Giveaways Mixed with Lack of Takeaways Spell Playoff Doom

This morning, the Flock is as soon as once more decompressing over one more Ravens playoff meltdown, one wherein they gave the ball away three extra occasions – similar to they did in final yr’s AFC Championship Recreation loss to Kansas Metropolis.

Give It Away Now…

Lamar Jackson floated an interception down the best sideline with the sport tied 7-7 within the first quarter, however the Ravens protection held, forcing a Buffalo punt. On the Ravens’ subsequent possession, they drove 54 yards to the Payments’ 28. On first down, Lamar hit Mark Andrews for what would have been a minimum of an eight-yard achieve, however, in a little bit of foreshadowing, it clanged off the tight finish’s arms.

Second and 10, Tyler Linderbaum shoots the snap off to Jackson’s left, and the QB has to corral it. Within the post-game presser, Jackson defined that the play was an RPO, so with the timing being off because of the unhealthy snap, offensive linemen have been already downfield and passing the ball wasn’t an choice. He tried and did not deke Damar Hamlin, who wrestled him to the bottom, however not earlier than Lamar dropped the ball attempting to vary arms. Von Miller scooped it and rumbled to the Ravens’ 24, organising a Payments landing and a lead the house crew would by no means relinquish.

Nevertheless, one massive motive they by no means relinquished stated lead was as a result of the guests nonetheless weren’t fairly finished giving the ball away.

With the rating 24-19 Buffalo within the third quarter, the Ravens took over at their very own 30, transformed a 4th-and-1 on an Andrews sneak, after which Jackson hit him to cross into Buffalo territory…

you’ll by no means guess which means he ran after this pic.twitter.com/IsE7S8elDP

Andrews, inexplicably, tried to shake 4 Payments defenders, having the ball punched out within the course of. The best way the sport performed out, although the Ravens had an opportunity to tie later, that was their final reasonable probability to take the lead, fumbled away in opponent territory.

Jackson vented the frustrations he shares with your entire Flock after the sport.

“Hold on to the f—ing ball. … This s—’s annoying. I’m tired of this s—.”

—Lamar Jackson after the Baltimore Ravens loss to the Buffalo Payments. pic.twitter.com/ugwpx4yzHf

(ESPN and others appear to be attempting to make the quote appear to be Jackson is casting blame on others, reasonably than placing himself entrance and middle, which he clearly does should you watch the clip. Typical..)

You may’t give the ball away and win in January. We noticed that on full show this weekend, the place groups that out-gained their opponent have been an unimaginable 0-4. Nevertheless, the Payments, Eagles, and Commanders ALL received the turnover battle (the Chiefs are the Chiefs, and win it doesn’t matter what – neither crew turned it over in that recreation).

However By no means Take It Away

Inversely, one thing that’s very useful to your trigger in successful playoff video games, then, is taking the ball away.

And that’s an space the place the Ravens have fallen woefully quick through the current Jackson period of playoff failures. Sparked by a Tweet by my RSR colleague Dev Panchwagh…

Just about the place this #Ravens crew has at all times come up small within the playoffs within the Lamar period.

They don’t make performs on protection. They don’t make performs on particular groups.

Mahomes, Allen & even Burrow have had their different models decide them up that means. https://t.co/rcQDCCvYZR

…I wished to return and have a look at the protection’s efficiency on this space since 2018.

In 9 video games, the Ravens protection has pressured a grand whole of three turnovers, and none for the reason that Tyler Huntley recreation in Cincinnati in 2022. In Jackson’s begins, they’ve pressured two turnovers in eight video games, 0.25 turnovers per contest.

Distinction that with their profitable Tremendous Bowl run in 2012 – that Ravens protection, a lot maligned on the time, pressured an unimaginable 10 turnovers through the four-game stretch. Whereas Joe Flacco‘s heroics are to not be dismissed, he benefited from his protection handing him the ball repeatedly. One thing Lamar Jackson has by no means had within the postseason.

In the course of the KC’s present run of back-to-back Tremendous Bowl wins, Patrick Mahomes‘ protection has pressured 11 turnovers in seven video games (1.6/g).

This isn’t to say the defenses, led by Wink or Mike Mac or Zach Orr, have carried out poorly, or deserve undue blame for the failures. They’ve clamped down and largely stored some prolific offenses and quarterbacks in verify. In final yr’s AFCCG, KC didn’t rating after halftime. Final evening, Buffalo managed simply two area targets over the ultimate 30.

However championship defenses take the ball away, interval. They generate strip sacks, fast stress resulting in interceptions, punch the ball out, and are opportunistic (…every little thing Jackson and the Ravens fall sufferer to).

Baltimore has an excessive amount of invested of their protection to be simply “good” in January. However they haven’t had a dominant EDGE since Terrell Suggs left, and clearly Ed Reed ain’t strolling by that door. The Ravens’ highly-paid and/or drafted stars on that facet of the ball haven’t finished a lot…

Kyle Hamilton could be that man when he’s getting used as a chess piece, however as a deep security, his big-play potential is blunted. Roquan Smith has been stable however unspectacular. Odafe Oweh teased us with such a a play years in the past, however disappears as a rule. Nnamdi Madubuike dominates at occasions, however hasn’t modified any playoff video games. Marlon Humphrey‘s “fruit punch” hasn’t proven up in January. Perhaps Nate Wiggins can flip right into a ball hawk.

On high of that, assume again to position gamers like Bernard Pollard and Corey Graham developing big within the postseason, with splash performs that led to victories.

The place’s that been?

Tavius Robinson had his identify known as a pair occasions in Buffalo, a optimistic growth, to make sure. Brandon Stephens simply will get picked on. Tre’Davious White will get known as for a ridiculous PI. David Ojabo is available in, will get flagged, and leaves. Kyle Van Noy has discovered the fountain of youth, however how lengthy can that final?

Backside line: with all of the (deserved! – irrespective of how I qualify this, somebody will are available in and accuse me of on the lookout for “excuses” for Jackson, so no matter..) discuss defending the soccer in these video games, the inverse can also be true.

The Ravens want to start out taking the rock away – along with defending it – in the event that they’re ever going to recover from the hump.