Mistakes Cost Ravens Against Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders traveled to Baltimore on Sunday as both the Ravens and Raiders were looking for their first wins after both falling in week one.
From the first play it looked like it may be a long day for the Raiders, as Minshew was stripped by Ravens outside linebacker Odafe Oweh. The Raiders would recover the fumble, but would be forced into a three and out, and giving the Ravens momentum on their first offensive possession which would lead to the games first points. A Justin Tucker 48-yard field goal would give the Ravens a 3-0 lead, a score that would hold until the start of the second quarter.
Following an eight-play 37-yard drive the Raiders would tie the score up at three after a Daniel Carlson 53-yard field goal. The Ravens would respond however on their next possession with a Tucker 42-yard field goal of their own to take back the lead, 6-3.
Momentum would again swing heavily back in the Ravens favor as Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew was intercepted by Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, his first interception of the season. But much was the theme for the first half the Ravens would be forced into a field goal attempt. However this time tucker would miss frim 56-yards, Tucker’s second miss this season of at least 50 yards, and keeping the score locked at 6-3with just over two minutes to play in the first half.
The Ravens and Raiders would exchange field goals to end the first half with the Ravens taking a 9-6 lead into the locker room.
Despite the lackluster performance by the Ravens offensively in the first half, the second half looked to be a different story. On the Ravens opening possession of the second half, the Ravens would go on a six-play 70-yard drive, headlined by a Derrick Henry 29-yard run to set the Ravens up at the Raider nine-yard line. Following a one-yard run by Henry, quarterback Lamar Jackson would find his top target Zay Flowers for the eight-yard score, giving the Ravens 16-6 lead.
The Raider would drive into Ravens territory on their second half opening possession, but would fail to convert on fourth and short from the Ravens 25-yard line. With the Ravens offense coming back onto the field, it felt like with another touchdown this game could be put out of reach for the Raiders. However, the Ravens would make their first huge mistake of the afternoon, as Jackson was intercepted by Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane, after a pass intended for wide receiver Rashod Bateman appeared to tip off his hands.
The Raiders would use the positive field position to find the end zone on an Alexander Mattison one-yard run to cut the Ravens lead 16-13 with 2:36 to play in the third quarter.
Despite the interception Jackson and the Ravens would put together their best drive of the day in an important moment. With the momentum begging to swing in the Raiders favor. Jackson led a nine-play 76-yard drive capped off by a Derrick Henry three yard run to extend the Ravens lead 23-13 early into the fourth quarter.
Another Raiders field goal followed by a Ravens punt would give the Raider a chance to tie the game with 7:36 left to play. Using his top two targets in rookie tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Davante Adams, Minshew orchestrated a drive down to the Ravens nine-yard line. On second and goal Minshew would be sacked by Ravens outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy, one of his two sacks on the day. Facing a third and goal from the Ravens 17-yard line, Minshew once again went back to Adams. With close coverage and some hand fighting between Adams and Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens in the end zone the pass would hit the turf. However, Stephens would be called for pass interference giving the Raiders a first down and placing the ball at the Ravens one-yard line, another crucial mistake by the Ravens. Just one play later Minshew would find Adams for the one-yard throw and catch and with 3:54 to play the Raiders would tie the game at 23.
With two timeouts, the Ravens offense had plenty of time to mount a game winning drive. But all that would be thrown out the window after Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby beat Ravens right guard Daniel Faalele sacking Jackson for a nine-yard loss. Crosby had a stellar day for the Raiders as he finished with two sacks, four tackles for loss, one pass deflection, and two QB hits, while being a constant threat in the Ravens backfield. Following the Crosby sack, a Justice Hill run for no gain om second down, followed by a three-yard pass to Hill om third down would force the Ravens to punt from their own 24-yard line. The Ravens final and mistake of the day would come on the punt as Ravens punter Jordan Stout shanked the punt for just 24-yards, coupled with a Ka’dar Hollman five-yard penalty for running out of bounds on the, the punt would net just 19 yards, setting up the Raiders on the Ravens 43-yard line.
The Raiders were able to work the clock down and with 27 seconds left to play, Carlson connected from 38-yards out to give the Raiders their first lead of the day, 26-23.
With no timeouts and just seconds left to play the Ravens needed a miracle. An 11-yard pass from Jackson to Mark Andrews, followed by two straight incompletions set the Ravens up at their own 41-yard line with just one second to play. Jackson dropped back to pass before taking off upfield with a convoy of Ravens blockers. Jackson reached the Raiders 34-yard line before lateraling the ball to Hill who would then mistakenly throw a forward pass, essentially ending the game by a final of 26-23 in favor of the Raiders.
The Ravens failed to get out of the gate offensively in the first half, but in total it was a solid day statistically. Jackson finished 21-for-34 passing for 247 yards, throwing the one touchdown, and the tipped interception to go along with five carries for 45 yards. Derrick Henry was much more involved in the Ravens rushing attack as he had 84 yards on 18 carries to go along with the one touchdown. While Zay Flowers led the way for the Ravens receivers with seven catches for 91 yards, and a score. Mark Andrews also saw an increase in production from week one as he hauled in four catches for 51 yards, up from his two catches for 14 yards last week.
The Ravens defense held strong in the run game giving up just 27 yards on 14 carries. But it was the pass defense that had its problems as Minshew finished the day 30-for-38, 276 yards, and adding the one touchdown to go along with the one interception. The Ravens held Bowers and Adam’s to quiet first half’s, but the two exploded in the second half combing for 18 catches for 208 yards, and the late touchdown by Adams.
There is a lot of blame to go around on all three phases, but ultimately the most blame falls at the top on head coach Johns Harbaugh. The penalties, mismanagement of challenges that led to crucial timeouts being taken away, and the continued inability to hold leads in the fourth quarter all led to a major let down for the Ravens in week two, and an 0-2 start to the year, their first 0-2 start since 2015.
The loss is the 11th loss since 2018 for the Ravens when leading by at least seven points entering the fourth quarter. The Ravens will not look to right the ship as the head to Dallas to take on the 1-1 Cowboys.
Games Notes:
Linebacker Roquan Smith led all Ravens with 11 total tackles.
Outside linebacker Odafe Oweh led all Ravens with 2.5 sacks.
The Ravens outgained the Raiders 383-260.
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey recorded his 14th career interception, tied for seventh most in Ravens history.
Wide receiver Zay Flowers recorded his 90th career catch on Sunday.