OTL: Ravens “Hopeful” Jackson is Back Week 16

The Ravens dropped an absolute stinker to the Cleveland Browns on Saturday, but on Sunday, we were reminded that it could be worse.

Has to be seen to be believed: pic.twitter.com/DKNWzwu2pR

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 19, 2022

It can always be worse.

I’m still saying that after a rough outing that featured this miserable stretch of four drives in which the Ravens let the game completely get away from them.

Last 4 Ravens possessions:

Missed FG
Interception
Fumble
Blocked FG pic.twitter.com/KiYn7TY70K

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 17, 2022

No team can execute this badly and expect to win a football game, and yet it’s hard to feel like the players were put in a position to succeed.

Here’s why:

J.K. Dobbins averaged 9.6 yards per carry

Gus Edwards averaged 7.9 yards per carry

Instead of riding the run game, the Ravens decided to throw the ball 30 times, averaging 3.8 yards per pass

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 18, 2022

JK Dobbins averaged 9.6 ypc last night. Gus Edwards averaged 7.9. Between the two of them, they got one carry in the fourth quarter. ONE.

Meanwhile, Ravens averaged 3.8 yards per passing drop back.

My peak of frustration with Greg Roman’s play calling was here ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/DE5qY2SU2H

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) December 18, 2022

I’ve been critical of Greg Roman for being too predictable in the past, but when the opposing batter is late on all of your fastballs, don’t throw a changeup!

every single person on here coming with the "Huntley is the worst QB I've seen" narrative needs to realize 3 things:

1. the Ravens have the worst WRs in the NFL

2. the Browns have the worst run D in the NFL

3. the game plan for this was easy

point your fingers at Greg Roman https://t.co/Er4QrqBpGZ

— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 18, 2022

Tyler Huntley has proven to be a fine backup quarterback, but if Lamar Jackson can barely move the ball with this offense, how much are we expecting out of Huntley with the same weapons?

Bus rolling 🚌

📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/6uhOwTp5HN

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 17, 2022

JK TAKES OFF❗️❗️@nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/Rqeag0Kdeh

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 17, 2022

Meanwhile, J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards were doing this all game, until the fourth quarter when Greg Roman thought Tyler Huntley would turn into prime Tom Brady and lead a bunch of random skill players to a double-digit comeback.

For the record, I love the Ravens’ faith in Huntley. Their confidence in an undrafted quarterback to take over their offense is a main reason why Huntley has remained so poised in his appearances. But that’s no reason to put a divisional game that was completely winnable on the ground on his shoulders!

Weirdly, though, I think Marlon Humphrey was right in his postgame press conference when he said that the Ravens “weirdly are in a good spot.”

"Everything is still in front of us… We all felt like we left one out there." pic.twitter.com/kRbsIOK6DW

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) December 18, 2022

Going 1-1 in two road divisional games with your backup QB is not a bad outcome, especially when you still have a chance to clinch the playoffs in Week 16!

Ravens can clinch a playoff berth in Week 16 with:

🏈Win over Falcons AND Jets loss to Jaguars (Thursday)

or

🏈Win over Falcons AND Patriots loss to Bengals

(Source: @ESPNStatsInfo)

— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) December 19, 2022

Even after this week’s loss, the Falcons seem beatable after losing five of their last six, even if Huntley is still under center. We all know how the Ravens love to eat up rookie quarterbacks, and there’s little reason to think Desmond Ridder is going to have a different experience.

Ian Rapoport: Lamar Jackson is expected back to practice this upcoming week and the Ravens are “hopeful” he’ll start against the Falcons pic.twitter.com/AikXtSGuVE

— Sarah Ellison (@sgellison) December 17, 2022

And of course, there’s the unanimous 2019 MVP coming back from injury, hopefully more motivated than ever to get Baltimore into the playoffs and to that Super Bowl he promised in 2018. Game on!