The Baltimore Ravens faced a must-win situation in Week 18 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. A win would’ve punched their ticket to the playoffs. Unfortunately, they suffered a heartbreaking loss at the hands of their archrival.
The Ravens had every chance to win this game, but the offense got in a funk early on that they couldn’t shake until late in the game. On defense, they had a horrific outing where they gave away the lead at pretty much every chance they had.
Here are three winners and six losers from Baltimore’s Week 18 loss.
3 winners and 6 losers from gut-wrenching defeat
Loser: Zach Orr
What in the world was Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr doing? He failed to clean up any of the errors that the defense has been making all year. Rush three on third down? Yeah, he loves that call. Playing corners far behind the sticks on passing downs? Still does that, too. The opposing offense made it so obvious where they were going to attack all night, and Orr was unable to adjust.
Loser: Marlon Humphrey
Cornerback Marlon Humphrey may have been the worst player on the field on Sunday night. In coverage, he continued to give up chunk plays in critical situations. As a tackler, he failed to hold contain and allowed ballcarriers to find the angle for extra yards countless times. He has dealt with a hand injury late in the year, and it’s clear he is not his All-Pro self. Time could be ticking on his career in Charm City.
Loser: Edge Rushers
This has been a common theme all season. Baltimore’s pass rush got home for two sacks, but most of that was due to the pressure from the interior. The edge rushers just couldn’t pressure Aaron Rodgers consistently throughout the contest. Even worse, they had a ton of trouble holding the edge. They came up short in nearly every way imaginable.
Winner: Nate Wiggins
After possibly the worst performance of his career in Week 17, cornerback Nate Wiggins may have turned in the best game of his young career. He was attacked early and often, but time and time again, he proved up to the task. He finished with three pass deflections and locked down his side of the field. He also showed out as an aggressor in attacking his matchups.
Winner: Zay Flowers
Wide receiver Zay Flowers once again proved that he is the only receiving threat that can consistently separate. He finished the game with four receptions for 138 yards and two touchdowns. His first touchdown was a huge play for 50 yards to put the Ravens back in front late. After falling behind on the scoreboard again, Flowers found himself behind Pittsburgh’s defense AGAIN for a touchdown, this time for 64 yards. In a year where turnovers and drops have followed him, the 25-year-old reminded everyone of why he is a two-time Pro Bowler.
Winner: Alohi Gilman
Safety Alohi Gilman made some HUGE plays in this one. He shut down a Pittsburgh goal-line rush attempt at the end of the first half to keep them off the board, forced an errant throw on a third-down inside the 10-yard line later to force a field goal, and did his best to manage a sloppy defense after versatile safety Kyle Hamilton left the game due to a concussion.
Loser: Anyone trying to tackle
The Ravens missed an absurd number of tackles in this one. Whether it was on rushing plays or passes to the flat, running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell shredded Orr’s defense. It felt like Hamilton was the only one who was consistently making tackles, and once he left, the floodgates opened. For a veteran-coached team, their play was unacceptable.
Loser: Tyler Loop
That was your kick. That was your moment. Rookie kicker Tyler Loop had THE chance to silence all the critics. And he missed the game-winning field goal that would have put the Ravens in the playoffs. While he has been consistent, he has struggled from distance and in pressure moments, and on Sunday night, with the season hanging in the balance, he faltered.
Loser: John Harbaugh
With the loss, Head Coach John Harbaugh’s job could be put into question. Ultimately, the team was in a position to win, but his squad looked unprepared in this one. Every time his team had a moment where they needed a big play, penalties were a constant killer. It feels like illegal formation penalties have become a staple of Harbaugh-coached teams, and it would’ve been so fitting if that penalty on left tackle Ronnie Stanley was the ultimate back-breaker that ended their season. Instead, it was a whole slew of penalties and mental errors that kept the Ravens out of the playoffs. Much of that falls on Harbaugh.