Ravens must address growing DC concerns to be taken seriously as Super Bowl contenders

What a colossal letdown. Any way you look at it, the Baltimore Ravens' 24-29 loss to the Cleveland Browns was brutal. Say goodbye to a potential six-game winning streak - winning time is over.

Heading into the game, the Ravens ranked dead last in pass defense, giving up 287.1 yards per game. They've struggled to stop anyone through the air. There was a brief sense of optimism when the Browns announced that backup quarterback Jameis Winston would get the start.

Maybe, just maybe, Baltimore could finally limit an opponent’s passing attack and start to turn things around.

Instead, the complete opposite happened - the Winston-led Browns shredded the Ravens' secondary. Baltimore’s defense made Jameis Winston look like Patrick Mahomes. This secondary couldn’t snag an interception, communication was a mess all game, and the players looked lost snap after snap.

And it starts at the top.

Baltimore Ravens fans are calling for Zach Orr's job after awful showing vs Cleveland Browns

The Ravens' defense allowed another 334 passing yards and three touchdowns in a losing effort to the Jameis Winston-led Cleveland Browns.

We knew the secondary would be somewhat tested as starting corners Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins were ruled out before the game. However, as a Super Bowl-caliber team against a backup quarterback, results are still expected.

This game, by all means, was a 'get right' game for Baltimore's secondary. It was an opportunity to showcase that it still had enough in the tank to be competitive. Instead, it was littered with blown coverages, dropped interceptions, and poor communication. The issues are becoming more glaring by the game, and defensive coordinator Zach Orr is firmly on the hot seat.

It would be one thing to chalk up the poor play to being new to the job. But we're almost at the halfway mark, and the same problems that plagued this Ravens defense in Week 1 are still here going into Week 9. What adjustments are being made? Where is the progress?

Baltimore continues to deploy the same defensive scheme week after week, hoping for different results, yet nothing improves. It’s the very essence of insanity.

While calling for a coach’s job is never easy, it’s hard to avoid the conversation when the on-field performance is this bad. Fans certainly didn’t hold back, with many demanding that this be Orr’s final game as the Ravens’ defensive coordinator.

It’s hard to find any positives in the loss to the Browns. Missed opportunities were everywhere. Once again, Baltimore proved to be its own worst enemy.

More Ravens news, rumors, and analysis