Baltimore Beatdown
Ghosts of season’s past have drawn fear in the Ravens’ fanbase. Hope is being engulfed by familiar fears.
There are innumerable reasons for Ravens fans to embrace hope. The roster boasts two MVP-worthy candidates. The offense has been a juggernaut for the majority of the season. The defense made significant strides after the benching of safety Marcus Williams for Ar’Darius Washington and the addition of cornerback Tre’Davious White. But the familiarity of the 2024 season brings the ghosts of season’s past and has stripped hope and optimism from fans on account of recognizable concerns.
In their best seasons of the Lamar Jackson era, the Ravens cripple themselves. In 2019, they were flagged 109 times in the regular season for 867 yards. In 2023, they drew 102 flags for 955 yards. And this season, they’re on pace for 123 penalties for 1,056 yards.
The same phrases are being uttered in each loss for the Ravens. “Self-inflicted wounds.” “Shot themselves in the foot.” “Own worst enemy.”
Below, you’ll find commentary from losses that range from 2019, 2023 and this season.
Pressbox’s Bo Smolka: “Poor execution, poor clock management and poor communication all appeared to be culprits as the Ravens let the _____ work their way back…”
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley: “Baltimore had too many lapses in coverage, and none was more memorable than the breakdown that allowed ______ to run free downfield. The Ravens talked about correcting the miscommunication problems from last Sunday against _____. Baltimore needs to try harder next Sunday against _____ and the ______.”
Baltimore Beatdown’s Joshua Reed: “Whether it was bad drops, blown blocks or a procedural/post-snap penalty, they shot themselves in the foot more times than the _______ stopped them.”
The repeated criticism is of their own errors. It’s because of their miscommunications and lapses. Hoisted by their own petard.
In October, Bill Belichick said, “The Ravens, every week, they got to look at it like the biggest opponent is the Ravens. They just can’t let themselves beat themselves. They can’t let the Ravens beat the Ravens.”
So far, their losses have spoken more toward their own failures than their opponents play. Which is all too familiar.
When flags are flying, the critique is lack of discipline. Lack of discipline points to coaching. And the Head Coach, John Harbaugh, receives the critique.
Harbaugh is a polarizing figure for the fanbase. Fans on social media loathe him. Calls for him to be fired are echoed in each loss. When the Ravens win, the online community says it is despite his leadership.
All critiques, be they just or unjust, come with the job. But it’s the sole fact that the head coach is the same individual that influences fans. They see the coach hasn’t changed and the familiar issues persist with the familiar coach. And in that, it becomes a familiar fear.
Similarly, the play calling and player usage crept its way back into focus after the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers....
