Coming off two disastrous games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and Pittsburgh Steelers, the Baltimore Ravens bounced back agains the Oakland Raiders in Week 5 to improve to 3-2 on the season.
On the Ravens first play of the game, Joe Flacco hit Mike Wallace down the sideline for a 52-yard completion that later set up a 2-yard TD run.
On the Raiders ensuing possession, QB E.J. Manuel tossed a short pass to Jared Cook, who promptly fumbled the ball. Jimmy Smith picked it up, took it straight to the end-zone and just like that the Ravens were up 14-0.
The Raiders answered with a 32-yard field goal to make it a 14-3 game at the end of the first quarter. The Ravens upped their lead to 21-3 in the second quarter with a clock-eating drive that ended with Buck Allen punching in a 1-yard carry across the goal line.
The Raiders would bounce back when Manuel nailed a sprinting Michael Crabtree in the back of the end zone from 41 yards to make it 21-10. Before the half ended Justin Tucker chipped in a 22-yarder and made it a 24-10 game at the half.
The Raiders cut down the Ravens lead in the third quarter when Marshawn Lynch bashed into the end zone from 3-yards out to make it a one-score game at 24-17. But trusty Tucker was able to add a pair of field goals for the Ravens while the team's defense held strong to the lead.
Joe Flacco went 19-for-26 with 222 yards without an interception. Buck Allen totaled 73 yards on 21 carries while Alex Collins added 55 yards on 12 carries. Mike Wallace had three big catches for 133 yards.
The Ravens return home to face the 1-3 Chicago Bears in Week 6 at 1:00PM.
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