"Lee Evans gives the Ravens what they've been missing through the Joe Flacco years — a speed receiver who can get behind the defense and catch the ball.

They call him a vertical threat. But by any other name, Evans is the missing piece to a short-sighted and heretofore imbalanced offense.

In Anquan Boldin, the Ravens have one of the NFL's premier — and most powerful — intermediate receivers. In Ray Rice, they have a durable, play-making running back who can twist linebackers into soft pretzels. In Flacco, they have a fourth-year quarterback who throws the deep ball better than he sometimes throws the short ball.

Now, at last, the Ravens have someone for Flacco to throw that deep ball to.

After two preseason games and just seven practices, Evans already has catches covering 43 and 35 yards, the latter for a gorgeous touchdown Thursday night against the Washington Redskins. Late in the first half, Flacco heaved a cannon shot for the end zone, and Evans beat cornerback DeAngelo Hall to the ball, which he caught five yards deep in the end zone.

"Unbelievable throw," Ravens coach John Harbaugh marveled in the middle of the locker room later.

The question waiting to be answered after Evans, acquired in an August 13 trade with the Buffalo Bills, pulled down three passes for 60 yards against the Redskins, is how did Flacco and Evans get on the same page in the playbook so quickly?"