The Ravens have essentially the most correct kicker within the historical past of the NFL and nonetheless generally refuse to make use of him in doable game-winning conditions.
We’ve seen this earlier than. Twice, the truth is, simply final season in losses to the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers, setbacks that helped the Ravens lose six straight video games to fall from the highest seed within the AFC to out of playoff competition altogether.
Then got here Sunday.
Faced with a fourth-and-goal on the 2-yard line with 4:15 remaining and the rating tied at 20, Ravens coach John Harbaugh determined to go for it. Under stress, star quarterback Lamar Jackson underthrew receiver Devin Duvernay in the suitable nook of the top zone, and the go was intercepted by security Jordan Poyer.
The Bills then went on a 12-play, 77-yard drive that ended with a 21-yard area objective by Tyler Bass as time expired for a 23-20 Buffalo victory earlier than a disenchanted residence crowd of 70,494. Afterward, Harbaugh gave a number of causes for his choice to not ship out Tucker for the 19-yard area objective try, however they’re not acceptable.
I’m bored with listening to about analytics. I’m bored with listening to about an aggressive philosophy. The greatest likelihood for this crew to win Sunday was for Tucker to kick the sector objective and use the gang because the twelfth man to place much more stress on the Bills and quarterback Josh Allen. Instead, we acquired extra logic, and the Ravens misplaced their fifth straight residence recreation by a mixed complete of 12 factors.
Harbaugh defended his choice after the sport.
“Well, I felt like it gave us the best chance to win the game because seven [points], the worst that happens is if they go down the field and score — and I think we’ll get them stopped — but if they go down the field and score a touchdown, the worst thing that can happen is you’re in overtime,” he mentioned. “But you kick a area objective there, now it’s not a three-down recreation anymore, it’s a four-down recreation. You’re placing them on the market, you’re placing your protection at a drawback as a result of they’ve acquired 4 downs to transform all the best way down the sector and an opportunity to once more rating seven, and then you definitely lose the sport on a landing.
“So, then the worst thing … The other thing, you think [Buffalo is] going to get the ball at the 2-yard line [if the Ravens fail to score], so I’m very confident in the defense’s ability to stop them down there with the ball on the 2-yard line, so we have them backed up if we didn’t get it. It didn’t turn out that way, unfortunately, and we lost the game. So, hindsight, you could take the points, but if you look at it analytically, understand why we did it.”
Sorry, you ship out Mr. Automatic and also you get the house crowd razzed. Because of the rain, wind and soggy area, nearly something can occur, and the Bills have been down to 2 broad receivers, so that you a minimum of have some likelihood to win. After Jackson’s interception, the gang began submitting out of M&T Bank Stadium as a result of all Buffalo wanted was a area objective to win.
The underlying assertion of this choice is that Harbaugh has no confidence in his protection. You can’t blame him. The Ravens entered Sunday ranked No. 32 total — lifeless final — within the NFL, permitting 353.3 passing yards per recreation. They gave up 4 fourth-quarter touchdowns to Miami two weeks in the past in an identical meltdown.
But Jackson wasn’t having a very good day Sunday, and he appears to battle in moist and chilly circumstances. He rushed 11 occasions for 73 yards however accomplished 20 of 29 passes for under 144 yards and completed with a passer ranking of 63.0.
The largest distinction between Jackson and Allen is that Allen has reduce down on the variety of boneheaded performs he makes, whereas Jackson nonetheless forces sufficient passes that go away you scratching your head.
He had three Sunday, together with one through which he rolled to his proper after which threw again throughout his physique to the left facet of the sector to broad receiver Rashod Bateman within the third quarter for no achieve. He additionally threw a go to tight finish Mark Andrews down the left sideline that ought to have been intercepted, too, however Duvernay caught the carom for a 21-yard reception halfway via the second quarter.
Sometimes it’s higher to take a sack or throw it away than toss up a leap ball. That’s what Jackson did with the go to Duvernay.
On the fourth-down attempt, Jackson had working again Mike Davis open on a slant on the left facet and missed him. Then he was late throwing to Duvernay, who was initially broad open.
That’s the place Harbaugh has to have a greater really feel for the sport. His protection is horrible, however Jackson was rattled by the stress Buffalo was bringing within the second half.
Didn’t we see this final yr, too?
“It definitely affected him,” Bills linebacker Matt Milano mentioned of the stress in opposition to Jackson. “You could see he wasn’t as calm and cool sitting back there looking around. It definitely got to him, and it definitely worked.”
So, Harbaugh and the Ravens ought to have trotted out Mr. Dependable, Tucker, and put the factors on the board.
After the sport, the Ravens got here to Harbaugh’s protection, however what else did you anticipate? Who goes to disagree together with his choice, besides for somebody like cornerback Marcus Peters? He was irate on the sideline, slamming his helmet down earlier than being restrained from going after Harbaugh. Could it have been due to one thing else?
Either approach, we are able to attribute that to emotion and competitiveness, however privately these poor choices begin to negatively have an effect on gamers. During the flip of the century, opposing groups used to concern taking part in in Baltimore due to the deafening crowd noise and its top-ranked protection. But that’s gone now.
Back then, the Ravens acquired kicker Matt Stover on the sector to win video games. Now, Justin Tucker is an afterthought.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com