Ravens’ season plagued with failures
As if things could not get any worse for the Baltimore Ravens, they decided to actually score a touchdown against the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. That sounds like a good thing. Too bad they had gone nine quarters and one overtime period without a single offensive touchdown entering the game. And when they scored over the weekend it was the final play of the game. The only other points scored were off of Justin Tucker‘s leg via field goals. Plagued with failures, the Ravens are sliding fast in the AFC.
What defeat looks like
Yes, the Ravens offense ended their touchdown-free streak, but overall their offense is as stale as saltine crackers left out for the same number of weeks that they’ve spent on the playing field this regular season. Even that may be too kind. Just because I mainly cover the Steelers, don’t think that I am dumping on Baltimore – I cover most of the teams, especially the AFC North and the Ravens really are that bad.
For the day, the offense was only able to earn 214 total yards and converted just six-of-16 third-down attempts. As the league’s 29-ranked offense, Joe Flacco was left holding the bag for the most part because Jeremy Maclin was inactive due to injury (shoulder), Breshad Perriman was still in concussion protocol and Mike Wallace received a concussion in the first quarter that kept him on the sideline for the rest of the game.
That left Griff Whalen, Chris Moore, and Michael Campanaro to pick up the slack at receiver. The three only combined for 12 catches and 104 yards – and not one of them got into the end zone except Moore on that 13-yard play that was fruitless.
It’s the biggest thing on everyone’s mind right now is getting the offense going, helping out the defense and getting points on the board. – M. Campanaro
The offensive line was already decimated and against the Vikings they became porous, allowing Flacco to be sacked five times (a season-worst performance). It was amazing that Flacco was able to stay upright long enough to complete 27-of-39 passes for 186 yards, especially since Whalen was just recently signed to the team. In the last five games, the Ravens have only scored three offensive touchdowns.
I wouldn’t say we’re overall trying to fix something that’s completely broken … We can’t look at it that way. – J. Flacco
I’m sorry, Joe. Look at it any way you want to but the offense is pretty darn close to being completely broken.
Untouched. @AnthonyBarr comes up with the sack on 3rd down. #BALvsMIN pic.twitter.com/w3oVOxDcCg
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 22, 2017
Defense no longer dominating
Remember when the Ravens defense was shutting down opponents in the run and keeping things tight in coverage? What about the fact they were applying heavy pressure on the opposing offensive lines and quarterbacks? That’s not happening anymore. Why? Because the offense can’t get them off of the field.
Baltimore was able to limit Minnesota to just a single offensive touchdown and forced six field goals by Kai Forbath. Looking at the box score, however, the defense had zero sacks. Not even Terrell Suggs, who has 4.5 on the season, could get into the offensive backfield quick enough to grab Case Keenum and let him eat turf.
We didn’t turn the ball over, and that was a goal in this game … But we didn’t do enough of the other things we needed to do to win the game. – Coach J. Harbaugh
Brandon Carr did grab an interception in the game. Unfortunately, the offense has not been able to convert turnovers into points on the scoreboard. They’ve had to rely on Justin Tucker to do that.
First play, first INT for @BCarr39. pic.twitter.com/rISoDgfLCf
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 22, 2017
Brandon Williams and Carl Davis returned to the lineup only to allow the Vikings to literally run all over them, giving up 169 yards on the ground and a 29-yard rushing touchdown by Latavius Murray. Murray had little difficulty pounding the ball right up the middle of the field on the play. On 18 carries, Murray gained 113 rushing yards; his longest went for 35 yards.
29 yards to the 🏡@LataviusM extends the lead. #BALvsMIN pic.twitter.com/OZFguxp2E0
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 22, 2017
Outside of the kicking by Tucker, even the special teams unit looked slow and sleepy, allowing three long returns by the Vikings. Combine the three squads and you have a Ravens team that is failing and at 3-4 on the season they face the Miami Dolphins on a short week at home.
