Deadline Ravens Week 3 Thoughts

From PressBox Online

It was an ugly day for Baltimore Ravens football. The defense played well, but the offense could not create anything after the first two drives, and if that wasn't enough, Justin Tucker couldn't even seem to find his rhythm missing a crucial game-winning field goal well within his range.

Tucker has done too much to bail this team out, so it felt like the offense would step up in overtime, but the play calling was atrocious. Lamar Jackson - although he fumbled the ball TWICE - was the leader in rushing yards, the only player who could get touchdowns, and was able to make crucial first down conversions in this game and last week against Cincinnati. 

After a somewhat successful day for him - 202 passing yards, 101 rushing yards, 2 rushing TDs - it made the most sense to clinch this trap-game win with a few ankle breakers from their highest-paid player, but not once did he run the ball in OT. They had two total possessions in overtime after the defense player their behinds off, and they decided to throw more than run the ball. 

The final possession for the Ravens could not have gone worse. They decided to throw the ball on all four downs, when all they needed to do was get another 20-30 yards. With Lamar Jackson, getting that on the ground is very easy, especially since a design run was a play that had not run in overtime. Get into Tucker's range and ice the game. But no.

Monken runs passing plays all four downs. Yes, the final play of the drive should have been a pass interference call, but the Ravens should have never been in that position. This game should have never gone past four quarters.

Yes, the Ravens were missing plenty of starters, but it was blatantly obvious from watching the game that the Ravens should have won this game. Gardner Minshew pulled a Dan Orlovsky in the fourth quarter, and the Colts still found a way to win this game, and Matt Gay's stellar kicking certainly helped.

On the bright side, it is week 3 and the important thing is that the team improves, which they will have to do fast for their matchup in Cleveland against the Browns. 

Game Ball

Kyle Hamilton

Yes - even with the loss, I will give out a game ball to the guy who absolutely deserves it. Second year safety Kyle Hamilton showed why the Ravens drafted him in the first round and why he may be the best player in the secondary. Three first half sacks that could not have been more perfectly read were spoiled by the offense's abysmal efforts, but with eight total tackles and two tackles for a loss, he was the joker from another deck. This is not a shot at the defense either, because they did all they could with the offense completely underperforming, but to say Hamilton wasn't the best player defensively would be incorrect.

There is so much potential with this team, even with the injuries that the team keeps piling on. The depth issues and health concerns will be an issue down the stretch against gritty AFC North rivals and against teams like Miami and San Francisco, but this is a game that Baltimore could have easily run away with.

A 3-0 start would have been great, but maybe this will be the catalyst for their dance with the strong defense of the Cleveland Browns.