Ravens followers made a mistake in the event that they booked airline and lodge tickets for the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.
Most followers turned giddy final week when the Ravens routed the Seattle Seahawks, however that perspective modified Sunday after a 33-31 loss to the Cleveland Browns earlier than an introduced crowd of almost 70,000 at M&T Bank Stadium.
After final week, the Ravens had supposedly develop into this monster with a quarterback who was going to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award and a record-setting protection that was nearly as good because the famed 2000 group that led the staff to a championship.
But the voice of motive stored saying, maintain on, be affected person, and let’s see the place this ends. So, for those who’re out of some hundred to a thousand {dollars}, you’ll be able to at all times get a refund.
Or higher but, be affected person.
Some thought the Ravens began to peak per week in the past, however it’s means too early. Sometime in December we’ll discover out precisely how proficient this staff is and the way far it will probably go within the postseason.
But proper now, don’t belief the Ravens.
They misplaced to the stumbling, bumbling Browns on Sunday, despite the fact that that they had a 24-9 lead early within the third quarter and a 31-17 benefit with 11:34 left within the fourth.
They misplaced to a staff that dedicated 10 penalties for 55 yards, fumbled a punt that led to a Ravens landing and missed the additional level try that ought to have tied the rating at 31 with 8:16 left within the sport.
They misplaced as a result of the protection gave up a six-play, 75-yard landing drive and a 12-play, 58-yard march within the fourth quarter, the latter of which resulted in a 40-yard subject purpose by Dustin Hopkins as time expired.
To quote former New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts coach Jim Mora in one of the vital well-known sound bites of all time: Playoffs?
How about simply profitable the sport and being constant. That’s how good groups develop into champions.
“Yes, you get put in a situation where it’s kind of a dogfight, [and] it’s a close game; these are the types of games that you’ve got to win [and] you’ve got to be great at,” Ravens tight finish Mark Andrews mentioned. “Everyone has got to lock in. No matter what happens in the first half, third quarter or however much you’re up by, when it comes to that fourth quarter, it’s time to go.”
Bingo.
The Ravens aren’t there but. The Browns tried to provide the Ravens the sport, however they gave it again. Few Ravens gamers will say it, however they acquired outhit Sunday. It’s one of many few instances since John Harbaugh turned coach in 2008 you’ll be able to say {that a} staff was extra bodily than Baltimore. When the Ravens performed in Cleveland earlier this season and gained, 28-3, they had been those who delivered the beatdown.
Cleveland had 373 yards of whole offense Sunday, together with 178 on the bottom. They had the ball for 34:15, almost 9 minutes greater than the Ravens.
In the fourth quarter, the Browns marched up and down the sphere, together with the ultimate drive that began on their very own 15-yard line due to a false begin.
Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh strip-sacked quarterback Deshaun Watson on first-and-10 from the Cleveland 31 with 3:02 to play, however the Browns recovered the fumble. On the following play, Watson threw a 17-yard move over the center to large receiver Amari Cooper, and Cleveland ran the ball 5 straight instances to arrange the game-winning subject purpose.
That by no means would have occurred to the 2000 Ravens. On Sunday, the Ravens’ zone protection was delicate up the center in opposition to each the run and the move.
“Yes, we didn’t play our specific zone coverages there — our split safety coverages very well — and that’s what happened,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned.
“A big part of the emphasis in the plan was to keep [Watson] in the pocket, retrace [and] tackle him coming back in the middle. When he took off — we call it the front door — that’s when he ran, and we didn’t want to let him get out of there, but he still did it. So, that’s something that was disappointing.”
Those are the issues that may be fastened within the second half of the season, however that’s another excuse why it was too early to have the Ravens penciled within the Super Bowl or lauded as an important staff.
Offensive coordinator Todd Monken remains to be studying the right way to use quarterback Lamar Jackson. Jackson is a good athlete who can hit quick to intermediate passes, however he struggles throwing the lengthy ball and often commits a turnover when he will get rattled.
That got here with 1:02 left within the first half. On first-and-10 on the Ravens’ 25, Jackson scrambled to the sideline for 9 yards earlier than being hit out of bounds by cornerback Mike Ford Jr., resulting in some pushing and shoving between the groups. On the following play, Jackson underthrew receiver Rashod Bateman and Ford picked off the move.
This has occurred very often all through Jackson’s profession. Monken additionally wants to appreciate that when Jackson is out of rhythm, the ball needs to be taken out of his fingers and the Ravens must run the ball.
And what occurred to speedy halfback Keaton Mitchell? The rookie had a 39-yard landing run within the first quarter and a 32-yard reception minutes later that led to a 37-yard subject purpose by Justin Tucker.
Then, poof, he disappeared quicker than Houdini. Mitchell had two carries for 32 yards within the first half however just one carry within the second.
“It’s just kind of the way it went as far as the play calling” Harbaugh mentioned. “It wasn’t a part of the plan or anything like that.”
It’s all a part of the training curve. Monken will determine this out, and so will defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald. The Ravens are 7-3 and nonetheless lead the AFC North by half a sport.
They get an opportunity to spit out this bitter style of their mouths by enjoying the Cincinnati Bengals in Baltimore on Thursday night time. The Ravens are a prideful group and can rebound.
But it’s nonetheless too early for anybody to make Super Bowl reservations. The Ravens can’t be trusted.
Not but anyway. This loss to the Browns proved it.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com