{"numbering":"asc","slides":[{"index":1,"title":"","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/patriots_huddle_110319.jpg","caption":"

After feasting on weak competition through the first half of the 2019 season, the Patriots got their first real taste of competition Sunday night in Baltimore — and it didn't go well.

Early mistakes turned into a 17-0 deficit, and New England could never recover as Lamar Jackson and the Ravens put up 30 points on the Patriots' top-ranked scoring defense.

Here are Tom E. Curran's Best & Worst from the 37-20 Baltimore victory.

"},{"index":3,"title":"BEST COSTUME","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/ed_reed_110319.jpg","caption":"

Hall of Fame safety Ed Reed in a shiny black nylon windbreaker with Miami Hurricanes logo on the back and a black baseball hat was dancing in the end zone with a shield emblazoned with the Maryland state seal just before kickoff.

Photo courtesy AP

"},{"index":5,"title":"FOUR-POINT FLINCH","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/lamar_jackson_td_110319.jpg","caption":"

At the end of the Ravens opening drive, the Patriots stacked up running back Mark Ingram to force a field goal attempt. But as Justin Tucker lined it up, there was movement. Shilique Calhoun was called for a neutral-zone infraction. The penalty gave Baltimore a first down and Lamar Jackson walked in with a touchdown on the next play.

Photo courtesy AP

"},{"index":7,"title":"EDGE DEFICIENCIES","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/marquise_brown_110319.jpg","caption":"

The Ravens' first drive was aimed at getting to the edges of the Patriots defense. An option run, a jet-sweep toss, a sprint-out pass and then, the capper, a fake by Jackson into the middle of the line that caused Jamie Collins to take a false step and allowed Jackson to walk around him into the end zone.

Photo courtesy USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":9,"title":"EARL ON THE SCENE","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/earl_thomas_tom_brady_110319.jpg","caption":"

The Patriots first drive ended with veteran safety Earl Thomas chasing Brady into an incompletion then hauling him to the turf. As Brady jogged past Thomas after the play, Thomas gave Brady a low-five.

Photo courtesy Getty Images

"},{"index":11,"title":"GASSED AFTER ONE","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/gus_edwards_110319.jpg","caption":"

The Ravens had the ball for 12:48 in the first quarter. That length of time on the field for the Patriots defense was sure to make them a little gassed. It clearly did. The Ravens took over starting a drive at the beginning of the second quarter and ripped off runs of 53 and 12 yards.

Photo courtesy USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":13,"title":"IRONY RUNS DEEP","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/cyrus_jones_110319.jpg","caption":"

Former Patriot Cyrus Jones muffed a punt at the start of the second quarter. His chronic muffing got the second-round pick released by New England. He’s found a home in Baltimore. The muff was recovered by former Raven Justin Bethel, a player released by Baltimore in an effort to make their compensatory pick formula more advantageous.

Photo courtesy USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":15,"title":"OFF THE HELMET","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/lamar_jackson_throwing_110319.jpg","caption":"

Why do people say that maybe Lamar Jackson has a ways to go as a thrower? On his first third-down situation of decent length, Jackson delivered a three-quarters fling that ricocheted off the helmet of one of his linemen.

"},{"index":17,"title":"HIGH TEMPER","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/donta_hightower_110319.jpg","caption":"

Dont'a Hightower went into an impassioned sideline speech early in the second quarter after the Patriots had allowed 200 yards on the Ravens first three possessions. It worked. The Patriots forced a three-and-out.

Photo courtesy AP

"},{"index":19,"title":"FLYING SQUIRREL","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/julian_edelman_flip_110319.jpg","caption":"

Julian Edelman punctuated his first reception of the game with a leap and a flip. He does that a lot but he caught an impressive amount of air on this one.

Photo courtesy AP

"},{"index":21,"title":"THAT GUY AGAIN","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/lawrence_guy_fumble_recovery_110319.jpg","caption":"

Lawrence Guy, another former Raven, came up with a fumble recovery after a strip by Kyle Van Noy that set up a Patriots field goal.

Photo courtesy Getty Images

"},{"index":23,"title":"WEIRD INTERPRETATIONS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/tom_brady_vs_ravens_110319.jpg","caption":"

Tom Brady got whistled for an intentional grounding on a downfield throw when he anticipated a locked-up Phillip Dorsett to go to the outside rather than the inside where Dorsett went. Adam Butler got called for a neutral-zone infraction despite the fact he never entered the neutral zone.

Photo courtesy USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":25,"title":"COOLED OFF","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/lamar_jackson_110319.jpg","caption":"

Lamar Jackson was 7 for 9 for 59 yards in the first quarter and ran five times for 37 yards as the Ravens rolled up 133 yards of offense. In the second quarter, Jackson was 2 for 4 for 13 yards and ran four times for 2 yards.

Photo courtesy USA TODAY Sports

"},{"index":27,"title":"CHUNK DAMAGE","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/james_white_earl_thomas_110319.jpg","caption":"

The Patriots took over for their final drive of the first half with 1:43 left and three timeouts. They were able to mount an eight-play, 81-yard drive that ended with a Nick Folk field goal. Brady's pocket mobility and two brilliant throws to Edelman and James White on consecutive plays gained the bulk of the yards (30 and 25).

"},{"index":29,"title":"MOMENTUM INTERRUPTUS","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/julian_edelman_fumble_110319.jpg","caption":"

After a long drive to end the first half, the Patriots were flying downfield to start the second half when Julian Edelman got stripped and the Ravens took it back 70 yards for the score. Edelman handled the ball on the two previous plays and seemed a little burnt by the time the play happened.

Photo courtesy AP

"},{"index":31,"title":"MOMENTUM REGAINED","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/james_white_110319.jpg","caption":"

After the strip, the Patriots went extreme up-tempo and unleashed an 11-play, 75-yard drive that took just 1:35 for them to complete.

Photo courtesy AP

"},{"index":33,"title":"OHHHH, LAMARRRR…","image":"https://www.nbcsports.com/sites/rsnunited/files/archive/assets_media_gallery/boston/2019/11/04/nick_boyle_110319.jpg","caption":"

Jackson answered the Patriots drive that cut it to 24-20 with a late third-quarter drive that featured both a terrific fourth-down throw and a masterful scramble to set up a touchdown flip to tight end Nick Boyle.

Photo courtesy USA TODAY Sports

"}]}

Patriots vs. Ravens: Best & Worst from New England's 37-20 loss