Overall, I had a pretty pleasant fall weekend. The weather cooperated, leading to some nice walks around the block with my dog. I enjoyed some fresh kettle corn at a local fall event with my partner, and met up with my family for lunch. Everything was going really well… until about 1:00 p.m. on Sunday.
There was a sense of foreboding creeping in as I settled in for the Ravens game. Sure, they looked pretty good the week prior against the Bengals, but as inconsistent as they’ve been to this point, who could say which version of the team would show up? I knew the game had the potential to detract from my otherwise pleasant weekend, but I said to myself, “You’ve got to watch the game, you’ll have an article to write next week. Just embrace the experience and see what happens.”
I have regrets, friends.
There are a ton of negative adjectives that I could use to describe what I saw in that game, some of which aren’t suitable for print. I’ll limit myself to a few that jump out.
Sloppy.
Wan'Dale Robinson touchdown on third down.
Ravens gave up brutal third downs that entire drive.
3rd & 14
3rd & 12
3rd & 4 TD— Baltimore Beatdown (@BmoreBeatdown) October 16, 2022
A bad snap and then Lamar Jackson throws a ball up and is interception. Giants have ball at Ravens 13 trailing by just 3.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 16, 2022
Undisciplined.
Oweh gives the Giants a first down with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Penalties killing Ravens today.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 16, 2022
John Harbaugh said he's still "reeling" over the Ravens' illegal-formation penalty, which pushed a third-and-1 into third-and-6, which led to the late pick.
It's not acceptable but "it is explainable."
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) October 17, 2022
Painful.
Moses just got taken back to the locker room on a cart.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) October 16, 2022
For the third time in five weeks, Baltimore surrendered a double-digit lead and lost. Penalties and poor play-calling backed them out of (manageable) field goal range twice early in the game, and as so many have pointed out, they seemed to just continue shooting themselves in the foot from there. If you were hoping that the aftermath of this debacle would bring about a different response from leadership, don’t hold your breath.
Harbaugh’s opening statement for today’s press conference. pic.twitter.com/tI5Uy9FEgi
— Kyle Phoenix Barber (@KylePBarber) October 17, 2022
If anyone finds that record player at The Castle, do me a favor and flip it to the B-side, please. I don’t know how many times we have to hear about how the team is learning from their mistakes just to lose the same way over and over again. Clearly, whatever lesson is supposed to be taken away from these losses is just not sinking in. I harped on the team’s inability to make second-half adjustments against the Bills, and this past week, playing against a defensive coordinator who was ON THE STAFF last season, we trotted out the same tired personnel sets.
Do you want to know how bad this situation has gotten? The team made me agree with something Marlon Humphrey put on Twitter.
Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein
— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) October 16, 2022
This is truly the darkest timeline.
Following a game where Pat Ricard recorded more snaps than any wide receiver…
Some Ravens snap count observations:
🟣 Ronnie Stanley plays all but 8 snaps (more than he expected)
⚫️ Josh Oliver slowly becoming TE2?
🟣 Kyle Hamilton plays most snaps since Week 2, and Travis Jones easily hits new high
⚫️ JPP plays more than Odafe Oweh, whose role shrank pic.twitter.com/y3nP4aGvkl— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) October 17, 2022
…the initial reaction from Ravens social media was that an extra body was needed in the receiver room to help fill in. Ignoring for a moment that the personnel sets don’t change much even when Rashod Bateman is healthy, the outcry was that EDC should make a call regarding disgruntled wideout Robbie Anderson. Following several outbursts on Carolina’s sideline this past Sunday, Anderson’s coaches threw him out of the game, making it clear his days as a Panther were likely numbered. Just one day later, he did find himself leaving town… for Arizona.
TRADE: Cardinals acquiring WR Robbie Anderson. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/hZYIu7T3fy
— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2022
Personally, I feel like we may have dodged a bullet on this one. Sure, the Cardinals acquired him for peanuts, but the last thing we need is a moody wideout known for butting heads with teammates and coaches in the locker roo-
Veteran WR DeSean Jackson is scheduled to meet with the Ravens on Tuesday, per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/G9opudRBWD
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) October 17, 2022
You remember what I said before about not learning from past mistakes?
I am unwell. Keep me in your thoughts until the BYE week.
