Ravens vs. Eagles: Halftime Thoughts From Baltimore Preseason

The Baltimore Ravens' first unofficial half of football featured Zay Flowers' first professional snaps and a defense that bent but didn't break.

The most "renowned" Baltimore streak this side of Cal Ripken Jr.'s is officially in jeopardy.

As the Baltimore Ravens seek their 24th consecutive preseason victory, they're having trouble with the reserves of the defending Super Bowl finalists, down 13-7 at halftime at M&T Bank Stadium. Trey Sermon punched in the lone touchdown for Philadelphia, which also enjoyed two Jake Elliott field goals, while Devin Duvernay earned a seven-yard touchdown grab to account for Baltimore's touchdown. 

Ravens (10)

PASSING: Josh Johnson (8-of-11, 44 yards, 1 TD)
RUSHING: Justice Hill (3 carries, 48 yards)
RECEIVING: Charlie Kolar (2 rec., 14 yards)

Eagles (13)

PASSING: Tanner McKee (8-of-15, 120 yards)
RUSHING: Rashaad Penny (9 carries, 34 yards)
RECEIVING: Tyrie Cleveland (5 rec., 68 yards)

Do Your 'Jab

It was a trying, yet relatively rewarding, half-hour for the Ravens' defense. It allowed Philadelphia into scoring territory on each of its first five goes at it but let up only one touchdown. 

One also couldn't have asked for a better challenge than facing Saturday starter Marcus Mariota, as the newly-minted Netflix star is similarly skilled to elite Philadelphia starter Jalen Hurts. At the forefront of the effort was David Ojabo, who occasionally lost containment but was nonetheless active with his arms and legs as he continues to make his way back from a devastating Achilles tear. 

It was far from perfect, but if mistakes from effort are the worst-case scenario for Ojabo, that's an issue management can easily live with. Elsewhere on Saturday's first unit, Malik Harrison had a sack and he was credited with an additional pressure.

Flowers' Seedlings

The Ravens' premier pick, Zay Flowers, was one of the few (presumed) starters to don purple on Saturday. Hints of his ultimate impact were hard to come by, as it was hard for him to hit the open field behind preseason blocking. 

But Flowers' first NFL touch (an end-around where he just one yard despite a feisty Philadelphia swarm) hinted at intriguing gimmickry and he later put up a solid block on a Justice Hill counter just before Baltimore got on the board. 

Flowers also drew two penalties on the drive (a defensive holding and an illegal hands to the face), hinting at his true danger.

Sweet Justice

With each passing day that J.K. Dobbins lingers on the PUP list, the Ravens' summer rushing battle becomes all the more intriguing. It feels like Gus Edwards is safe (and the presumed starter if Dobbins can't go in Week 1) so the third-rusher battle should get some extra attention in the summer games. 

It might be easy for Hill to get lost in a packed room that includes Pro Bowler Melvin Gordon and undrafted rookie Keaton Mitchell, but he took advantage of the first half's primary reps, notably shifting momentum with a 37-yard burst into open field (assisted with a marginal block from quarterback Josh Johnson). 

Expect Gordon and Mitchell to get their turn, but watching Hill impress in live reps will undoubtedly count for something in this crucial decision-making period. 

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Geoff Magliocchetti is on Twitter @GeoffJMags

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