One day after head coach John Harbaugh had many of us scratching our heads when he sent kicker Justin Tucker out to attempt a 37-yard field goal trailing 20-0 in the fourth quarter, Harbaugh had a change of heart.
“There’s a lot of things that go in your mind,” Harbaugh said at his presser on Monday. “So the thinking there was, ‘We’ll get that field goal back, be within 17 and we’ll have a chance here.’ But we didn’t do it. If I had to do it again, I would’ve gone for it.”
Tucker missed the field goal and in the grand scheme of things it’s impossible to get upset at the Ravens kicker. He never should have been put into that situation to begin with.
I understand the emotion for sure – no one including Harbaugh wanted the Ravens to be shut out for the first time in eleven years, let alone shut out at home, but trying to pick up the first down would have been the right call.
“So, it’s a little bit different during the flow of the game,” Harbaugh explained. “I think I felt differently about it at the time with the rhythm of the game. But looking back on it, I would agree with anyone that feels like we should’ve gone for that. We should’ve gone for that.”
All in all the game planning for the Patriots game left much to be desired for a team clinging to their postseason chances.
With the Christmas holiday falling on Wednesday, the Ravens will take to the practice field today in preparation for their match-up on Sunday against the Bengals. The team has off tomorrow so players can spend Christmas with their families before getting back to work on Thursday.
I certainly hope Santa brings the Jim’s (Caldwell and Hostler) a well devised game plan this Christmas because without one, it’s extremely likely the Ravens will themselves on the the outside looking in for the playoffs.
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