The Baltimore Ravens faced a disappointing loss against the New England Patriots, marked by a troubling trend of late-game collapses. At one point the Ravens had as large a lead as 11 points in the fourth quarter. They allowed it to fall through their fingers, which calls their strategy and tactical execution into serious question. Star running back Derrick Henry didn’t appear — as in literally didn’t step onto the field — for the last two important drives. Those drives quickly went down to eight total plays, one first down and no points at all.
Derrick Henry had an amazing 7.1 yards per carry. During the fourth quarter, he punched in a game-securing 2-yard touchdown, increasing the Ravens’ margin of victory and their win probability to 91.3%. In fact, his absence from the field that day during the final minutes was by design. Henry and running backs coach Willie Taggart had already decided on a rotation plan to help distribute the load. As you can imagine, this decision has raised many eyebrows. Plugging in something FCS-level like a cumulative 8:41 of offensive action in the last 12 minutes of a close game.
The Ravens tendency to blow close games has been widely publicized. Since 2019, they have surrendered 764 fourth-quarter points. It is good enough for fourth best nationally in that category over the past four seasons. This most recent defeat was a big one. It’s the 6th time they’ve lost after leading by double digits in 4th Q during this span.
Jackson, 26, the team’s starting quarterback, is a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player. He was knocked out with a major back contusion. With him missing, backup Tyler Huntley has proven capable, leading a still explosive offense in the meantime. It was no small feat as they struggled to defend their lead. Huntley managed to step in effectively, but the team’s inability to execute in crucial moments ultimately cost them the game.
Ar’Darius Washington, a key defensive player for the Ravens, expressed frustration with the team’s performance.
“We just didn’t do enough to close out the game.” – Ar’Darius Washington
Washington highlighted how disappointing it was to lose the game after building such a commanding lead.
“Having an 11-point lead in the fourth quarter [and losing], that’s just not what we wanted to do. That’s not Ravens football, and we know that.” – Ar’Darius Washington
One growing concern over the Ravens’ defense has been its inability to deliver week in and week out, particularly in clutch moments late in games. Even Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens rookie safety, sensed a scary pattern. Combined with a team that has had an inordinate number of blown leads, it has contributed to their struggles.
“It’s been a theme for the past couple years, honestly,” – Kyle Hamilton
Hamilton further touched upon the tough position the team was putting themselves in, with the consistent inability to deliver when it mattered most.
“It’s frustrating at this point to keep having the same conversations with you guys, and I’m sure it’s frustrating on your end to keep asking these questions. It’s redundant, and no excuses at this point.” – Kyle Hamilton
Though Jackson was often lost to injury, Hamilton had only good things to say about the guard’s dedication to the program.
“Obviously, Lamar is going to put his body on the line for us, and he has done so ever since I’ve been here, and ever since he’s been here.” – Kyle Hamilton
The Ravens’ offensive struggles were compounded by John Flowers’ fumble during a critical possession. This blunder was similar to the gaffe Derrick Henry had in last year’s AFC Championship Game. Instead of leading the offense to a game-winning touchdown, Taylor fumbled deep in enemy territory on a critical fourth-quarter drive.
John Harbaugh, head coach of the Ravens, discussed the need for ball security after Flowers’ fumble.
“The ball has to be protected all the time, and that’s what’s coached,” – John Harbaugh
With Jackson potentially unavailable for their upcoming game against Green Bay, Huntley will likely be called upon again to lead the offense. Hamilton praised Huntley’s skill and ability to transition so seamlessly into the role, given the tough situation.
“So as a player, you just have to do it. You just have to get it done. And if you don’t get it done, then you become known as a fumbler.” – John Harbaugh
As the Ravens prepare for their next match-up against Pittsburgh, they are contending with obstacles deeper than the injury list. They aren’t just fighting the other teams, though — they’re fighting a culture of late-game collapses that has haunted them for decades. Roquan Smith, the Baltimore linebacker, put it pretty plainly to explain their sad situation.
“Injuries [are] part of the game. Again, [Huntley] went in there; I thought he did a great job. It was kind of a seamless transition from that point.” – Kyle Hamilton
As they prepare for their next match-up, it is evident that the Ravens are grappling with more than just injuries; they are confronting a culture of late-game failures that has haunted them for years. Roquan Smith, a linebacker for Baltimore, succinctly summarized their current plight.
“I think it’s very simple: We didn’t play winning football.” – Roquan Smith
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