Ravens' offensive struggles expose a troubling Derrick Henry dilemma

The Baltimore Ravens have a 247-pound running back who has made a career out of wearing down defenses. So, naturally, when they needed one yard against the New Orleans Saints, they decided to throw the football downfield.

That decision didn't single-handedly cost Baltimore Sunday's 24-17 loss. However, it was another example of an offense that seems determined to make life harder than necessary. Derrick Henry is supposed to give the Ravens an advantage in precisely those situations. Instead, he spent another critical moment watching an opportunity disappear.

Derrick Henry's workload tells only part of the story

Henry wasn't exactly struggling against New Orleans. He rushed for 51 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries before halftime, helping Baltimore establish control of the game.

Then came the second half. Five carries, 17 yards and another Ravens offensive collapse.

The play everyone will remember came with the score tied at 17. Baltimore faced third-and-1 at its own 35-yard line, with Henry available and an opportunity to keep the possession alive.

Instead, Lamar Jackson took a shot downfield. The pass fell incomplete, Baltimore punted, and New Orleans eventually scored the winning touchdown.

It's easy to criticize a play that doesn't work. Had Jackson completed the pass, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle might have been praised for catching the Saints off guard.

But there's something to be said for recognizing when your personnel gives you a clear advantage. Henry has spent years punishing defenses in short-yardage situations. Baltimore didn't even give him the opportunity.

Baltimore has a bigger problem than one bad decision

Doyle explained that the Ravens anticipated single-high coverage and believed they had an opportunity to attack downfield. The Saints gave them the defensive look they expected. The execution simply wasn't there.

Fair enough. But Baltimore wasn't operating at full strength, either.

Zay Flowers missed the game with a hamstring injury, while Ronnie Stanley exited with a toe injury. Jackson was dealing with protection issues, and the offense struggled to find any rhythm after halftime.

Why make an already difficult afternoon more complicated?

Of course, handing Henry the football another 10 times wouldn't automatically have changed the outcome. Baltimore had only four possessions after halftime, including its final drive with less than two minutes remaining.

That's where the conversation needs to change. The Ravens' offensive struggles aren't exclusively about Henry's workload. They're about an offense that cannot consistently sustain drives long enough to take advantage of him.

The Ravens are losing sight of what makes them dangerous

Jackson and Henry should be a miserable combination for opposing defensive coordinators. Commit too many defenders to stopping Henry, and Jackson can punish you. Focus on containing Jackson, and Henry has room to operate.

At least, that's how it's supposed to work.

Baltimore doesn't need to abandon its passing game or turn Henry into a 30-carry workhorse. It needs to stop getting away from the approach that makes its offense so difficult to defend.

That means staying ahead of the chains, giving Henry meaningful opportunities and recognizing when a routine first down is more valuable than a spectacular play.

The Ravens have enough offensive talent to make life difficult for just about anybody. They shouldn't have to reinvent themselves every time an opponent makes an adjustment.

With Dallas next on the schedule, Doyle has another opportunity to establish some consistency. Another afternoon of questionable decisions and stalled possessions will only bring more scrutiny.

Henry can't fix every problem Baltimore has offensively. But when the Ravens need one yard, perhaps giving him the football isn't such a complicated idea.