The Baltimore Ravens are rolling this season. They are currently atop the AFC North and are the No. 1 seed in the conference with a 9-3 record. There hasn’t been much to nitpick when it comes to Baltimore’s season, but if there is one thing, it is their propensity to play down to opponents.
The Ravens were able to win their Week 12 matchup on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, but it wasn’t easy. A 20-10 victory doesn’t indicate just how close the game was, as a late-game rushing touchdown by rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers on a jet sweep expanded what was a close game throughout.
This isn’t the first time the Ravens have had a letdown performance offensively in a game they could have handily won. In Week 3 against the Indianapolis Colts, Baltimore lost 22-19 in overtime despite facing off against Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis’s backup quarterback at the time.
In Week 5 on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Ravens let numerous opportunities to put their rivals away slip through their fingers. Literally, as the team’s pass catchers dropped passes all afternoon.
Baltimore’s Week 10 loss to the Cleveland Browns was an uncharacteristic performance defensively, as they lost 33-31. But, it was an interception by Lamar Jackson that aided the squandering of a 15-point second-half lead and a 14-point fourth-quarter margin.
It was something that former All-Pro cornerback turned NFL analyst Richard Sherman commented on earlier this week. During a segment of UNDISPUTED on FS1, Sherman praised the Ravens’ defensive efforts but issued a stern warning to the offense.
“The Ravens defense is legit but the offense sputters at times. And if you go against good teams, that’ll cost you,” Sherman said when debating with Michael Irvin and Skip Bayless.
Oddly enough, the Ravens have handled the good teams they have faced with relative ease. They seem to get up for their toughest opponents, highlighted by 38-6 and 37-3 thrashings of the Detroit Lions and Seattle Seahawks, respectively.
Heading into their Week 13 bye, the Ravens will have a chance to pinpoint and iron out any issues offensively. With a championship-caliber defense, more consistent production offensively would place the team in the Super Bowl discussion more consistently with teams such as the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.
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