The Ravens showed the heart of a champion in a Wild-Card game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Starting quarterback Lamar Jackson missed his sixth straight game with a knee injury and didn’t even travel with the team.
Backup Tyler Huntley overcame a shaky start and made solid plays to keep the Ravens in the game. But it was Huntley’s fumble in the fourth quarter that was the difference.
Huntley had the ball knocked from his hand trying to extend the ball on the Cincinnati 2-yard line and defensive end Sam Hubbard recovered and ran 98 yards the other way to help provide a 24-17 victory.
“We felt like we had a good call; it was a push-sneak play,” coach John Harbaugh said. “It wasn’t executed just the correct way. Tyler went over the top; that’s a ‘burrow’ play – he has to go low on that. That’s the way the play is designed. So, that was two [plays] to get it. [If] you take it off the line of scrimmage, there’s a chance – you might score – but there’s a chance they get you in the backfield, [and] now it’s hard to get it on fourth down.
“So, two to get it there from inside the one [-yard line]. We felt like that was the best call; we just didn’t execute it right.”
If Greg Roman is still employed by the #Ravens on Tuesday because Harbaugh is protecting him, then they should both be gone. Not championing John's dismissal, but if he refuses to remove Roman, then he's endorsing the prehistoric offense, the existence of which = failure. https://t.co/cBRmewGOON
— Tony Lombardi (@RSRLombardi) January 16, 2023
The Ravens appeared shell-shocked after the play and never fully recovered.
Huntley’s long heave as time expired could not be corralled by James Proche and the Ravens were headed back to Baltimore.
It was a heartbreaking end to a tough season when the Ravens were often their own worst enemy.
Over the course of the season, they blew several double-digit leads that snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. They never fully took advantage of their fourth-place schedule.
“I’m proud of these guys,” Harbaugh said. “We played a great football game. We had a couple plays that we should have executed better, I guess. Obviously, it’s turnovers in the end is the thing that gets you, but it’s hard to play a perfect game in this type of environment. Obviously, the biggest play is the quarterback sneak; that’s the play that turns the game. That’s a 10 – at least – point swing, maybe a 14-point swing if we go for it and get it – at least a seven-point swing. So, it is what it is.”
However, the Huntley fumble was probably the biggest gut punch because it wasted such a great effort by the defense and ended their season.
Now, the heavy lifting begins.
The Ravens will have to make a big decision to make with Jackson, who is a free agent. Baltimore can try to reach a long-term deal with him, place a franchise tag on him, and/or possibly consider a trade to land multiple first-round picks.
Will Harbaugh retain embattled offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who failed to get the passing attack revved up?
“The whole picture of this season is incredible teammates,” rookie center Tyler Linderbaum said. “I just love the guys on this team and all the things they’ve done for me. It’s a tough way to go out.”
Huntley is also a free agent, so the Ravens try to retain him as some insurance if the Jackson situation does not work out.
These are all questions that will be answered in the coming days, weeks and months.
It certainly won’t be dull in Owings Mills.
9 Responses
YAY the season is over. Now we can get down to business. Address the problem.
Tony’s tweet is profound, but it doesn’t go far enough! Harbaugh and Roman are a package deal and it’s time for change at both positions! Offensive problems have haunted this team since Harbaugh’s hiring and, with the exception of Flacco’s spectacular SB achievement following Cameron’s firing and the 2014 season under Kubiak who was hired without Harbaugh’s consent, includes Trestman, Mornhinwheg and Roman all of whom answered to Harbaugh and ran his……system! Add to that, the legendary bad game day coaching decisions and the problem is clear; time for Harbaugh to go…..
The fact of the matter is that Roman’s offense looks “prehistoric” because the Ravens lack WR talent or any QBs capable of running an NFL style offense. That isn’t his fault. The O is built to take advantage of what it can do, not what it can’t. If they fire Roman this year, it won’t take long for the fans at the end of the bar to call for the next guy’s head, too. As far back as I can remember, Ravens fans always want the OC fired. When the HC points out the OC isn’t the problem, he’s “arrogant” and “out-of-touch with reality.” Whatever. No OC on the planet could make this passing game look good without an NFL-quality passer and WRs who aren’t veteran castoffs or practice squad guys.
Sorry, but this is Harbaugh’s system and offensive philosophy and all the OCs answer to him! That’s why Flacco had his spectacular SB achievements AFTER Harbaugh was forced to fire Cameron and why Flacco had his most productive season in 2014 under Gary Kubiak, who was hired without Harbaugh’s consent! The buck stops with Harbaugh, whose game day poor decision making has become legendary…….
I agree to the extent DeCosta doesn’t get enough scrutiny for putting together that WR room. Sure, Bateman got hurt but there was nobody after him. Last year DeCosta didn’t put together a strong enough O line. But Roman was definitely part of the problem, along with QB play, injuries, etc.
OCs have come and gone, but Harbaugh’s offensive system and philosophy is the one constant! Nothing will change unless or until Harbaugh is……gone!,
its not fire the OC because of passing game. its lack of situational awareness in play calling that has failed the ravens. failing to use your best assets in crucial situations.
“Ravens Season Comes To A Bitter End”
This seems to be the mantra since the Lewis, Reed, Suggs, and Flaccos first few years. Time for change.
Dinosaurs eventually evolved. Roman did not. From series to series, from game to game, from year to year. NOTHING. Same old. We were worried the league will catch on to the Lamar style of play. They caught on to the dinosaur prehistoric offense.
Lamar is pissed and has all the rights to be. I think he and the ravens already have a trade partner after he’s tagged. I hope it’s the texans (high pick). The ravens wasted 5 years of a once in a lifetime talent. He is now 5 years older, slower, and more injury prone. I hope we get a first and 2 seconds out of him. We cannot tag him and not trade him because the language is clear; he wants out. Not traveling with the team and posting this stuff today means he has played his last game in a ravens uniform.