It appeared the Ravens reached all-time low 4 weeks in the past after they allowed 4 fourth-quarter touchdowns to blow a 21-point lead and lose to the Miami Dolphins.
After which got here Sunday, a 24-20 loss to the New York Giants.
This setback isn’t on the backside of the barrel, however beneath it. The Ravens managed a brand new trick Sunday: they out-uglied the Giants.
It was embarrassing, even pitiful at instances, as a result of the Ravens managed the sport for greater than three quarters. Then, after Lamar Jackson’s 12-yard landing go to tight finish Mark Andrews gave them a 20-10 lead early within the fourth, they allowed New York to attain 14 straight factors.
It was paying homage to the Miami sport, however a minimum of the Dolphins have large receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. It was paying homage to the Payments sport — which the Ravens misplaced after they allowed 20 unanswered factors — however a minimum of Buffalo has quarterback Josh Allen and large receiver Stefon Diggs.
However the Giants? They've a quarterback named Daniel Boone, or Daniel Jones, or one thing like that. And he led them on a 12-play, 75-yard drive that pulled New York inside three factors with 6:01 remaining.
After which it obtained actually ugly. Jackson obtained an early snap from rookie heart Tyler Linderbaum, one he had no likelihood of dealing with, and made a much bigger mistake by rolling to his proper and throwing again to the center of the sector to fullback Patrick Ricard.
The go was picked off by security Julian Love and returned 27 yards to the Ravens’ 13. 4 performs later, Barkley scored to place the Giants forward, 24-20, with 1:43 remaining.
Two performs later, Jackson did not safe the ball whereas dropping again to go and was stripped by rookie outdoors linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux. The Giants recovered it on the 13-yard line.
Recreation over.
“Sure, we stopped ourselves rather a lot — quite a lot of missed alternatives on the market, particularly within the pink zone,” Jackson mentioned. “I really feel like we must always’ve put extra factors up. Little hiccups right here and there. We’ve obtained to repair these as a result of that’s making the distinction in our sport.
“We’re simply messing up ourselves. We will’t let that occur. The errors occur in follow and shouldn’t occur within the sport. However it’s part of NFL soccer. We attempt to overcome it, typically it occurs.”
This loss might be exhausting to beat. I’ve seen Jackson after playoff losses earlier than, however this was totally different. By no means has he appeared so mentally drained.
After which there was left deal with Ronnie Stanley viciously slamming his helmet into the bench quickly after Jackson fumbled. He’s had his personal share of disappointments, however he’s by no means been so demonstrative.
This ought to be a low level for Jackson. The fumble was considerably comprehensible, however the interception, thrown again throughout his physique with a result in shield, was only a boneheaded play, one which he has gotten away with a number of instances this season.
He ought to know higher. Jackson is in his fifth season and he’s attempting to get a brand new contract that may make him the very best paid participant within the NFL. That play is unforgivable.
It will be OK accountable Jackson if it weren’t for the ugliness exhibited by the Ravens. That they had 10 penalties for 74 yards, together with 4 false begins. That they had an unlawful formation penalty that nullified a primary down with 3:09 left and made it third-and-6. Jackson threw the interception on the following play. These penalties are blamed on the coach.
“That shouldn’t occur. [The Giants] had been shifting with a transfer name of some type; there’s no motive [for that]. We follow that on a regular basis; we follow that continuously. Our protection does it. It shouldn’t occur,” coach John Harbaugh mentioned.
“That’s the most important story for us, is profitable the sport on the finish of the sport. Making the performs that have to be made, and never making the errors that value you a chance to win the sport.”
Harbaugh tried to offer credit score to the Giants, however let’s not go overboard. New York has a brand new coach in Brian Daboll, and their gamers are on a mission to point out that former coach Joe Choose was the issue, not them. The Giants are a troublesome bunch, however they entered the sport with the No. 23 ranked offense and the No. 26 ranked run protection, permitting 131.1 speeding yards per sport.
The Ravens’ offense pushed them round, ending with 406 complete yards and 211 speeding. However they misplaced as a result of Jackson, who hasn’t performed properly in three weeks, overthrew large receiver Devin Duvernay on two attainable landing passes within the second and third quarters and missed Andrews on an extended go into the tip zone within the second.
They misplaced as a result of they've two cornerbacks, Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, who aren’t quick and need to maul receivers. The result's what we noticed Sunday in crunch time, when Peters’ interception in the long run zone was referred to as again as a result of he grabbed large receiver Darius Slayton and was flagged for go interference. Barkley scored the go-ahead landing on the following play.
At this level, there are quite a lot of inquiries to be requested about this crew. Are they in good bodily form after faltering down the stretch in three second-half collapses? Why can’t they cowl, and why do groups discover so many holes between the linebackers and secondary in crunch time? Playoffs? Let’s not point out that phrase for some time.
After the sport, the Ravens mentioned the standard proper stuff about profitable and shedding as a crew and placing this loss behind them as they put together for Cleveland.
However they may not beat the Browns both. They've offensive line, a robust working sport and a really athletic defensive entrance. They've some gamers who simply may star on different groups.
Due to the storied custom of enjoying nice protection in Baltimore, the Ravens have a historical past of profitable ugly.
This shedding ugly received’t stand.
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