On Sunday Night Football, the Baltimore Ravens found themselves not only battling the New England Patriots but the elements as well. Mother Nature once again turned the rain machine to max and dropped down rain at a high level, a level that once matched the explosiveness of Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense. On the faces of each player were glances of petrification and bewilderment in a 23-17 loss to New England. This was due to confusion of why the play on field was developing as it was. In fact, despite a 6-3 start, the Ravens haven’t been as on par as many expected.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens Not Meeting Expectations
Before the season, given how the Ravens had run over the league a year before, it seemed like a wise choice to put Baltimore in a Super Bowl contender category. While they are still second in the AFC North to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the lack of mystification from the offense is appalling. Lamar Jackson is without question one of the great ones in the league, but the offense doesn’t seem to be going smoothly.
There are a couple of reasons for this, one being the loss of All-Pro offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley. Against Pittsburgh, Stanley suffered an ankle injury that ended his season. Regardless of team, the loss of a left tackle, known as the blind-side protector for most teams, can be detrimental to an offense. The Ravens have substituted him with Orlando Brown Jr., a move that has left a hole on the right side of the line that is being occupied by former first round pick D.J. Fluker.
What must the Ravens do if they wish to re-establish themselves?
You can’t fix everything in one week and truth be told, despite the issues they have, the Ravens are completely fixable. In fact, given the pedigree of Greg Roman as an offensive coordinator, it’s not out of the realm for Baltimore to rekindle the spirit and bravado.
Furthermore, both sides of the football need to up their game. Granted, against New England, they sustained a number of injuries on both sides which can derail a team, but the great ones use what they have and maximize their potential for the benefit of their players. Defensively, despite the addition of Yannick Ngakoue, the pass rush hasn’t lived up to its billing, particularly on Sunday night.
It’s easy to come out with statements of how New England single handedly focused on the run, but when they dropped back to pass, only Matthew Judon found his way home. Defensive coordinator Don Martindale has a task ahead of him in trying to keep pace with the Steelers, who are 9-0 and leading the division as a potential favorite to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl in Tampa, a site where both franchises have come away with the Lombardi trophy in their possession.
Baltimore is not done yet, nor should they be counted out for any reason. However, there is a cause for concern. John Harbaugh must find a way to win now while Lamar Jackson is on a rookie contract, for the inevitable day that Jackson will be paid looms closer than ever.
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