason and that contract was for just one season. With the season he’s had so far, the Ravens might want to restructure his contract when the 2015 Free Agency season comes around.
As for the Saints (4-7), they might want to restructure their sense of urgency because they are in danger of seeing their playoff hopes slip away. They have three more pivotal NFC South games including a matchup with the first place Atlanta Falcons on December 21.
As for the game, the Ravens got on the board first when quarterback Joe Flacco (18 of 24 for 243 yards and 1 touchdown pass) threw a difficult out-corner touchdown pass to wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. (4 catches for 89 yards and 1 score) versus blanket coverage from Saints cornerback Brian Dixon. It was 7-0 Ravens with 8:13 left in the first quarter.
Three drives later, Saints tight end Jimmy Graham (6 catches for 47 yards and 2 scores) got behind the Ravens defense and secured a 10 yard touchdown pass from Flacco to tie the game at 10-10 with 3:20 left in the first quarter.
Forsett scored his first touchdown of the game, on a 13 yard vision-heavy touchdown run to give the Ravens the lead at 14-7 with 9:08 left in the second quarter.
Down 14-10 the Saints took their last lead of the game, when quarterback Drew Brees (35 of 45 for 420 yards, 3 touchdowns and 1 interception) pump-faked and then threw a 26 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Marques Colston (4 catches for 82 yards and 1 score) versus double coverage. It was now 17-14 Saints with 17 seconds left in the second quarter.
Just when the Saints thought they were on their way to taking an important lead late in the third quarter, Ravens free safety Will Hill ran right in front of Graham and then stole Brees’ pass, with the defender then taking the theft 44 yards down the left side and into the end zone. It was now 24-17 Baltimore with 4:59 left in the third quarter.
Then later in the fourth quarter, Forsett closed the door on any chance that the Saints had of coming back, when he took a Flacco handoff, read his blocks that were provided by rookie tight end Crockett Gilmore and left tackle Kelechi Osemele, and then sped into the end zone untouched for a 20 yard touchdown run. It was 34-20 Ravens with a little under three minutes left in the game.
The Saints took over at their own 20 after the ensuing kickoff. Working in a frantic pace on this drive, Brees went 9 for 11 for 85 yards with 1 score which was a 2 yard touchdown pass to Graham, who caught the ball right just over the plane of the goal line. It was 34-27 Ravens with 40 seconds left in the game.
The onside kick by the Saints’ Shayne Graham went into the hands of backup Ravens wide receiver Kamar Aiken at the NO 45 yard line. One kneel down from Flacco and the game was over.
