The Baltimore Ravens fell back under .500 with a 27-22 home loss today vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers.
With the loss, the Ravens go from being in 1st Place in the AFC North, to currently being the 10th seed in the AFC, and out of the projected playoff field.
Had the Ravens been able to defend their homefield, their chances of reaching the playoffs would have been around 80%.
With the loss, their chances are down to roughly 33%.
Some Thoughts
- I’m not really into discussing the details of today’s game. It doesn’t matter at this point, the result is the result. The Ravens started the year 1-5, battled back to get to 6-5, and have lost these last two games at home to their divisional rivals. The hope was (and if you are carrying any hope left is) that while they hadn’t looked particularly good since the first half in Buffalo Week 1; that the Ravens would find a way to reach the post-season, and take their chances once there if Lamar Jackson was healthy. I think we’ve all seen enough at this point to know the starts just aren’t going to align. That’s a bitter pill for Ravens fans (and Baltimore sports fans in-general after a similar season for the Orioles) to swallow. When the season kicked off September 8th, expectations were sky high. Those expectations weren’t just from local fans wearing purple shaded glasses, but also the National Media who had tabbed the Ravens as Super Bowl favorites. Here we are in early December, and the odds of even making the playoffs aren’t good. That’s tough to take.
- The NFL is a week-to-week league based on health (availability), and match-ups. Everything about the league (Salary Cap, Draft, Scheduling) pushes parity. It’s extremely difficult to stay at the top consistently. It takes elite difference making talent, great coaching, draft success, strong cap decisions, and some fortuitous luck. You can’t lose a Nnamdi Madubuike, and not have it impact your defense. This roster is built to have Jackson elevate everyone around him as the multiple MVP he has been. Unfortunately he hasn’t been right all year, and the play just isn’t up to those lofty standards. 2021 and 2022 were frustrating seasons for Jackson. He was a Pro Bowler in ’21, but he was limited to 12 games. And then again limited to 12 games in ’22. He stayed available in ’23, and claimed his 2nd MVP. He’s missed games this year, and he’s missed practice time weekly dealing with numerous aliments. Can he get healthy over the off-season, and again put on his Superman cap in ’26? I’d think so. He’ll be turning 29 in January, so yeah, he’s that much older with that much wear and tear. But he was 1st team All-Pro just last year, and probably should have won his 3rd MVP. As frustrating as this year has been, I don’t see any reason to believe he can not again reach elite levels.
- On November 29th I wrote, “John Harbaugh has been the Head Coach since 2008. When you enter the year as the Super Bowl favorite, and you enter December at 6-6; there is finger-pointing to be found. You don’t have too look hard to find people questioning if Harbaugh’s messaging has gone stale. My take there is that’s overblown. Large portions of the locker-room turn over annually. I’ve always been lukewarm with Harbaugh. I think he’s very good during the week, keeping the Ravens focused and on-message. I’m sure he’s an effective communicator with his players. He does a good job as the de facto spokesperson for the organization. He has an effective relationship with the Front Office and Ownership. There is value in consistency. I’ve always been less impressed by Harbaugh during games. I question some of the decision making. Overall, I think what happens during the week matters more. He’s been at the helm of some excellent teams the last few years. He gets credit for their excellence, and like everyone else – he has to take some blame of the lack of postseason results. There have been lots of Offensive and Defensive Coordinators during his tenure. Those Coordinators have often shielded him from heavy direct criticism. My guess is that he will be back next year, as that’s how the organization works. I’m not sure that’s the wrong decision. Again, I do value organization consistency. That said, it’s not inconceivable these are the last games with Harbaugh as the Ravens HC. If the Ravens get hot, get into the playoffs, and do damage; maybe he goes out on a relative high (how high depending on just how successful the post-season was)? If December goes poorly, and the Ravens don’t make the playoffs, or they do; but go out in the Wild Card round – does Eric DeCosta or Steve Bisciotti decide it’s time for a change? Regardless, it continues to feel like the Ravens missed an opportunity by not elevating Mike Macdonald to the position after the ’23 season, and finding another internal FO position for Harbaugh.”
My best guess remains that Harbaugh is back next year, but if there are betting odds somewhere, it can’t be some 1000 to 1 crazy long-shot that he’s not.
Yes, Jackson not being right all year is the main story.
If he’s scaring teams with his legs, that opens up the offense as a whole.
The elevates a below average Offensive Line.
If the Ravens are putting up points and taking leads; the defense gets to be more aggressive with the pass rush.
It Madubuike is available, that helps The D-Line and defense as a whole.
Everything is connected, and team health is certainly not something Harbaugh can control.
However, when enormous expectations are not met; often someone has to take the fall.
I like that the Ravens are judicious and holistic in their decision making.
I like that they’ll take into consideration things that are / were outside of Harbaugh’s control.
But there has to at-least be discussion in The Castle of if a change is necessary.
- I watched the game from my home office today, so feel free to blame me as much as anyone; but it was noticeable on TV how many Steelers fans there were there today. A de facto playoff game at home against your division rival, and the Steelers fans can be heard? That’s a change from years gone by. The Ravens fell to 3-5 at home.
- Another thing I wrote on the 29th was, “The only thing that matters right now is beating Pittsburgh a week from tomorrow. If you win that game, maybe you can build from there. Don’t win that game, and there is nothing else to discuss with this ’25 season.” If the Ravens win out (December 14th at Cincinnati, December 21st vs. New England, TBD at Green Bay, TBD at Pittsburgh), and the Steelers lose one of their three games (Miami, at Detroit, at Cleveland) before facing the Ravens; then the Ravens could still win the Division. Hard to imagine that at this point, but would love to be surprised again.
- Okay, one quick bullet on today. 4 points on the roughing call on the Steelers FG. 1 point off the board on Loop’s XP miss (and separately another landing zone penalty for Loop). Likely’s TD (6 points) off the board. Holy frustration Batman!
Owner
Chris Stoner founded Baltimore Sports and Life in 2009. He has appeared as a radio guest with 1090 WBAL, 105.7 The Fan, CBS 1300, Q1370, WOYK 1350, WKAV 1400, and WNST 1570. He has also been interviewed by The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Business Journal, and PressBox (TV). As Owner, his responsibilities include serving as the Managing Editor, Publicist, & Sales Director.