"Really, ever since we lost Ray Rice, we haven't had a type of back that’s quite like how Ray was and quite like how (Danny Woodhead) is in the passing game," quarterback Joe Flacco said. "They just have a very good feel for when they're open and how to get open, how to sit in holes, how to find my eyes, and you can already see that. You can see he has a really good feel for those kinds of things. If you remember back, obviously, Ray was really good at doing that, and that gives a lot to your offense for sure."

From 2009-13, no running back caught more passes than Rice, who averaged 67 receptions a season during that span. Over the past three campaigns, no Baltimore running back has totaled more than 45 catches.

Woodhead is expected to play a big role in the Ravens' passing game because two of Flacco's top underneath targets are gone. Tight end Dennis Pitta was released after re-injuring his right hip, and fullback Kyle Juszczyk signed with the San Francisco 49ers in free agency.

We can file this one under "Duh." Woodhead should catch a ton of passes for the Ravens, though we are a bit concerned about his playing time when Kenneth Dixon returns from suspension. Woodhead's third-down/hurry-up role should be safe with Dixon pushing Terrance West for carries on early downs.

Not since the days of Ray Rice have the Ravens had a running back with a knack for getting open in the flat, slipping behind linebackers or even breaking downfield to challenge a safety.

“Ever since we lost Ray, we haven’t had the type of back quite like Ray was and quite like (Danny Woodhead) is in the passing game,” quarterback Joe Flacco said. “They just have a very good feel for when they’re open, how to get open, how to sit in holes, how to find my eyes.”

“He was somebody that we targeted early in free agency and signed him right out of the gate,” coach John Harbaugh said. “He’s a very versatile running back for us. He can carry the ball, but he’s a big part of the passing game.”

Woodhead is an elite pass-catcher and an underrated runner. With Kenneth Dixon suspended for the first four games, Woodhead will form a committee with Terrance West. He should continue to be a good value in PPR formats. Keep in mind that Ray Rice averaged 4.25 receptions per game in his final five seasons in Baltimore, so if Woodhead's role is similar, he has 60- to 70-catch upside.

Joe Flacco threw for a career-high 4,317 yards and had 20 touchdown passes, but the Ravens averaged 42 passes and 23 rushes per game — an imbalance HC John Harbaugh wants to see corrected in 2017.

"Marty believes in running the football, and I believe in running the football," Harbaugh said. "We have not run the football well enough or enough, really, for the last two years. That has to change, and I think it goes hand-in-hand with being good at it and doing it a lot more than we do it."

Terrance West led the team with 774 yards rushing and rookie Kenneth Dixon had 382. Harbaugh expects both to be back next season, and hopes to add another couple of backs to the mix.

Dixon could be the back trending up the most here, and before he got hurt in the offseason, some who followed the team felt he'd eventually take over as the lead back in 2016. The Ravens never really trusted a rookie back to carry the load, but Dixon was certainly involved this season and has a chance to have a bigger role in 2017.

ter it worked last week, the Ravens plan to go to the no-huddle more frequently.

The team employed a hurry-up offense that exploded for 22 points in the second half of Thursday night’s 28-7 victory over the Cleveland Browns, coach John Harbaugh said going no-huddle should be a staple of the offensive menu for the remainder of the season.

Related players: Joe Flacco

Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg made the decision at halftime to loosen the reins on an offense that had recorded 14 first downs and 164 yards in the first half, but trailed 7-6 at intermission. Flacco, who had thrown just one touchdown pass in the three games prior to Thursday's, tossed three in a span of 18 minutes, 20 seconds during the second half. He completed 13-of-17 passes for 163 yards, three touchdowns and one interception in the half.

Joe Flacco will be available to play for the Ravens this Sunday against the Jets.

According to a report from ESPN, Baltimore did not promote practice squad quarterback David Fales to the 53-man roster.

The story went on to say the report doesn't indicate whether or not Flacco would start. Ryan Mallett would start for the Ravens if Flacco does not. It's a potential nice matchup against the Jets.

The Baltimore Ravens envisioned Joe Flacco firing soaring, deep shots to Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman, moving the offense briskly down the field and keeping defenses on their heels.

Through the first quarter of the season, the Ravens' passing attack has been anything but dynamic. It's been dink-and-dunk.

Flacco has thrown the second-most passes under five yards this season and ranks 30th in the NFL with an average of 6.3 yards per pass attempt. This style of conservative offense frustrates one of the strongest-armed quarterbacks in the NFL.

“We just make it so tough on ourselves,” Flacco said. “We throw the ball 50 times, and we only have 300 yards. You know, we have to move the ball down the field so methodically.”

Part of the problem has been giving Flacco time to throw deep. He was under pressure for 17 pass attempts Sunday, which led the league.

This is good news for Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman, who serve as the Ravens' primary deep threats, but it's one thing to have intent and it's another to follow through successfully with that intent.

Consistently getting open in the middle of the field, Ravens TE Dennis Pitta caught nine passes for 102 yards. In just his second game back after a nearly two-year absence, he produced his second-most receiving yards of his career.

"I see what Dennis is doing and, man, I'm inspired," Ravens wide receiver Steve L Smith Sr. said. "It's great to play with a guy like that. To see how he's playing after what he went through, and seeing him shifty and being the old Dennis, it's fantastic."

The chemistry between Pitta and quarterback Joe Flacco is remarkable considering they haven't been on the field together much. Pitta didn't play all of last year, and he missed a month of training camp with a fractured finger. When Pitta practiced during the spring, Flacco was sidelined while recovering from knee surgery.

Flacco threw to Pitta five times on third downs, completing four passes (all led to first downs). No one else on the Ravens caught more than two throws on third down. Pitta certainly seems worth a pickup if you're struggling at the position as the chemistry aspect should only get better the longer they can remain on the field together. The Ravens' other tight ends -- Crockett Gillmore and Maxx Williams -- have combined for two catches for 27 yards. Comparatively, Pitta has a team-leading 12 receptions for 141 yards through the first two weeks of the season.