Last week’s Ravens game was as ugly as they come: no offense, questionable coaching decisions, and even lapses by a special teams unit that has been nearly flawless all year. Things turned from bad to worse when the Bengals pulled off a 17-point comeback against the Buccaneers to take the division lead on Sunday. Now, if Baltimore wants to have any shot at hosting a first-round playoff game, they will need to win at least two of their final three games. So, as the Ravens prepare for a crucial Christmas Eve clash with the Atlanta Falcons, let’s take a look at some news surrounding the team.
The Ravens have put up a combined 29 points in their last three games, leading fans to grow restless with the offense. However, according to Shanna McCarriston of CBS Sports, head coach John Harbuagh reaffirmed his faith in both the players and the coaching staff in a press conference on Tuesday. The main target of the criticism has been offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who, despite leading the Ravens to one of the league’s best offenses over the past few years, can never seem to escape blame from the fandom. Early on in the season, he looked to have won over the Baltimore faithful, but since Lamar Jackson went down with an injury, his inability to put together a cohesive game plan has overshadowed any success he had with Jackson at the helm. Still, though Harbaugh acknowledged that he understands the fans’ frustration, he is committed to backing his OC and it doesn’t seem as though he will strip Roman of play calling duties any time soon. This weekend should be the perfect chance for Roman and the offense to rebound as the Falcons are allowing the fifth-most yards per game to opposing teams.
Ravens claim WR Sammy Watkins as Devin Duvernay put on IR
Part of the reason for the Ravens’ offensive struggles has been the poor play of the wide receivers and it now appears that they will be without one of their biggest contributors for the rest of the season. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Devin Duvernay has been added to the IR after injuring his foot at practice on Tuesday. This is a devastating blow to a group that already lost Rashod Bateman to a season-ending injury just a few weeks ago. In an attempt to fill in for Duvernay’s absence, Hensley reports that the Ravens have signed free agent Sammy Watkins. Watkins spent the 2021 season in Baltimore, recording 27 catches for 394 yards and a touchdown, before signing with the Packers this offseason. He never really found his place in the Green Bay offense, catching just 13 passes for 206 yards in 9 games with the team. While his first stint with the Ravens was underwhelming at best, Watkins has shown flashes of elite talent throughout his career and could provide a much needed spark to the Ravens offense. However, even if he exceeds expectations, entering a potential playoff run with Watkins, Demarcus Robinson, and a 36-year-old DeSean Jackson is less than ideal. For the moment, it seems as though Eric DeCosta’s decision not to sign a big-name wideout this offseason is coming back to bite the team in the worst way.
Ravens add Tyler Huntley to Wednesday injury report
In addition to being without Devin Duvernay this weekend, Myles Simmons of ProFootballTalk is reporting that the Ravens could be missing a number of other key contributors, including quarterback Tyler Huntley. While it was known that Lamar Jackson would be unlikely to suit up against on Saturday, it was a bit of a surprise to see Huntley show up on the injury report as a limited participant at Wednesday’s practice due to a right shoulder injury. If he is not able to play, Anthony Brown would likely get the nod at quarterback after seeing some action when Huntley suffered a concussion against the Steelers two weeks ago. Simmons also notes that both defensive end Calais Campbell (knee) and cornerback Marcus Peters (calf) were held out of practice Wednesday and could be in danger of missing Saturday’s contest.
Six Ravens Named to Pro Bowl 2023 Roster
Wednesday night, the NFL announced this year’s Pro Bowl rosters and the Ravens six selections were among the most of any team in the league. The only teams with more players selected were the Eagles (8), Chiefs (7), and Cowboys (7). According to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com, this year’s group of Baltimore Pro Bowlers includes tight end Mark Andrews, cornerback Marlon Humphrey, fullback Patrick Ricard, linebacker Roquan Smith, kicker Justin Tucker, and aforementioned wide receiver/return specialist Devin Duvernay. As Mink notes, five of these players have been named to the Pro Bowl before, with Smith being the only first-time selection. In addition, offensive guard Kevin Zeitler, center Tyler Linderbaum, and quarterback Lamar Jackson (among others) have been mentioned by some news outlets as “snubs” who have a chance to be named as replacements for players who are unable to participate. While Baltimore fans are hoping their team will be playing in a much more important game in early February, it’s reassuring to know that they will be able to watch many of the team’s stars show off their talents on national television one way or another.
AFC Playoff Picture: How the Baltimore Ravens can clinch their spot this weekend
Despite the pessimistic attitudes held by much of the fanbase, according to Matt Rich Warren of Baltimore Beatdown, there are actually multiple scenarios in which the Ravens can clinch a playoff-berth this weekend. The first few require the Ravens beating the Falcons, an outcome that seemed inevitable only a few weeks ago but now is very much up in the air. If Baltimore can take care of business, they will need two out of the three AFC East teams not named the Bills to lose or tie. If the Jets fall to the Jaguars tonight, this scenario will become much more likely as the chances of the Dolphins and Patriots both pulling out wins against the Packers and Bengals respectively are low. All that being said, even if the Ravens lose to the Falcons this weekend, there is still a longshot scenario that could see them back their way into the playoffs with a 9-5 record. That scenario involves the Patriots losing to the Bengals, the Jets losing to the Jaguars, the Chargers beating the Colts, and the Browns, Raiders, and Titans losing/tying their respective matchups against the Saints, Steelers, and Texans. There are also a number of ways that the Ravens can secure a playoff berth with a tie against the Falcons, each of which is described in the article. My main takeaway from this article is not the actual scenarios themselves, but the fact that while the Ravens have not been playing their best football as of late, they are still looking at nearly a 99% chance of making the playoffs and if they can get in, you never know what can happen.
Luke Rollfinke is a student at Vanderbilt where he is pursuing a career in sports journalism. A recent graduate from the Friends School of Baltimore, Luke has spent his entire childhood in Charm City and is a devoted Orioles fan. In the past, he has written for SB Nation and has worked closely with Ravens columnist John Eisenberg. From nights at Camden Yards to Sunday afternoons watching NFL Redzone, Luke eats, sleeps, and breathes sports. He is excited to bring his perspective to BSL.