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Combining the versatility of quarterback Lamar Jackson with an opportunistic defense Julian Edelman Jerseys 2019 , the Baltimore Ravens charged into their bye with a three-game winning streak and a healthy lead in the AFC North.A week of rest should enable the Ravens (5-2) to get back wide receiver Marquise Brown (ankle), linebacker Patrick Onwuasor (ankle) and cornerback Jimmy Smith (knee) for a Nov. 3 showdown with the New England Patriots."I'm very optimistic that we'll be full strength coming out of the bye," coach John Harbaugh said Monday.Baltimore certainly didn't need those three injured starters Sunday in Seattle. The Ravens took charge in the second half during a 30-16 victory that extended their division lead to 2 ½ games over Pittsburgh and Cleveland.So what's not to like?Well, the bye week didn't exactly begin in uplifting fashion. Linebacker Pernell McPhee, who started all seven games and had three sacks, will likely be lost for the season after tearing his triceps Sunday."He's been instrumental with the young guys and been a very good player for us," Harbaugh said. "I see no reason why he can't recover from a triceps injury and be back next year stronger than ever."The Ravens' special teams also took a hit Monday when the team released Justin Bethel in order to receive a fourth-round compensatory pick. A three-time Pro Bowl special teams standout, Bethel had six tackles and a fumble recovery in seven games with Baltimore.Harbaugh said Bethel was cut "because of a funky rule the NFL has with these compensatory picks," adding, "a judgment has to be made for the future.""That's going to be a blow. We're going to have to find a way to overcome that," Harbaugh said.WHAT'S WORKINGJust about everything. Not only did Jackson ramble through the Seattle defense for 116 yards, but the Ravens scored two touchdowns on turnovers.Jackson carried the offense, averaging 8.3 yards per rush and converting several third-down plays with slashing, zig-zag runs into the secondary. He also scored from the 8 on a fourth-and-2 after asking Harbaugh to eschew a field goal try.The defense White Rob Gronkowski Jerseys , meanwhile, got a pick-6 from newcomer Marcus Peters and the clinching score on an 18-yard fumble return by Marlon Humphrey.Harbaugh dismissed the notion that Baltimore made a statement with the victory, but noted, "It's good confidence for us, in terms of going out there and winning in that environment against that team."WHAT NEEDS HELPThe pass rush managed only one sack, by L.J. Fort, giving the Ravens a total of 12 sacks in seven games.Only five teams have fewer sacks. Baltimore finished with 43 last year.STOCK UPThird-round pick Jaylon Ferguson was solid on the outside after entering for the injured McPhee."Jaylon played very well. He played his best game," Harbaugh said. "He gave us a couple of really big grabby tackles, to say the least. He was strong at the point of attack, applied pressure, ran to the ball."STOCK DOWNTight end Mark Andrews came in as the team's leading receiver, but he dropped the wet football three times — including once in the end zone. He was targeted eight times and finished with two catches for 39 yards.Harbaugh dismissed the poor performance as an aberration.KEY NUMBER500. Jackson has 576 rushing yards in 2019 and had 695 yards as a rookie in 2018. That makes him the second quarterback in NFL history with at least 500 rushing yards in each of his first two seasons, joining Cam Newton, who did it in 2011-12.NEXT STEPSHarbaugh gave the players a complete week off Rob Gronkowski Jerseys 2019 , a decision he said was made even before the win at Seattle."As a coach, you just have to make that determination," Harbaugh said. "I just don't feel like any practice this week is going to improve us more than rest is going to improve us, both physical rest and emotional rest. The coaches will be working, though, like we always do." As it turns out, coach Dan Quinn was smart to resist calling his Atlanta Falcons’ two-game winning streak a turnaround.Quinn used a cautionary tone last week when asked about the two straight wins. He said to check back around Christmas — or even Thanksgiving — to see if the Falcons’ surge would continue.Another smart call.Thursday night’s visit from New Orleans finds the modest winning streak looking like old news. Sunday’s 35-22 loss to Tampa Bay revealed the Falcons’ old problems haven’t gone away.Missed opportunities in the loss to the Buccaneers left the Falcons (3-8) alone in last place in the NFC South.It may be difficult to move up in the division without such offensive leaders as running back Devonta Freeman and tight end Austin Hooper, who have missed two straight games with foot and knee injuries, respectively. It is not known if either has a chance to return for the Thanksgiving night visit from New Orleans.The injury situation at skill positions could get worse, as the Falcons saw against Tampa Bay when Julio Jones briefly left the game with a sore shoulder. Jones returned, but he was obviously still bothered by the injury.The half-empty stands at Mercedes-Benz Stadium made the game feel like a preseason matchup. The Falcons’ reliance on backups at skill positions added to the late-August ambience.Atlanta again started Brian Hill as Freeman’s fill-in but on Sunday also tried Qadree Ollison. Neither was effective. The two combined to rush for only 34 yards on 17 carries. Ollison had a 1-yard touchdown run.Other backups, including wide receiver Christian Blake, saw substantial time. Third-string tight end Jaeden Graham had a 53-yard catch on Atlanta’s opening drive.WHAT'S WORKINGWhile the offense sputtered in the red zone, Younghoe Koo was a reliable workhorse. Koo White Tom Brady Jerseys , from Seoul, South Korea, was good on field goals of 25, 38 and 40 yards. He has made a combined 10 field goals the last three weeks.WHAT'S NEEDS HELPThe Falcons are still giving up too many sacks. Matt Ryan was sacked a season-high six times. The Falcons again struggled to generate a pass rush. They had no sacks, making their combined 11 in back-to-back wins over New Orleans and Carolina more mind-boggling than ever.STOCK UPRussell Gage, who has had a more prominent role following last month’s trade of Mohamed Sanu to New England, led Atlanta with eight catches for 76 yards. He is fitting in nicely as a complement to Jones and Calvin Ridley.Ryan said Gage has taken advantage of his chance to fill Sanu’s role.“When guys like him get their opportunity to play, sometimes playing brings out the best in guys, and when they're involved in a game the way you can feature them the way you want to use them, it allows for their development to kind of expedite,” Ryan said. “He's done a great job for us. He's been consistent. He's played tough. He's made people miss.”STOCK DOWNHill was held to 14 yards on nine carries after running for 30 yards on 15 carries in his first start at Carolina. He is averaging only 2.8 yards on 52 carries this season.INJUREDFreeman, Hooper and safety Kemal Ishmael (concussion) have missed two straight games. Jones’ status will be watched closely in the short practice week. He missed practice time last week with a sore foot and now has the new shoulder issue.KEY NUMBER12 — The six sacks are alarming. Ryan also was hit 12 times by Tampa Bay defenders. The ineffective run game only made Ryan an easier target for the Buccaneers’ pass rush.NEXT STEPSThe Falcons would have to finish the season with five straight wins to salvage a .500 record. No one is predicting such a surge, though a 26-9 win at New Orleans on Nov. 10 started the two-game streak. The return visit from the Saints on Thanksgiving night gives Atlanta a chance to show the win wasn’t a complete outlier.