The Ravens gained 421 yards, converted 62 percent of their third downs and controlled the clock for 35 minutes.
So, what was first on the minds of the team's offensive players after Saturday's 17-13 preseason victory at Carolina?
"We wish we could have scored three touchdowns," quarterback Joe Flacco said.
The offense has set its sights high this season, especially when it comes to the red zone. The Ravens scored touchdowns on two of their three trips inside the 20-yard line, but some bad habits stopped them from being perfect.
The red zone has historically been a trouble spot for the Ravens. Over the past four seasons, the Ravens haven't finished higher than 25th in red-zone offense.
If Saturday night was any indication, ranking in the bottom third of the NFL isn't going to cut it this season.
"It doesn't matter that you score touchdowns on the other two. We still feel like we left points on the board," tight end Todd Heap said. "I think that gives us more motivation when you get down there. We know you have to be focused and have to be on your game. I think that's everybody's mind-set."
Maybe renewed success inside the 20 can be linked to the resurgence of two Pro Bowl players. The Ravens scored their last two times in the red zone by going to Heap and running back Willis McGahee, players who were relegated to secondary roles last season.
Heap, who dropped his first pass of the game, rebounded in the second quarter by getting behind Panthers linebacker Na'il Diggs in the end zone and catching a 9-yard touchdown pass. It was an encouraging sign for Heap after last season, when he caught only two touchdowns from Flacco.
Tight ends can be valuable in the red zone because big, fast targets can get open in smaller spaces.
"That's where you see tight ends make plays," Heap said. "You have mismatches and advantages."
The Ravens are banking that the development of Flacco improves their red-zone production. Because it's a tighter space to work, this is the hardest area to adapt to the speed of the game for young quarterbacks.
Flacco misfired on his first four passes of the preseason inside the 20-yard line before completing two Saturday.
"You've got to be able to score from the 10-, 15- or 12-yard line throwing the ball," coach John Harbaugh said. "To see Joe make that throw and Todd make that catch, those are the kinds of things that give us a chance to be effective down there."
