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The Ravens scored 41 points and only punted three times in their victory against the Indianapolis Colts. This gave punter Ryan Eckley plenty of time to relax on the sideline and watch the game like a fan with the best seats in the house.
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When the rookie was called on to punt, though, he was excellent. All three of Eckley’s punts landed inside the 20-yard line, averaging 46.7 yards with a long of 53. That made life even harder on an Indianapolis offense that was already struggling to move the ball through the air. Jonathan Taylor found some success against Baltimore’s lighter boxes, but Eckley consistently forced the Colts to begin from poor field position.
Another Form Of Defense
Punters tend to be overlooked unless they are extraordinary or make a massive blunder, but their impact can be significant. A good punter can function almost like an extension of the defense, pinning opponents deep and lowering their chances of scoring. Historical NFL data estimates a drive beginning around a team’s own 20 at roughly 1.0 expected point, compared with about 2.0 when starting around its own 40.
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This is not to say Eckley is the second coming of Ray Guy. His value comes from helping Baltimore get the most out of its zone-heavy defense. If Eckley consistently forces opponents to begin drives deep in their own territory, the Ravens can make teams string together long possessions against a scheme designed to limit explosive passes. That creates more opportunities for mistakes and gives Baltimore’s offense a better chance to quickly get the ball back and allow their playmakers to do what they do best.
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This story was originally published September 14, 2026 at 1:48 PM.