Ravens Edge Vikings 13-3: Tai Felton Flashes, J.J. McCarthy's Line Stays Thin

Baltimore beat Minnesota 13-3 in a low-scoring Week 2 preseason game with Lamar Jackson never appearing in the box score at all. The Ravens never trailed, pulling away on a Joe Fagnano touchdown pass in the third quarter after a 3-3 first half. The two teams' backup quarterback situations went in different directions, and one Minnesota receiver made the single biggest play of the game on very little volume.

Tai Felton flashed with Minnesota's biggest play

Felton caught three passes for 66 yards, a 22.0-yard average capped by a 50-yard connection — the most explosive receiving line on either roster. Dillon Bell actually led Minnesota in targets with nine, but turned them into just 51 yards on six catches, a real-volume, low-explosiveness role by comparison.

LaJohntay Wester scored, and Joe Fagnano ran Baltimore's offense with Lamar Jackson resting

Wester turned seven targets into five catches for 24 yards and Baltimore's only offensive touchdown — real volume even if the per-catch numbers were modest. With Jackson sitting out entirely, Joe Fagnano ran the offense for the bulk of the game: 15 of 20 for 123 yards and the score, a 106.9 rating. Tyler Huntley was efficient in his own relief stint (5 of 8, 63 yards, 87.0 rating).

J.J. McCarthy's line was thin, and Jonathan Ward led all rushers

McCarthy went 5 of 10 for 81 yards and was sacked once, a 77.5 rating, in his own limited action. Carson Wentz was actually the more efficient Minnesota passer on the day: 9 of 11 for 92 yards, a 101.5 rating. Neither line should be read as a verdict on the regular season, but they're worth recording exactly as they happened.

On the ground, Jonathan Ward led every rusher in the game with 10 carries for 35 yards for Baltimore, in an otherwise ground-and-pound, low-scoring affair for both backfields.

What to do with this

Tai Felton's 50-yard flash and LaJohntay Wester's real target share are the two most useful things to take from a game this low-scoring. Check the rookie rankings to see where Felton and Wester currently sit, and use the best ball tool to see how the model handles a Baltimore backfield that barely saw its real starting quarterback all preseason. Full box score: ESPN.