A first-half of blunders:
But about that first half. The Baltimore Ravens won the toss and deferred then ended the first Titans drive after 15 yards. They were marching on their way to a game-opening touchdown. The formula of getting an early lead to take Derrick Henry out of the game was well on its way. The Ravens had it at the Titans 36 for a 2nd and 10 when this happened:
BALL HAWK BYARD! @KB31_Era | #TENvsBAL pic.twitter.com/fyBAQroDqh
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 12, 2020
The first thing Ian Eagle says here on the pass is “high”. You can say Mark Andrews gets two hands on it and it should be caught. You can say Lamar Jackson needs to throw a better ball especially considering the clean pocket. You’d be right in both cases. But leaning one way or the other is incredibly bias. I’ll give both of them half of the blame for the miscue.
Byard’s return and subsequent 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Jackson made it a 35-yard field for the Tennessee offense. Eight plays later on 3rd and goal from the 12, Ryan Tannehill hit Jonnu Smith who came up with a circus catch to give the Titans a 7-0 lead. Tip the cap, the play was dope.
On the next drive, the Ravens moved it to their own 45 and were faced with 4th and 1. As he did all year John Harbaugh left his offense on the field despite having zero momentum in the game and having not been able to establish the power running game they had leaned on all year. PUNT THE BALL JOHN!
Jackson ran off right guard for no gain and one play later Marlon Humphrey was burned by some guy named Kalif Raymond for a 45-yard bomb to extend the Titans lead to 14-0. How do the Ravens not know a shot play is coming there on the quick change? That’s coaching 101. The air was driven out of the Bank and from there it was academic. The Ravens weren’t coming back.