Baltimore Beatdown
The Ravens drop another divisional game in a late-game loss to the Steelers, 27-22. The Ravens are now at 6-7 with their season fully on the operating table, waiting to be saved.
Lamar Jackson: Lamar Jackson had what was probably his best game since returning from injury. He took shots deep down the sideline and was accurate. He ran the ball with decisiveness and continues to look healthier and healthier each week. There were more designed runs for him as well, showing the confidence in his body building back up. He wasn’t perfect, but it gives hope for the future that the Ravens franchise quarterback is getting closer and closer to potentially returning to his top form.
Derrick Henry: While the Ravens’ listless first half was largely due to not running the ball well, they did a great job of it in the second half. Henry finished with 25 carries for 98 yards, a modest 3.8 yards a carry. But while that means that the Ravens didn’t have renowned success, they stuck with it, especially in the second half, while they were down, and that shouldn’t be overlooked.
Zay Flowers: There’s been a lot of chatter around Flowers recently, and he turned in one of his best games of the season after a slow stretch. Eight catches for 124 yards, one of the strongest performances of any Raven on Sunday. He started early with a massive sideline catch while going to the ground, showing the top-end performance that makes him a #1 receiver on a team.
Keaton Mitchell: Remember when they had this guy as a healthy scratch for weeks? Well, now he seems to make at least one explosive play a game and makes a lot of his touches. Six carries for 76 yards, including the massive 55-yarder to kick start the Ravens’ second half. Unfortunately, he injured his knee and couldn’t complete the run into the end zone. Luckily, the Ravens today said that Mitchell is only day-to-day and the injury isn’t serious.
Lamar Jackson: He’s been playing better and getting healthier, but frankly, it’s not enough. Is it fair to say Jackson isn’t doing enough when he’s carried this franchise for years? No, but that’s being the franchise quarterback, unfortunately. When you are a multi-time MVP, that’s what the team needs out of you. The interception he threw was about as ugly as it gets when Jackson isn’t playing to his potential. They need him to take the final step up if they want to make the playoffs.
Isaiah Likely: Let me start by saying, it should have been a touchdown. That being said, a week after Likely fumbled a touchdown away, he couldn’t hold on to the potentially game-winning score. As bad as the reversal call was, the NFL has had issues with knowing what a catch is for years. You can’t depend on them to get calls right these days. Hold on to the ball.
Rashod Bateman: Fourth...
