Why Ravens Couldn’t Escape Third Down

One of Baltimore’s most costly third-down failures came with 11:06 remaining in the fourth quarter. Leading by eight, the Ravens had a chance to get off the field and give their offense an opportunity to drain more clock or potentially put the game out of reach.

Instead, Tyler Shough took the snap from shotgun and quickly found Chris Olave on a short curl. Marlon Humphrey was playing with depth and appeared to carry Bryce Lance up the seam, leaving safety Malachi Starks responsible for closing on Olave underneath. Starks came downhill, but Olave immediately turned outside and outran him for a 12-yard gain and first down. The mistake became even more costly when Shough found Olave for a touchdown roughly two minutes later before New Orleans converted the two-point attempt to tie the game.

Later in the fourth with 4:13 remaining, Baltimore had the Saints in a third-and-two situation. The game was still tied and they had the chance to stop the Saints here and get off of the field and let their offense try to close things out.

Shough took the snap and hit Olave on a short out route despite Humphrey jamming him at the line. Humphrey wrapped Olave up immediately, but the receiver managed to extend just far enough for a three-yard gain and first down. It is difficult to put much blame on Baltimore for this conversion. Humphrey was draped over Olave and made contact immediately, but Olave simply finished the play and moved the chains.

The final third down Shough converted was the biggest of the game. Facing third-and-8 with 2:03 remaining, Juwan Johnson motioned into the slot before the snap. As Baltimore’s pass rush closed in, Shough dumped the ball to Johnson on a short in-breaking route.

Johnson caught the pass short of the sticks, but shed safety Jaylinn Hawkins’ tackle, cut left to evade linebacker Tavius Robinson and then back right to leave Malachi Starks on the turf. He turned what should have been a short gain into 25 yards and a fresh set of downs. New Orleans would have advanced regardless after Trey Hendrickson was flagged for roughing the passer, but Baltimore’s inability to finish the tackle was still emblematic of its third-down struggles. The drive ultimately ended with the Saints scoring the game’s final touchdown and leaving the Ravens with roughly one minute to respond.

Baltimore failed to stop the Saints on third down for differing reasons, but it all comes together to paint the same picture. The Ravens repeatedly failed to finish favorable situations and kept the offense on the sidelines, looking on as the game clock ticked closer and closer to zero.