The Baltimore Ravens found out on Sunday that football is a game of inches — if they weren’t already aware of it after their numerous close finishes this season.
Head coach John Harbaugh made the decision to attempt a two-point try at the end of the Ravens’ 20-19 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday rather than kick an extra point and send the game into overtime.
The decision is one that will likely be talked about quite a bit over the coming days, especially since the Ravens weren’t able to convert. Lamar Jackson’s pass tipped off Mark Andrews’ fingers as the Ravens came inches away from winning their ninth game of the season.
That’s just how it goes, though. The Ravens’ luck finally ran out. A game decided by inches finally didn’t go Baltimore’s way. But what about Harbaugh’s decision?
The longtime Ravens coach explained his decision after the game.
Harbaugh explained that the Ravens were “trying to win the game” and that they were “pretty much out of corners.” It’s hard to fault that logic.
Injuries to Ravens cornerbacks forced John Harbaugh’s hand
Marlon Humphrey exited the game with an injury and Harbaugh revealed after the game that the All-Pro cornerback who undergo an MRI to determine the extent of his undisclosed injury. Unfortunately, Harbaugh indicated that Humphrey might be out “a while.”
The Ravens were already without Chris Westry who missed Sunday’s game with an injury. Meanwhile, the other cornerbacks on the active roster were all questionable going into the game.
Evidently, the Ravens were hurting in the secondary, and Harbaugh didn’t want to risk the game going to overtime. It’s difficult to blame him.
After allowing three points over the first three quarters, the Ravens defense surrendered 17 points in the final 15 minutes ultimately costing the team the game.
It makes sense that Harbaugh would want to take his chance on the two-point conversion rather than potentially entrust his defense with getting a stop in overtime.
Harbaugh’s decision will be met with plenty of discussion. But the context he added after the game certainly helps his case.