First things first: Ravens 17, Saints 14. OK, now let's get to the stuff that actually matter from the Saints' preseason opener.
The rose-colored glasses way to look at a game littered with turnovers is to say it was a game that featured impressive defense. That was true at points, but the preseason opener definitely had its share of sloppy moments.
Oh, and there was a quarterback battle between Jameis Winston and Taysom Hill. Both quarterbacks played and threw exactly 12 passes. Here are my top five takeaways on that QB battle and more after a night of long-awaited, real-life football action out in Baltimore.
THE QB BATTLE
USAT ImagesTaysom Hill started the game, but it was Jameis Winston taking the snaps on the Saints' two touchdown drives in the first half.
Winston's 8-yard TD to Lil'Jordan Humphrey, shortly after a 33-yard completion to Juwan Johnson, likely gives him the slight edge. It was a lot closer than the scoreboard might show, however.
THE STATS
- Taysom Hill: 8-for-12, 81 yards, INT
- Jameis Winston: 7-for-12, 96 yards, TD, INT
Each quarterback threw 12 passes and was the trigger for one truly effective drive downfield. Winston was effective on the team's first scoring drive as well, though it was Tony Jones' three carries for 63 yards and a TD that truly stood out.
Each player saw a drive end due to a fumble. Hill's best series of the night stalled with a Latavius Murray fumble. That came after an 8-play drive from the Saints' 26 to inside Baltimore's 10. Both QBs also threw an interception that could be pinned on the receiver, but also some questionable passes that could've been picked.
Winston likely gets the starting nod against Jacksonville, per the plan coach Sean Payton laid out last week. But there still doesn't seem to be a clear front-runner after Week 1 of the preseason.
Rookie Ian Book took over for the second half, and Trevor Siemian didn't take a snap. Book was largely effective, completing 9-of-16 passes for 126 yards and an interception that ended the team's bid for a comeback in the fourth quarter. He's not a contender (at this point) for the starting job, but his first taste of NFL action had its positive moments.
━━━━
PUT SOME RESPECT ON MARQUEZ CALLAWAY
USAT ImagesMarquez Callaway has operated as the clear No. 1 throughout camp, and that was the case before Tre'Quan Smith went out with an injury. Nothing changed once he got on the field against the Ravens.
Callaway's day was done after the first few drives, but in that time he caught 3 of 4 targets for 61 yards. Those catches included a third-down conversion as he broke off a quick out underneath way-too-soft coverage from Marlon Humphrey. His final catch set up the Saints inside the red zone before Murray's fumble.
The Saints will be eagerly awaiting Michael Thomas' return, but it looks like Callaway will get his chance to shine in the meantime.
━━━━
BIG JUWAN & LIL'JORDAN
I've been doing my best to toss coal early and often into the hype trains for Lil'Jordan Humphrey and Juwan Johnson, and both big pass-catchers made that look like a good decision in the preseason opener.
Johnson only caught two passes at his new position of TE, but they were both pretty. On the first he worked up the seam and caught a pass from Winston in stride for a 33-yard gain. In the fourth quarter and with the Saints driving for a potential tying or go-ahead score, Johnson caught a ball from Ian Book to the left sideline, broke a tackle and finished the play for a 38-yard gain. That seam-stretching ability is what makes him an incredibly intriguing prospect in a Saints offense that needs threats in the passing game. His potential impact has become very real.
But it was Lil'Jordan Humphrey who raked in the targets, including the first one of the game that fell incomplete with a DB getting his hand in. Humphrey, who slimmed down over the offseason, caught three passes for 27 yards, including an 8-yard score. Humphrey worked up the seam, established inside position and boxed out the defender for the pretty score. His stock has never been higher, and he'll have plenty of more opportunities to solidify his roster spot in the preseason.
━━━━
PRESSURE, PRESSURE, PRESSURE
USAT ImagesNeither Cameron Jordan nor Payton Turner saw the field against Jacksonville, but that just meant more pressure to go around.
The Ravens' battered offensive line got no solace throughout this one, with pressure in the face of backup QB Trace McSorley throughout the first half (Lamar Jackson didn't play). One one play, linebacker Zack Baun came unblocked on an A-gap blitz, but Marcus Davenport beat his man on an outside rush so quickly that the DE was the first to contact the QB as Baun deflected the pass.
That was the night for the Ravens OL in a nutshell. Two plays after that batted ball, Davenport drove his blocker back on a bullrush and hurried a McSorley throw on third down. David Onyemata saw plenty of action, even lining up at DE. He saw snaps in the second half, getting in plenty of work before he goes on the shelf for a suspension over the first six weeks. The speedy Tyler Huntley got things rolling in the second half against the backups as the Ravens rallied for the win.
Even losing Onyemata, the pass rush will likely be a major factor for the Saints' defense staying competitive despite losses in the secondary.
━━━━
A ROUGH DAY FOR THE VETS
© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY SportsThe Saints didn't have Alvin Kamara on Saturday, and the other veteran running backs had their struggles. It started with Latavius Murray, who fumbled away a scoring opportunity in the first quarter. Veteran Devonta Freeman fumbled later, ending Jameis Winston's first drive after one snap.
While Murray's job is secure, Freeman's fumble definitely won't improve his stock as he battles for a roster spot. In Freeman's defense the former Atlanta Falcon played well the rest of the way and saw snaps into the second half, but veterans make rosters because they're dependable and can be trusted. One fumble won't undo an entire career of work, but it just makes the mountain he's climbing a little taller. Veteran Ty Montgomery also appeared to break off his route early on a Taysom Hill interception. The former RB is playing full-time at WR this season, a move that opened up Freeman's spot on the roster.
One reason that mountain exists at all is Tony Jones Jr., who put down a classic "just try to cut me"-type performance. He popped three big runs on a touchdown drive in the first half, and rolled up 82 yards on just seven carries in an impressive showing. A second-half fumble after breaking a big run took a bit of the shine off his performance, but few were spared from the TO woes -- the team had six of them -- so it'll be hard to hold against him.
━━━━
LAGNIAPPE: Michael Thomas didn't play, but his appearance on the sidelines might be the most positive development of the night. He was spotted on the field pregame smiling with his teammates while wearing a Saints jacket and hat. Later he had his receiver gloves on and was catching passes from Jameis Winston on the sideline.
After weeks of an apparent rift between the star receiver and team surrounding his offseason ankle surgery, he looked to all the world like a guy who wanted to be right where he is, well ... he'd prefer it to be in pads and a helmet, I'd guess.
━━━━
Follow Jeff Nowak on Twitter @Jeff_Nowak or contact him by email at jeffrey.nowak@audacy.com
