About Last Night…..
Could there be anything more 2020 than what we bore witness to yesterday afternoon? The strange and absurd from yesterday included, but was not limited to; Wednesday afternoon football, COVID issues that impacted both rosters, a litany of backups and also-rans, poor play, questionable coaching moments, a few glimmers of hope sprinkled in but ultimately, disappointment. I’m sure there are some X’s and O’s that will be discussed (i.e.; would someone consider blocking TJ Watt?) but given the decimated roster, the plethora of underqualified players and the lack of practice time in the last week or so, I can’t see much strategic value to be gleaned from overanalyzing this game. Simply because the Ravens shouldn’t end up in this uniquely bizarre situation again. The mere fact that they were in the ballgame in the late stages of the 2nd half is a testament to the coaching staff. Ironically enough, the same coaching staff that got an undermanned roster motivated to give that effort may have cost them the game, as well.
(You can discuss this on the BSL Board here.)
Perhaps it was a product of rust or poor execution but the goal to go series to end the half was managed inexcusably and wiped at least 3 points off the board. Also debatable was the decision to punt from the 39 yard line at around the 9 minute mark of the 3rd quarter, as opposed to giving Tucker a shot at a 57 yard field goal. Particularly in a game where points were at a premium, the offense showed little consistency and didn’t exactly instill confidence, it seems as if we should’ve let Tucker take his shots. The only counterpoint I have for eschewing field goal attempts in those 2 situations was a lack of confidence in the backup long snapper, which could disrupt the usual mechanics of the field goal process. Either way, the end result was what the super majority of us expected. Maybe not the final score or the way it unfolded but I think we all expected to wake up on Thursday at 6-5.
A December to Remember?
What can we expect from this group going forward? If the Ravens have the full complement of starters (at least the ones that are left), they’re certainly capable of winning the remaining 5 games to get to 11-5. The schedule is favorable, with the toughest game being in Cleveland on December 14th.
Will 11 wins be enough to qualify for the postseason in a crowded AFC? Since the league expanded to 6 playoff teams per conference in 1990, only the 2008 Patriots failed to make it to January as an 11 win team. (Coincidentally, it was the 11 win Ravens of 2008, led by a rookie head coach and rookie quarterback that kept those Patriots out of the playoffs, via tiebreaker.) With the playoff field being expanded to 7 teams per conference this year, the seemingly floundering Ravens still have a good shot to qualify for postseason play; according to Football Outsiders, they still have a 65.3% chance. Of course this begs the question, how will they do it? Given the vast amount of injuries on both sides of the ball, along with various issues of offensive strategy and execution (or lack thereof), their best chance to play beyond the regular season lies with the reigning MVP, Lamar Jackson.
If the 2020 Ravens are looking to advance to the postseason, they absolutely need Lamar Jackson to find it. At this stage of his young career, Jackson possesses what amounts to a super power on a football field, which is his ability to create with his legs. Too many times this year, we’ve seen Jackson give up the opportunity to break contain in an effort to attempt to make something happen with his arm. Unfortunately, this has led to ill-advised and/ or poor timed throws, which have stalled momentum, killed drives and resulted in turnovers. The manner in which he’s played is akin to Superman deciding he’s no longer going to fly. Truth be told, I don’t know if this is a concerted effort by the organization to develop him as a passer or whether it’s Lamar and his people hoping to further build his value by protecting him from potential unnecessary punishment in the open field. Either way, the results have been a mixed bag thus far this season.
In order to squeeze the most out of a tumultuous season, Lamar Jackson needs to be the best athlete on the field the next 5 weeks. He needs to befuddle opponents with his elusiveness and speed. He needs to be an MVP and a franchise quarterback, which means he needs to put this patchwork team on his back. Is it a lot to ask of 23 year old, who has struggled with his consistency throughout the 2020 season to carry a diminished roster that is missing many key cogs? Indeed it is. However, it’s year 3 of Jackson’s career, so the franchise has a decision looming regarding Lamar’s long term future here. Is the organization willing to invest as much as half a billion dollars in Lamar Jackson to be the face of the franchise for the next decade? If they’re getting the 2019 version of him, it’s a no brainer but the 2020 version absolutely leaves something to be desired.
Needless to say, the month of December should make for some intriguing football. The present and future of Baltimore Ravens football is at stake and as Buck Showalter likes to say, “our curiosity will be satisfied.”
Jamie has been a Baltimore sports fan since he can remember. He grew up in Gwynn Oak and currently resides in Hampstead with his wife and 2 kids. He graduated from UMBC with a Bachelor of Arts in History. He’s currently employed at Verizon Communications in Hunt Valley.