BALTIMORE — Backup quarterback John Johnson and the rest of the Ravens’ offense showed some life in the second preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday.
After struggling last week against the Eagles, Johnson had a strong game and completed 11 of 11 passes for 120 yards with a touchdown in a 13-12 victory. He finished with a 142.4 passer rating.
“I think I can handle everything that’s expected of me [with] regards to the operation of the offense,” Johnson said. “My style of play may not be as exciting as Lamar [Jackson], but in terms of making the plays that are necessary, I can do that. For me, I use my experience to my advantage. Being able to know what the defense is doing and knowing where guys should be, I know how to handle the protections and all those different things. So, I just try to make sure to bring that to practice and in the game, and every game.”
The Ravens had their biggest play of the preseason when third-string quarterback Emory Jones threw a 56-yard touchdown pass to Atlanta-native Dayton Wade on their first drive of the third quarter. Baltimore had 301 total yards after finishing with just 164 yards in a 16-13 loss to the Eagles last week.
“My boy ‘E’ [Jones], he [is] from the Atlanta area, too, so it’s just great for me to get my first touchdown with him, and his first touchdown with me,” Wade said. “That’s just a great feeling. Shoutout to Emory Jones.”
The Falcons scored on a 3-yard run by Jase McClellan with 36 seconds left. However, McClellan was gang-tackled led by outside linebacker Tavius Robinson on an attempt for a 2-point conversion.
“It means a ton,” Robinson said about the win. “We always want to win, whether it’s preseason or regular season. To make that play is a blessing for sure, and I’m glad we came away with the ‘W,’ for sure.”
With the win, the Ravens snapped a three-game preseason losing streak. Baltimore will play its final game against the Green Packers next Saturday at 1 p.m. at Lambeau Field.
The Falcons got a 57-yard goal from Younghoo Koo on their second drive. The Ravens’ secondary lost track of wide receivers Chris Blair and Dylan Drummond, who were able to pick up a couple of big gains for first downs. Koo missed other field-goal attempts from 40, 45 yards, and 49 yards.
Johnson threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to running back Owen Wright in the second quarter. That score was set up when Johnson completed a 31-yard pass to Tylan Wallace to the Falcons 5-yard-line.
Koo made a 24-yard-kick that pulled the Falcons to within 10-6 on the opening drive of the second half.
Ravens quarterback Josh Johnson (17) drops back to pass during the first half against the Atlanta Falcons at M&T Bank Stadium. By Tommy Gilligan-USA Today Sports
Superlatives: Undrafted rookie running back Chris Collier led the team with 29 yards rushing on 12 carries. Wade led the wide receivers with two receptions for 67 yards, followed by Keith Kirkwood (two catches, 37 yards).
Starting offensive line: The Ravens are still evaluating potential starters for the offensive line. The players who took first-team snaps against the Falcons were left tackle Josh Jones, left guard Andrew Vorhees, center Patrick Mekari, right guard Daniel Faalele, and right tackle Roger Rosengarten. Incumbent starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley did not play. Starting center Tyler Linderbaum is sidelined with a neck injury.
Out of sync: Vorhees got beaten for a sack on the first drive by rookie defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro. Then, Ben Cleveland, who took over at center on the third series, snapped the ball before quarterback Josh Johnson was ready. The ball sailed over Johnson’s head and the Falcons recovered on their own 43.
“That was just a miscommunication,” Cleveland said. “We were trying to go fast, and I was trying to get guys lined up, and everybody was talking and talking. You hear something from this side and something from that side, and I thought I heard the cadence. That’s completely my mess-up, and [it’s] on me, so we’ve just got to figure out how to differentiate that – the quarterback’s voice to everybody else’s voice – and move forward and not let it happen again.”
Ojabo makes preseason debut: Ravens outside linebacker David Ojabo played in his first game after undergoing knee surgery last season. Ojabo did not register a tackle but did a solid job getting pressure on the quarterback. The Ravens are counting on Ojabo to boost the pass rush this season. “He’s got moves, now we just have to give him the opportunity for him to be able to be healthy to execute those moves,” pass rush coach Chuck Smith said.
Rosengarten/Penix reunion: Rosengarten and Atlanta rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. were teammates at the University of Washington, which advanced to the national championship game last season. Rosengarten protected the blindside of the left-handed Penix, whom the Falcons selected with the eighth overall pick in this year’s draft. Penix did not play against the Ravens.
Judon finds a new team: Linebacker Matthew Judon spent four productive years with the Ravens from 2016 until 2020. He signed with the Patriots as a free agent and was traded this week to the Falcons, following a contract dispute. Judon did not play in the preseason game Saturday but he did greet several Ravens players and coaches before the kickoff.