3. Is the train falling off the tracks?
The train may be falling off the tracks for the Ravens. The Ravens just lost a game they were expected to win. They lost to the Steelers. The only thing that prevented a three-game skid was the offense waking up in the second half of the Colts game. According to NFLPenalties.com, the Ravens have 59 penalties against them this year. That’s the fifth most penalties in the NFL. This persistent problem could be a warning sign of a larger problem.
The Ravens have played sloppy football all season long. While Lamar Jackson will almost assuredly fail to repeat as the NFL MVP, John Harbaugh isn’t exactly in the running for NFL Coach of the Year again. The Ravens almost blew a big lead against the Philadelphia Eagles and it was a game they almost had to try to lose. They had it against the Steelers and turnovers destroyed what would have been a gigantic win. Things are not right, even if they have a good shot at a playoff spot.
The Ravens haven’t been hit with the injury bug to this extent since 2015. Injuries dismantled the 2015 squad. It’s not quite the same and the 2020 version of the purple and black have a 6-3 headstart. Do you wonder if this is the beginning of the tunnel? It’s hard not to ask yourself that question. The Patriots game was a horrendous loss. Surely, things could turn around and Baltimore’s hopes could see the light at the end of this stretch, yet it doesn’t feel that way. It doesn’t feel close to that way.
Do the Ravens need a good game plan? Yes. Do the Ravens need to prepare for the Titans? They must know who they are battling. This game isn’t about the Titans though, it’s about the Ravens. Can they get revenge? Can they get back on track? Can they find themselves? If the answer to any of these questions is no, there is a bigger problem than getting that fourth loss.