OWINGS MILLS, Md. —
The Baltimore Ravens suffered their second loss of the season in what was a very winnable game, but came up short due to some lingering issues.
The offense struggled to move the ball against the Browns defense, which seemed to have an answer to everything offensive coordinator Declan Doyle had prepared for them. They only scored 10 points, although it should have been 13, thanks to a Tyler Loop missed field goal. That is still not enough points to win an NFL game.
On defense, they played well enough to normally win the game, limiting the Browns to 13 points and under 300 yards total offense. It unfortunately was not enough, as they allowed the Browns to drive the field to attempt the game-winning field goal. The defense did not get a turnover, which ended up being the difference in the game.
The fumble late by Derrick Henry allowed the Browns back in the game, but the offense had two chances to retake the lead and went three-and-out both times. The missed field goal was also a huge factor, as it allowed them to win the game instead of taking it to overtime. It is not time to panic, but here is a look at several concerning issues going forward for the Ravens season.
Lamar Jackson’s health
The offense struggled with backup quarterback Tyler Huntley and they clearly needed Lamar Jackson on Sunday. The Browns loaded up the box to stop Henry and basically dared Huntley to beat them through the air. He wasn’t able to get comfortable due to constant pressure and also lost receiver Rashod Bateman to injury just before halftime.
There was a little hope that Jackson would be ready for the Browns game, but most sprained ankles take at least two weeks, if not longer, to heal. If he is able to practice this week, then he could give it a go against the Cincinnati Bengals as they hope to avoid losing their first two divisional games.
Sunday’s loss showed the importance of getting Jackson back sooner rather than later. They have arguably the toughest three-game stretch of the season. It starts with the Bengals game before taking on the Buffalo Bills on the road, and finishing up that same week with a Thursday night game against Jacksonville at home.
Running game issues?
The biggest surprise from Sunday was the Ravens’ ineffectiveness running the ball. After rushing for over 200 yards against the NFL’s best run defense in Atlanta, they were held to only 87 yards against Cleveland. Derrick Henry was tackled behind the line of scrimmage multiple times, and his fumble in the fourth quarter was a game-changing play for the Browns.
This was the second game the Ravens averaged less than four yards per carry this season. Justice Hill did not have a carry, after rushing for more than 70 yards against the Falcons. The Browns were effective at loading the box and made running the ball a nightmare for Henry. The signs were there early in the game when Henry was stuffed twice at the goal line, forcing the Ravens to go for a touchdown on fourth down.
Inconsistent Kicker
Kicker Tyler Loop is having an up-and-down season. One week he is setting Ravens’ records and hitting walk-off kicks overseas. The next, he is missing crucial kicks that have cost the team. He was 1-for-2 on Sunday, missing a 48-yarder in the fourth quarter that would have given them a 13-3 lead. He has already missed three kicks (one was blocked) this year, almost matching his total from last season.
The Ravens need to score more touchdowns and stop relying on Loop for points, but need to be able to count on the young kicker to come through in the clutch. The team sent Loop a message after he struggled in the preseason by signing a kicker to the practice squad. It may be time to revisit that option, just in case another game comes down to one of his kicks.
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