Mistakes Cost Ravens in Loss to Indianapolis
Miscues, poor clock management, and turnovers, tell the story of the Ravens, as they fell in an overtime at the hands of backup quarterback Gardner Minshew and Indianapolis, and fall to 2-1 on the season. The Ravens looked poised to run away with the game and put away what many experts believed was a team no matchup for the red hot Ravens.
A quick three and out by Indianapolis on the opening possession of the game capped off by a Kyle Hamilton sack of Minshew, his first of three in the first half. Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense hit the field for their first possession of the game wasting no time, as Jackson led the Ravens down the field finishing off a 12-play 80 yard drive with an eight-yard rush of his own where he passionately waited on his blocks before finding the end zone.
Jackson looked like he would have a career day as he went 8-for-8 throwing on the Ravens opening drive, but things only seemed to go down hill for the Ravens from there. A Kenyan Drake fumble inside the Indianapolis 20, on the Ravens next offensive possession, kept points off the board.
After an Indianapolis touchdown to tie the game at seven in the second quarter, the Ravens would fail to answer as Jackson would be hit in the pocket fumbling the ball, setting up great field position for Indianapolis. Ball security has become a concern for Jackson through the first three weeks of the season, as he has fumbled four times, losing two. Jackson’s fumble would lead to a Matt Gay 31-yard field goal that would give Indianapolis a 10-7 lead heading into the half.
The Ravens offense would continue to struggle into the third quarter until Jackson finished a 10-play 81 yards drive with his second rushing touchdown on the day, this time from 10-yards out to give the Ravens a 14-13 lead with just seconds remaining in the third quarter. Jackson was most efficient with his legs on Sunday as he was the teams leading rusher fishing the day with 101 yards on 14 carries and the two scores.
A Matt Gay 53-yard field goal gave the lead back to Indianapolis, but not for long as Justin Tucker answered with a 50-yard field goal to reclaim the Ravens lead 17-16 with just over seven minutes left to play.
The game appeared to be in hand for the Ravens late in the fourth quarter. After a spectacular punt by Ravens punter Jordan Stout that was downed inside the Indianapolis two yard line. The Ravens defense pinned their ears back and went after Minshew. On third down the pressure came up the middle from Michael Pierce and Jadeveon Clowney, forcing Minshew to step out of the back of the end zone for a safety.
Originally the play ended under two-minutes meaning after the free kick following the safety the Ravens would have the ball on the other side of the two minute warning, and likely needing just one first down to seal the victory. However after a review 2:03 was placed on the clock meaning the Ravens would need to field the free kick in order to run the clock down. Head coach John Harbaugh originally had told rookie Zay Flowers to call for a fair catch, assuming the two minute warning had passed. Unable relay that message to Flowers that time was added he called for the fair catch essentially give Indianapolis a free timeout.
I quick three and out that ended on a Nelson Agholor penalty that should have been negated by Zay Flowers having his face mask grabbed, would go uncalled giving the ball back to Indianapolis with 1:41 to go on their own 38 yard line and no timeouts. Minshew didn’t flinch as he drove Indianapolis down into field goal range with just over one minute to play, where kicker Matt Gay connected this time from 53 yards to tie the game at 19.
The Ravens got the ball back with plenty of time to get into field goal range for Tucker. But after a 12-yard pass and catch from Jackson to Gordon to the Ravens 49 yard line, Jackson would be sacked for a loss of 10 back to their own 39 yard line with just 11 seconds to play. An 18-yard reception by Agholor would set up a 61-yard Tucker field goal but would fall short as time expired.
Indianapolis go the ball first but was forced to punt, and on the return Ravens return specialist Devon Duvernay turned on the jets returning the punt 31-yards to the Indianapolis 48 yard line. But Jackson and the offense would only gain four yards on three plays being forced to punt it back to Minshew and Indianapolis for another chance in overtime.
On second down Minshew would find his receiver Michael Pittman for 34-yard to the Indianapolis 45yard line. But on fourth and one Indianapolis was stopped short on a Moss run by a host of Ravens turning the ball back over to the Ravens this time on their own 46 yard line.
After a Jackson incomplete pass on first down, he would find his tight end Mark Andrew for seven yards to set up a third and three form the Indianapolis 47 yard line. A dropped pass on third town by tight end Isaiah Likely, set up a desperate fourth down for the Ravens. Jackson would drop back to pass looking for his receiver Zay Flowers who was clearly grabbed and turned by Indianapolis linebacker EJ Speed, and obvious pass interference that would have give the Ravens a first down and moved them into field goal range.
Instead their was no flag, Indianapolis would get the ball back at their own 47 yard line and after four Moss rushes got to the Ravens 35 yard line where Matt Gay would connect on his fifth field goal of the game again from 53 yard out to give Indianapolis the 22-19 win in Baltimore.
The Ravens offense for stretches continues to the weakest part of this team, and with Jackson rushing for over 100 yards and throwing for 202 on Sunday, that should traditionally be a recipe for a Ravens win. While its still early under offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s offense, the mistakes and turnovers must be corrected as the Ravens move into one of the toughest parts of their schedule, three straight road games including two against AFC north division rivals. The Ravens offense looked the best against the Bengals when they were able to push the ball down the field something that was absent against Indianapolis this past Sunday. Hopefully with the return of running back Justice Hill and receiver Odell Beckham Jr. the Ravens offense can look for like they did against the Bengals then they did against Indianapolis.
Much like the offense the defense is also suffering from injuries and held up as best they could holding Minshew to 227 yards passing, but the difference was the inability to complete stop the run as running back Zack Moss ran for 122 yards for Indianapolis. The Ravens defense has continued to keep this team afloat when the offense tends to falter, but one area that would take this team to another level would be forcing more turnovers. The Ravens have just two forced turnovers though three weeks, 24th best in the NFL.
It would be easy to blame the officiating for Sundays loss, and while they shoulder some of the blame, the Ravens should never have been in that position if they would have been smarter with the ball throughout the game, and put Indianapolis away early when they had the chance. Sunday was a tough defeat that was largely self-inflicted, but the Ravens must turn the page as they prepare for their second AFC north division game of the year, as they hit the road next Sunday to take on the Cleveland Browns.
Notable Injuries:
Gus Edwards (concussion)- Day to Day
Rashod Bateman (hamstring)- Day to Day
David Ojabo (ankle)- Day to Day
Geno Stone (ribs)- Day to Day
Tylan Wallace (hamstring)- Placed on Injured Reserve
Games Notes:
Safety Kyle Hamilton set a Ravens record for most sacks by a defensive back in the first half of a game (3), also tied the NFL record.
Kicker Justin Tucker moved to second all-time with 58 made field goals from 50-yards or longer.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson rushed for over 100-yards for the first time since Week 3 in 2022 against the New England Patriots.
Linebackers Patrick Queen and Roquan Smith each had a team high 12 tackles.
Wide receiver Zay Flowers continues to be on track to break the record for most receptions and yards by a Ravens rookie, Flowers is currently on pace for 119 receptions for 1,065 yards.
