The Ravens were up 21-7 after 30 minutes in Week One, but they are lucky to be tied 10-10 after the same amount of time this weekend.
Sloppy play dominated for much of the first half for Baltimore, but they were able to get their act together enough to tie the game at 10 on a Billy Cundiff field goal just before the half. They had to settle for the field goal after Joe Flacco got sacked for the second time in a half that also saw him throw an interception. The drive started with great field position after David Reed, back after serving a one-game suspension, returned a kickoff 77 yards to put the Ravens in business.
The Ravens also turned the ball over on a Ricky Williams fumble and the offense has mostly looked like it is lost without a clue. The one exception was a screen pass that Ray Rice broke for a 37-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Rice broke four tackles on the run and got some terrific downfield blocking from his mates, but Baltimore has gained just 76 other yards so far.
Their defense has been better, although the matchup between Kenny Britt and Ravens corner Cary Williams bears watching the rest of the way. Britt has had his way with Williams, pressed into action thanks to the injury to Jimmy Smith, and then outfought Dominique Foxworth for a touchdown late in the second quarter. That’s four straight games with a touchdown for Britt, who accounted for 80 of the Titans’ 209 yards in the first half.
Chris Johnson, meanwhile, is still looking for the form that got him his big new contract. He ran for 23 yards on 11 carries in the first half and the Titans have relied much more heavily on the passing game as a result.