4 Ravens problems on offense and how to fix them quickly before TNF
The Cleveland Browns (6-3) secured a 33–31 comeback victory against the Baltimore Ravens (7-3) after starting the game down 14-0. No need to mention the offense simply wasn't up to standard with Lamar getting intercepted twice, the defense scoring the initial touchdown, and Todd Monken making endless nonsensical calls.
Not everything was bad, mind you, as Lamar Jackson found Odell Beckham Jr. for a touchdown for the second time in as many games, undrafted rookie running back Keaton Mitchell went on to score his second touchdown on his first touch, and the offense was able to score 31 points on the best NFL defense--no joke!
Even then, there were a lot of things that shouldn't have happened on Sunday that should be fixed ahead of the upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday Night Football.
Here are the four most needed fixes to apply to the offense in this short week before TNF's game.
1. Never again stop involving Mark Andrews in the passing game
Mark Andrews is not going to surprise anyone anymore in the NFL. We all know him, and what he can do. He has 43 receptions for 521 yards and six touchdowns this season through nine games (he missed the season opener).
Andrews leads all tight ends with six touchdowns with only other player at the position having five through Week 10. He has racked up the fourth-most receiving yards and is one of only four TEs with more than 474 yards to date. He has the third-highest Y/R average at 13.2...
...yet he got targeted a meager four times on Sunday. Of course, Andrews being Andrews he turned that little usage into two receptions for 44 yards and an average of 22 yards per reception, including one grab for a staggering 36 yards.
“Pump fake it when I am at the orange cone and I’ll spin outside toward the trash can at Mrs. Johnson’s curb…”
— Matt Waldman (@MattWaldman) November 13, 2023
30+ for Mark Andrews vs Grant Delpit #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/4URWGYADmA
Andrews had not been targeted fewer than five times all year long, but he logged just four looks on Sunday against the Browns when Lamar Jackson should have been looking his way the most.
Just one week ago, against Seattle, Andrews tied his season-high in targets (10) grabbing nine of those passes (another season high) for 80 yards (tied most this season).
There is no point in not tossing this man the rock, and Andrews should definitely be getting five-plus targets in every game going forward no matter the coverage he gets from the Bengals and everybody else.