OTL: Ravens Too Complacent with Ugly Wins?

Growing up playing a lot of sports, I got used to the concept of carrying bumps and bruises. After particularly rough outings, I might feel a trouble spot for a few days while I was on the mend, but I could always tell when it was going to heal on its own.

Unfortunately, there were also times that I would take a hit and know immediately that something just wasn’t right, or I would feel it after the adrenaline wore off. If you’re reading this and you’ve ever dislocated anything, tore a ligament, etc., you know exactly the feeling that I’m talking about.

That feeling is the one I get watching the Ravens offense.

Ravens' offense through one quarter vs. Broncos

– 10 total plays
– 17 total yards

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 4, 2022

They feel like a team that’s been walking around with something out of place for weeks, denying that they need help when there’s clearly something wrong. Yes, they captured a win against a reeling Broncos team, and that was the most important thing at the end of the day. But continuing to skate by doing as they do just enough is an excuse to remain in denial that a fix is needed. Case in point:

John Harbaugh: "It's the kind of win that you need in December, and I feel great about it."

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) December 4, 2022

I understand the idea that a head coach sometimes has to be the eternal optimist in the face of adversity, but at this point, it almost feels insulting to the fan base to trot out the narrative that things are fine as long as you’re winning ball games. The Ravens have five more games remaining on their regular season schedule, four of which come against division opponents. They now face that daunting road ahead with the possibility that Lamar Jackson may be out for a while as they limp along like this.

The Ravens haven’t scored a touchdown in the first three quarters in each of their last three games

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 4, 2022

Ravens decide to run the ball on third-and-five and come up short. Baltimore is punting for the fourth time in the first half.

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 4, 2022

Even if the team wants to chalk Sunday’s offensive struggles up to the Broncos having a really good defense, the team just didn’t pass the eye test. If you watched Sunday’s NFL slate after the Ravens game ended on Sunday, the performances from top-tier offenses around the league look like they’re playing an entirely different sport.

Let’s continue looking at this Baltimore’s ailments from a diagnostic perspective: when recovering from an injury, sometimes a physical therapist will have you perform a basic task and see how well your performance lines up against someone healthy who performs the same task. In this case, let’s use the barometer of facing the Jacksonville Jaguars.

You can’t tell me that our offense is functioning even close to the way it’s supposed to when the Detroit Lions just did this to the Jags.

⚠️ Offense at work ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/1VLVHaeKBy

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 4, 2022

In the Week 13 game against Jacksonville, Lamar Jackson recorded 254 passing yards on the day. On Sunday, Jared Goff had over 200 passing yards before half-time en route to the Lions dropping a 40-burger on the Jags. “Well, we’re a run first team,” you may be saying at home. Comparing those same two games, the Ravens recorded 162 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown against the Jags. Detroit only managed 100 rushing yards against Jacksonville, but they also scored two rushing touchdowns in a game that featured 340 passing yards and two passing touchdowns.

The Lions also had plays that looked like this on Sunday…

Chark diving! 🦈 #JAXvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/EQKVZL8zJJ

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) December 4, 2022

While Baltimore’s offense against Denver featured plays that looked like this.

Wat pic.twitter.com/zug0D9peWe

— Baltimore Beatdown (@BmoreBeatdown) December 4, 2022

The fractures have been showing for a while, but they’re becoming too apparent to ignore. According to multiple sources, there were audible chants of “Fire Roman” from the crowd at The Bank late in the game, and there are videos circulating of fans berating and cursing at him as he walked to his car. I won’t link them here, because I don’t want to give extra traction to that kind of behavior, but I also won’t deny that the fans have the right to be upset. Even if the front office staff isn’t taking notice, it’s clearly reaching the ears of some of the players.

It almost sounded like I heard boos instead of cheers for most of the game. But my hearing is obviously bad☺️Great Team win..!😎

— marlonhumphrey.eth (@marlon_humphrey) December 4, 2022

It’s easier said than done to address a lingering ailment. Being a stubborn ass myself, I’ll acknowledge that there have been times that I waited far too long to see a professional for my own issues. I was avoiding the experience because I knew it would be a painful, time-consuming process, but in the end, I beat myself up because it would have been so much easier if I’d addressed it sooner.

This is my plea to the Ravens, hypocritical as it is: now is the time to go under the knife. Take it from me and my knobby knees, messed-up shoulder, and stiff back: don’t wait until you can’t function before you decide to make the necessary changes.

It might hurt for a while, but you’ll be grateful in the long run.