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It was a long day for the Baltimore Ravens, who missed too many opportunities. And Derrick Henry had another crucial fumble. And here are the Ravens most to blame for another blown double-digit lead in the loss to the Browns.
Surprisingly, the Ravens took it on the chin against the Browns. They lost 13-10 in a game that caused a three-way tie for first place in the AFC North. The Ravens had a chance to flex, but they came up noodle-armed. So what went wrong? Let’s look at the blame list.
Ravens RB Derrick Henry
King Henry needs to close the deal. That’s all there is to it. In the fourth quarter, with his team leading and controlling the game throughout, Henry suffered the indignity of a punchout by Carson Schwesinger. Tyson Campbell fell on the ball at the Ravens’ 35-yard line. And the Ravens were unable to right the ship after the sudden change.
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It was Henry’s first fumble of the season. But the timing, like some of his fumbles in the past, was terrible. Henry owned his miscue, according to a post on X by Jamison Hensley.
“I got to take care of the ball,” Henry said. “There’s no excuses for that. I got to be better. I put the team in harm’s way. (And) I sound like a broken record with this. But I got to go back to work on it. I told the team to put this one on me, and I just got to be better. Can’t put the team in that situation.”
Henry is averaging just 4.1 yards per carry. That would be the worst average of his career. He’s averaging 4.9 for his career. And at the goal line? Check out this post on X by Michael F. Florio.
“I know he has a ton of TDs but … Derrick Henry has not been good at the goal line this season: 7 carries, -4 yds, 1 TD so far this season (counting today)”
That leads to speculation that Henry may finally be slowing down after a Superman career, according to The Athletic.
“At 32, you’re supposed to be about 54% of your career average, according to aging-curve data,” Michael Salfino wrote. “Counting Sunday, he’s averaging 4.1 yards per carry versus 5.6 the prior two years combined. The data seems to be fitting the age narrative, but maybe the cure is just getting Lamar Jackson back (possibly Week 7).”
Yes, things should be better for Henry when Jackson gets back. And that’s why another Ravens player deserves to join the blame list.
QB Tyler Huntley
After playing great down the stretch in the overtime win over the Falcons, Huntley could not get things done throughout the game against the Browns. He completed only 19 of 31 passes for 165 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions. Also, Huntley carried five times for 28 yards.
But Huntley couldn’t get the offense in rhythm. The team only needed a little rhythm to win this game. He missed open targets, and avoided disaster only when Browns safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren dropped an easy interception in the fourth quarter. Huntley gave the Browns’ defense plenty of credit, according to The Baltimore Banner.
“Man, they were doing a good job of switching it up all throughout the game,” Huntley said. “I don’t know how many times I can say they changed it up, but they did a great job of switching it up every drive that we came out.”
The offensive line didn’t help Huntley as much as expected. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley acknowledged it.
“I think it just comes down to the details — lining up right, making sure you’re taking the right leverage on your block — and a lot of those plays come down to one block here or one person there,” Stanley said. “Putting us behind the sticks, it’s always going to be a long game if you keep doing that.”
Yes, Huntley is a backup. But in today’s NFL, the backups have to get victories. The problem is the Ravens only needed an average performance from Huntley to win this game. They got below average, and the Browns stole one.
Head coach Jesse Minter
There’s no reason to give Minter a pass just because Jackson didn’t play. The Ravens’ defense couldn’t get it done with the game on the line, and that’s Minter’s baby.
Maybe the Ravens just put the rookie coach in a situation where he would struggle to succeed, according to Sports Illustrated.
“Allowing 130 yards and eight first downs and getting outscored, 10-0, in the final quarter in a 13-10 loss was all too familiar,” Jason La Canfora wrote. “Minter’s defense has already blown three double-digit leads and lost twice, and the disparity between his first half and second half defense is kind of sickening.”
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said: “I’m not going to sound like a broken record. It’s ‘Groundhog Day’ with this question. I don’t know. I’m not going to give you an answer. I really don’t know.”
The good news for the Ravens is that they stand in a three-way tie with the Browns and Steelers for first place in the AFC North.
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