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Ravens Can't Afford to Let Zay Flowers Disappear Again
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- Ravens Can't Afford to Let Zay Flowers Disappear Again
Zay Flowers entered Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills hoping to build on his excellent start to the 2026 campaign. Those hopes were quickly dashed after Lamar Jackson was injured on his first play and Tyler Huntley went down soon afterward. Rookie quarterback Joe Fagnano entered the game but faced extreme pressure from Buffalo's pass rush and was unable to connect with Flowers despite targeting him five times. It was the first time in Flowers' career that he finished a game without a reception. With Baltimore's reported acquisition of veteran quarterback Jacoby Brissett , there is hope that the dynamic playmaker will have more opportunities to make an impact on offense. For that to happen, though, Baltimore's offense will need to function on all levels.
An Unfortunate Outing
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers (4) breaks away with a catch for a touchdown in the first quarter of the NFL Week 7 game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026. The Ravens led 13-0 at halftime.
One of Flowers' best abilities is creating separation from defensive backs due to his agility and quick changes of direction. These traits were still on display against Buffalo; on the plays where he was targeted, Flowers frequently appeared to be open, but circumstances outside his control prevented him from being rewarded for his excellent route running.
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The first example came on the opening snap, when Jackson suffered his injury. Flowers ran an out route and had a few yards of separation, with Jackson preparing to hit him in stride. However, Derrick Henry's block attempt on linebacker Terrel Bernard was ineffective, as Henry attempted to deliver a hit rather than sustain his block. Roger Rosengarten was also quickly beaten by Greg Rousseau on the outside. This pressure disrupted Jackson's throw, and his throwing hand collided with Rousseau, injuring his thumb. The pass bounced in front of Flowers, and Baltimore's two-time MVP was forced out of the game.
The next two targets resulted in an interception after Fagnano forced a throw into an area with multiple defenders, followed by a surprising drop by Flowers on an in-breaking route that he would usually catch. Moving into the third quarter with nine minutes remaining, Flowers was targeted on a comeback route where he had space after Christian Benford lost his footing when Flowers broke back toward the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, Rousseau once again beat Rosengarten and was able to tip Fagnano's pass, sending the ball several yards away from Flowers for an incompletion.
Flowers' final target was a forced throw on an in-breaking route that Damar Hamlin was in position to defend. Hamlin brought down the speedy wideout as he attempted to secure the catch, resulting in an incompletion. While Flowers is not immune to blame for his catchless night due to his earlier drop, Baltimore's offensive line needs to play better to give its quarterbacks time to complete these passes.
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Football is, in many ways, the ultimate team sport. It does not matter how individually great Flowers is or how many times he wins his reps against opposing cornerbacks; if his offensive line cannot keep defenders away from the quarterback, he cannot do what he does best.
Brissett is a solid addition to Baltimore and could provide some stability as a veteran signal-caller. His experience could help him get Flowers the ball in advantageous situations, but that will only happen if the offense is functioning properly, from the wide receiver getting open to the quarterback delivering the football and the offensive line giving everyone enough time to do their jobs.
This story was originally published by Athlon on Nov 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
