Ebony Bird
FanSided

Baltimore Ravens vs. Steelers: Thanksgiving night Q&A

By Chris Schisler

Nov 1, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) rushes past Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 1, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) rushes past Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker T.J. Watt (90) during the second half at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
Baltimore Ravens
Nov 22, 2020; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins (27) celebrates with teammates after scoring a second-quarter touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports /

Oh boy do Baltimore Ravens fans have questions. I have the answers:

@mwyche22 asks: Can this team play a four-quarter game?

Answer: They can do it against the Cleveland Browns, the Houston Texans, and the Cincinnati Bengals. That seems to be about it. When the Baltimore Ravens have played a good team, they have collapsed. In theory, if you can do it against a bad team you can do it against anybody. That theory isn’t holding up. I don’t know how to have a nicer answer than that. This is where we are.

The Ravens think they’re Michael Jordan and they play at best like Paul George. It’s that simple. They’re not the guy, they have no killer instinct, and they don’t seem to have the G.O.A.T. kind of drive. The Ravens are way too happy about things when they go well, and not mad enough when things go poorly. There is a quick fix to all that; it’s called accountability. If things ever changed after a loss, maybe they wouldn’t repeat the same mistakes over and over and over and over.

@CJ_Arrington1 asks: What will be the key to the ravens finding success down the road as the season is declining?

Answer: Well, you got one thing right. This season is absolutely declining. The Ravens aren’t the team they were a year ago and they aren’t the team we thought they were at the start of the season. The key is hard to identify. The first thing is the Ravens have to acknowledge what isn’t working. They have to put the best players on the field, one way or another.

That means if Dez Bryant is playing like your best receiver, act like it and put him on the permanent roster. That means James Proche should get some time on the field. It means if you’re done with D.J. Fluker at right tackle just be done with it. Don’t settle for bad play, don’t give constant chances. John Harbaugh has to show that there are stakes for the players. Accountability is the biggest thing. If you take one thing from this article, let it be that.

Secondly, the defense has to be top-notch. The Ravens’ offense may improve, but it’s not getting right anytime soon. The defense has to be able to carry the team. The Ravens have won that way in the past. They have the talent on the defensive side of the football. They have to be a top-five defense the rest of the way. That has to be the standard.

Finally, I think it boils down to discipline. I keep saying it, but this team has bad habits. Bad habits get you beat. They have to get things together.

Home/Ravens News