The Baltimore Ravens lose their home opener at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 2 against the 1-1 Las Vegas Raiders 26-23. While going 0-2 is uncharted territory for a Lamar Jackson-led team, it might be the beginning of a tough stretch of games. The next 3-game gauntlet will test the AFC top contender relatively quickly under head coach John Harbaugh, whose seat is getting hotter weekly.
They must regroup fast and get a win or two in this stretch to stay competitive in the AFC North. The Baltimore Ravens are tied for last in the group with the Cincinnati Bengals and are two games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers at 2-0 while being a game back of the Cleveland Browns.
Baltimore Ravens Fall to Las Vegas Raiders 26-23
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The Baltimore Ravens have had consistent issues under John Harbaugh‘s tenure. This week was no different, as they blew another 4th quarter lead against Gardner Minshew, who also beat them last season with the Indianapolis Colts. Justin Tucker has had a rough streak on 50+ yard field goals stemming from last year, missing one in this game that would’ve tied it up.
From clock management to play calling, there were very few bright spots in a game where the Raiders’ top pass catchers caught heat after the first half and were clutch down the stretch. Despite the Baltimore defense harassing Minshew with a few sacks and an interception early, that was few and far between in the 2nd half. It was all through the air, as Vegas couldn’t run the ball throughout the game.
A highly touted “top coverage unit” was torched by veteran Davante Adams and rookie Brock Bowers repeatedly for big plays in the 4th quarter comeback. The teams coached by John Harbaugh display the same issues regardless of coordinator, health, and player personnel. It is reoccurring in both wins and losses, following a trend that tracks back the past 4 seasons with 10 losses with a 7+ point lead heading into the 4th, according to CBS Sports.
Next 3 Games Feature Fierce Opponents
The next 3 games include the 1-1 Cowboys in Dallas, the 2-0 Bills in Baltimore Sunday Night, and the 0-2 Bengals in Cincinnati as their first division matchup. The Ravens need to get their act together fast against a fierce pass rush coming off a loss against the 2-0 New Orleans Saints with Micah Parsons next Sunday.
The following week at home in primetime, the Bills will be a tough adversary that is likely a playoff contender in the AFC. A road game away against another AFC North team like the Bengals with their struggles is still going to be a challenge. Cincinnati has Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard, while Buffalo has Greg Rousseau, along with Von Miller to get after the quarterback.
Final Thoughts
Fans already want John Harbaugh gone after this loss, and it is certainly justified. While Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers looked fine, the offensive line with 3 new starters is liable in pass protection and the run game. A switch at a starting guard spot from Daniel Faalele to Ben Cleveland will need to happen sooner rather than later.
With their safeties and cornerbacks out there, they gave up way too much to just Adams and Bowers. Kyle Hamilton wasn’t used on the tight end as much as he should’ve been and while Marlon Humphrey had an interception, he was torched on a few plays by Adams. The pass rush with Odafe Oweh was productive but the defense again gave up too many big plays late in the game.
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