The Ravens are alone atop the NFL 16 weeks into the regular season. But they haven’t just won their games; they’ve achieved something no team has ever done before, clobbering winning teams by two-plus touchdowns.
Monday night’s performance was arguably the Ravens’ best game this season, against their best opponent. In DVOA terms, the Ravens have returned to their historical pace.
The Ravens appear to be on another level, and their win over the NFC’s best has media members in agreement the Baltimore Ravens team are the best in football.
Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer: “You saw what I did—Baltimore totally choking out the presumed best roster in football. The final was Baltimore Ravens 33, San Francisco 49ers 19, and this one didn’t even seem that close.”
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: “The Ravens made it clear who the best team – and best player – in the NFL is right now.”
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec: “The idea of a statement game is largely overblown because statements are made in the postseason. However, for the Ravens to go into San Francisco and blow out a team touted as the best in the NFL says a lot about the type of team Baltimore has. The Ravens outplayed the 49ers in every facet. Their defense overwhelmed MVP candidate Purdy. Their offense scored points on seven straight possessions at one point. It got hairy late, as it often seems to for the Ravens, but they produced one of their best performances all year.”
CBS Sports’ Tyler Sullivan: “The Baltimore Ravens have put the rest of the NFL on notice. In what was billed as a potential Super Bowl preview as Lamar Jackson and Co. traveled to Santa Clara and delivered a 33-19 shellacking on the San Francisco 49ers to wrap up Week 16 and the Christmas Day slate.”
