The Baltimore Ravens opened a new coaching era by looking very much like the version of themselves the rest of the AFC fears most.
Baltimore rolled past the Indianapolis Colts 41-23 at Lucas Oil Stadium, piling up 506 total yards behind Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry and Zay Flowers. Henry rushed for 144 yards and three touchdowns, Jackson threw for 324 yards, and Flowers turned five catches into 150 yards and a score before leaving with a hamstring injury.
The Ravens were not merely efficient. For long stretches, they were overwhelming.
Derrick Henry turned Baltimore’s lead into a runaway
Indianapolis actually scored first on Jonathan Taylor’s one-yard touchdown run, but Baltimore responded immediately and never lost control again.
Jackson answered with a five-yard rushing touchdown, then Henry scored from four yards out to give the Ravens a 14-6 first-quarter lead. The game broke open in the second quarter.
Henry’s biggest run came on a 32-yard touchdown that pushed Baltimore ahead 28-6. He later added a third touchdown in the fourth quarter. By the end of the afternoon, he had carried 24 times for 144 yards, averaging six yards per attempt.
That production matters beyond the box score. Baltimore’s offense becomes especially difficult to defend when opponents have to devote resources to Henry while also accounting for Jackson’s legs and the vertical passing game. The Colts could not solve all three problems at once.
Lamar Jackson attacked downfield instead of settling
Jackson completed 17 of 25 passes for 324 yards and a touchdown without an interception. He also added 40 rushing yards and the early touchdown.
The passing efficiency was striking. Baltimore averaged 7.9 yards per offensive play, and Jackson repeatedly generated explosive gains without needing a high-volume passing day.
The clearest example was his 54-yard touchdown pass to Flowers in the second quarter. That play pushed the lead to 21-6 and changed the Colts’ defensive problem from difficult to nearly impossible. Once Indianapolis had to chase the game, Henry became even more dangerous because Baltimore could keep using the run without needing to force the pace.
The Ravens’ offensive formula has always been strongest when Jackson can punish defenses both inside and outside structure. Week 1 showed that the new staff is not trying to simplify that identity.
Zay Flowers looked like a true No. 1 receiver before the injury
Flowers caught five passes for 150 yards, an average of 30 yards per reception, and scored on the 54-yard catch-and-run from Jackson.
FSN tracked Flowers’ hamstring status entering Week 1, which makes the way his opener ended especially important. He was productive enough to dominate the game before leaving with another hamstring issue.
That creates the one obvious cloud over Baltimore’s win. The Ravens can survive short stretches without any one receiver because the offense has Henry, Jackson, Mark Andrews and multiple role players, but Flowers’ explosive ability changes how opponents defend the entire field.
Baltimore’s offense looked championship-level with him on the field. His health now becomes one of the most important Week 2 storylines.
The Ravens defense recovered quickly after Indianapolis’ opening drive
Indianapolis opened with a strong touchdown possession, but the Ravens defense settled down after that.
The Colts finished with only 251 total yards, less than half of Baltimore’s 506. Daniel Jones, playing his first game action since December 2025, completed 19 of 31 passes for 166 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Jonathan Taylor remained productive with 98 rushing yards and two touchdowns, but Indianapolis could not build enough offense around him. Once Baltimore created a multi-score lead, the Colts were pushed into a passing script that favored the Ravens’ pressure and coverage.
Baltimore also forced two turnovers and limited Indianapolis to 4.7 yards per play. The game was not a defensive shutout, but it was a strong response after the opening possession.
Indianapolis had no answer for Baltimore’s explosive-play advantage
The Colts’ biggest problem was not one bad drive. It was the difference in offensive ceiling.
Indianapolis had 251 total yards. Baltimore had 506. The Ravens produced a 54-yard touchdown pass, a 32-yard Henry touchdown run and another 53-yard reception by Chris Moore. The Colts’ offense rarely generated comparable stress.
Taylor gave Indianapolis a stable running game, and Alec Pierce led the team with 61 receiving yards, but Daniel Jones averaged only 5.35 yards per attempt. Against Baltimore, that is usually not enough.
FSN previously covered the Colts’ decision to install Jones as the starter with Anthony Richardson behind him. Week 1 does not settle the quarterback conversation, but it immediately raises the standard for what Indianapolis needs from Jones when the defense cannot keep the score low.
The Jesse Minter era started with an identity already in place
Head-coaching changes can create awkward transition periods, especially for contenders trying to preserve what already works while introducing new systems. Baltimore did not look caught between eras.
The Ravens ran the football 37 times, hit explosive passes, created turnovers and controlled possession for more than 35 minutes. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle’s system still centered the players who make Baltimore unique rather than forcing them into a generic scheme.
That may be the most encouraging sign of the opener. The Ravens did not need to reinvent themselves to start a new chapter. They needed to make their existing strengths harder to defend.
What the 41-23 win means
One dominant opener cannot prove Baltimore will remain this efficient all season, but the Ravens checked nearly every major box.
Jackson was explosive and mistake-free. Henry looked fresh enough to control the game. Flowers looked dangerous before the injury. The defense recovered from an early touchdown and prevented Indianapolis from matching Baltimore’s scoring pace.
The Colts leave with a more difficult set of questions. Taylor was productive, but the passing game could not keep up and the defense was overwhelmed by Baltimore’s three-level attack.
For Baltimore, the only immediate concern is Flowers’ health. Everything else about Week 1 looked like a contender announcing that the new era will still be built around the same uncomfortable truth for opponents: there are too many ways for this offense to beat you.