The Ravens lost to the Cleveland Browns, 12-9 in overtime in Week 5. RSR staff react to the loss here…
Derek Arnold
The first-half punt fest was exactly what I was expecting. What I wasn’t expecting, was for the Ravens to have a Justin Tucker FG blocked (Jerry Rosburg strikes again!) and to come away with zero points from inside the five-yard line…again.
If either of those things DON’T happen, this is a Ravens victory. If Chris Moore doesn’t have a phantom block-in-the-back call in OT, this is probably a Ravens victory. Alas, all of those things transpired.
The other big thing that transpired wasn’t even in Cleveland – it was in Cincinnati. The Dolphins had a 17-0 lead on the Bengals, and it looked like a potential pending loss to the Browns wouldn’t hurt all that much.
Instead, the Dolphins Dolphined, and let Cincy come all the way back and win it. Guh.
Marty Mornhinweg’s second-half and OT game plan was atrocious. The Ravens again pretty much only ran the ball from shotgun, which didn’t work, threw/threw/threw even though the passing game wasn’t all that effective, and Michael “Crab Claws” Crabtree dropped what should have been the game-winning touchdown with 56 seconds left in regulation, to add to his other handful of awful drops on the day.
Speaking of 56…that’s how many times the Ravens threw the ball…in a game that was NEVER separated by more than six points. The Baltimore offense had amazing field position the entire first half, yet kept coming away with nothing.
Just completely inexcusable.
This was always going to be a tough game. Let’s hope it was a wake-up call for Eric Weddle and his teammates, who kept assuring us that “these aren’t the same old Ravens.”
Looks like you damn well could be, Eric. Most Ravens fans are feeling deja vu all over again.
Prove us wrong.
Ryan Jones
The Ravens are a good football team. But the teams that eventually separate themselves don’t allow letdowns like the one the Ravens experienced today. You can’t allow a huge, emotional win to impact you the following week. The football season is too short and the margin for error is too small.
Does anyone else find it interesting that Ryan Grant is having a better season than Michael Crabtree? A guy who had a reputation for making big catches and moving the chains sure has looked anything but over the first five weeks. The catch at the end of regulation was a tough one, but it’s one that you need to make.
Michael Telford
What a letdown. We finally buy into the purple-and-black hype, and this is what happens.
Can’t put it on the defense. They got stop after stop, shades of 2017, and the offense couldn’t put it together against an inferior team. The blame lies (mostly) on Michael Crabtree. Two drops in this game, including what would’ve been the game-winner, brings him to eight drops on the season, which leads the league.
Maybe it’s time the Ravens gave Chris Moore some ‘Moore’ snaps?
I was nervous about this game going in, and unfortunately, my fears were realized.
The Ravens are still a good football team, but they can’t afford to drop any more games that they should win, not like they did today.
Carey Stevenson
That’s so Ravens…why doesn’t this team like nice things. I usually don’t harp on these things but 56 pass attempts in what was a one-score game throughout is puzzling.
There seemed to be an unnecessary rush, and that lack of patience from a playcalling standpoint doomed the Ravens. How they respond facing a very much improved Titans defense will be interesting but for today they look a lot like the team they’ve been telling us they aren’t anymore.
John Darcey
This was my fear all along. It seemed clear the Ravens had a hangover from beating the Steelers. I hate to say this but it seemed pretty clear they were unprepared for the game and looked like they were sleep walking.
To me that falls on coaching. Today also showed how important Michael Pierce is to that defense. He is vastly underrated.
Michael Crabtree’s drops are becoming increasingly concerning each and every week. None bigger then the potential game winner he dropped in the end zone.
This team in in desperate need of a true bell cow running back. I like Collins and Buck, but neither of them are true starting running backs in the NFL. This needs to be addressed and sadly I dont think it can be until the draft.
The Ravens had a chance to stay even with Cincy and stay ahead of the Steelers and the Browns but that didnt happen.
But as they say, “On to Tennessee.”
Mitchell Wolfman
Really tough game to watch, tough loss to absorb.
The theme of today’s game was not resilience, it was self-inflicted wounds. Those three drops by Michael Crabtree? Absolutely devastating. With one of those drops being a game-winner? Absolutely devastating with plus an extra dose of rage.
That illegal block in the back by Chris Moore that would have put the Ravens in FG position to hit ANOTHER shot at a game-winner? No words.
You can pin this on the defense if it makes you feel better but it’s not their fault. Not at all. Defense played a solid game on all phases. Forced turnovers, including a pick and turnover on downs. Pressured Baker Mayfield all game, notched several sacks. Coverage was tight most of the game.
This is all on the offense, whether you like it or not. You can’t win by kicking FGs. Marty Mornhinweg called a very unimaginative game today and didn’t make use of what the Browns were giving them. Very poor route concepts that didn’t take advantage of the Browns’ man coverage looks. Barely any utilization of TEs.
And what’s been the theme of the run game this season? Non-existant.
Just a HORRIBLE game today. Here’s to putting it behind them.
Nick Capecci
Frustrating game to watch. Baltimore’s defense played well, except for the Browns’ 2-minute drill at the end of the first half. Bad officiating just seems to be the new norm in the NFL, and it is something Baltimore will learn to live with.
These aren’t the same old Browns, they are one head coach away from being a damn good team. Baltimore seems to lose focus and psych themselves out when they are down. They abandon the run game, and they resort to poor play calling, which leads to a lack of cohesion on offense.
Crabtree needs to have a day off where he finds himself. He is too focused on making more out of a play than there is. The offensive line needs a massive upgrade if they want to be contenders. Ronnie Stanley had a rough day against Garrett (As most tackles do nowadays). Skura is consistently pushed back on what seems like every other pass play.
Proposed trade – Atalnta Falcons receive CB Jimmy Smith, Baltimore receives Center Alex Mack, 6th Round Pick.
Vasilios Nikolaou
For as much as the Ravens offense was criticized, the defense was the true culprit here.
The offense couldn’t capitalize after compiling 410 yards (294 passing yards, 116 rushing yards). The defense allowed 416 total yards, over 300 of those passing.
The defense in the latter part of the game could not make a stop for the life of them. Brandon Carr took a huge step back this week and there were a bevy of miscues with blown coverages.
The run defense couldn’t plug any gaps whatsoever when it really mattered.
The Ravens were not helped by the officials either.
People will be blaming the offense for the next week, but I tell you, this game gave me flashbacks to the Swiss Pees defense of recent seasons.
The Ravens will recover next week – when they face ironically, Dean Pees.
