Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh expressed dissatisfaction with his team”s performance during the fourth quarter of their recent defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Ravens fell short in a 27-22 loss, despite facing challenging officiating decisions that complicated their chances of mounting a comeback.
In the final minutes, the Ravens had two opportunities to orchestrate a game-winning drive but failed to capitalize on both occasions. Harbaugh summed up the disappointing execution by stating, “it wasn”t good enough. Just leave it at that.” With 5 minutes and 41 seconds remaining in the game, Baltimore took possession and moved the ball effectively with a 19-yard run by Derrick Henry and a 33-yard reception from Zay Flowers.
However, a key moment came when Isaiah Likely“s apparent go-ahead touchdown was overturned after review. Shortly thereafter, the Ravens found themselves in a critical third-and-2 situation just five yards from the end zone. Chaos ensued as quarterback Lamar Jackson attempted to adjust the play at the line of scrimmage. The play clock was running down, leading to a breakdown in communication between Jackson and offensive coordinator Todd Monken. This resulted in Henry being stopped for a loss of three yards, and left guard Andrew Vorhees was penalized for illegal formation, derailing the drive.
Harbaugh later acknowledged that he contemplated calling a timeout, with all three remaining. In hindsight, he admitted that he would have opted to stop the play, citing miscommunication as a significant factor. “We got to take responsibility for that on the coaching side,” Harbaugh remarked, accepting his share of the blame.
After the penalty, the Ravens faced a fourth-and-5, but Jackson”s pass intended for tight end Mark Andrews fell incomplete, ending the drive. The failure to convert on third-and-2 was particularly disappointing, as it represented a significant missed opportunity in a tightly contested game.
Baltimore struggled throughout the night, finishing with just two successful red zone attempts out of six. Their red zone scoring percentage of 44.90% now ranks as the third lowest in the NFL. The offense, which has shown signs of inconsistency this season, seemed particularly out of sync when it mattered most. “I don”t know at this point,” said receiver Rashod Bateman when asked about the team”s struggles.
Despite their shortcomings, the Ravens had one last chance to make a statement late in the game. Following a three-and-out by the Steelers, which was their third consecutive unsuccessful drive in the fourth quarter, the Ravens were given 1 minute and 56 seconds to attempt a comeback. However, a series of penalties and a lack of urgency stunted their progress, leaving them at their own 26-yard line with only nine seconds remaining. As Jackson retreated to pass, he was ultimately sacked by Alex Highsmith, sealing the Ravens” fate.
“Divisional game that just came down to the last second and the last minute,” Jackson reflected. “We have to finish and find a way to put some points on the board. They beat us by 5 points. We have to find a way to get a touchdown on that last drive.” The inability to execute crucial plays in the final minutes proved to be the decisive factor, leaving the Ravens with a disappointing 6-7 record as they head into a critical matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals.
“Suffice to say,” Harbaugh concluded, “we have to be better in those situations.”
