The Running Game, the Turnovers, and the Same Ol’ Ravens

[redrum52]

Justice Hill had a hell of a ball punch that almost caused a fumble , but of course it didn’t ! We’re the Ravens

Really thought he was going to knock loose

 

[RavensMania]

Really thought he was going to knock loose

would have been the play of the game and likely save the game if that happened.

 

[rossihunter2]

Yep you nailed it, that is exactly what I’m saying. I don’t disagree with you at all. Bateman has always dealt with unlucky injuries and a little inconsistency. He is a baller but man sometimes he is so frustrating to watch because you know he can be ridiculously good.

I’d love to get someone a bit more reliable where Bateman could feast as a WR3 because the group is that good. I’m thinking a draft pick or more likely signing back a guy like Brown or something

I just think if your goal is to upgrade Bateman you’re probably spending too much capital for little actual gain

Id definitely love to be 3 deep at WR though

 

[SaltyDog]

Also left 2 points on the field with poor execution on the first 2 PC try. 9 points total, probably a lead, and we're not chasing the scoreboard in the second half.

Yeah I guess the point is that it’s hard to overcome mistakes in games like that and it really doesn’t matter when you make them. Good teams are going to make you pay.

 

[rossihunter2]

Does anyone know what Nick Wright said? Did he crucify Lamar or was he more fair?

Idk what he said on his show but Bill barnwell, Ben solak and others have gone at it with him on Twitter

 

[rossihunter2]

I've been saying for years, yes Lamar is partially to blame, but what astounds me is the total team collapse around him. Its every year. Every fucking year.

Drops
Bad snaps
Poor blocking
No turnovers forced

Yes Lamar has had some issues but where's the help? It's a team fucking game

Tbf though - this year they all overcame it as a team until mark shat the bed

They all had the normal jitters, and then were driving with a chance to take the lead until mark fumbled

And then they overcame that with the TD drive, only for mark to drop the conversion

I don’t get everyone who said the bills would probably go down and score to win after we tied it either… what had the bills shown all the 2nd half that made anyone think the defence wouldn’t hold them?

Lots of mistakes were made but in terms of game situation and time, it’s hard not to put this loss squarely on Andrews’ shoulders

And that’s not to absolve others of blame but to clarify that without his mistakes late on, I bet we win

 

[JAAM]

Finally over this one. Onto the off-season.

Can’t wait to just watch games with my feet up next season and enjoy whatever may come. If we win it all, I’ll be elated. If we choke again, it’ll already be expected. Not letting this team affect my daily life anymore

 

[rossihunter2]

The Ravens are the first team in NFL history to...

rush for 175+ yards
complete 70.0% of their passes
average 10.00+ yards per pass
convert 70.0% of their 3rd downs
have no punts or missed FG

...all in the same game (reg or post). They still ended up losing.

The fact we didnt punt once and still lost is wild

 

[rossihunter2]

Honestly Lamar played a great game. I know it sounds crazy because of the fumble but he showed me that he's gotten over the playoff hiccups. 88 Yard drive in those weather conditions without your top 2 WRs is insane. Not to mention he put the ball where it needed to be on Andrews drop, he just didn't execute...

His WRs were tylan wallace, Anthony miller and Steven sims…

Demarcus Robinson and the ghost of desean Jackson might have been a better group lol

 

[rossihunter2]

All I will say is these guys are affecting the quality of your life, allowing them to do so is a choice. Train you brain to ignore them like you have with the hum of a fridge. No one listens to a fridge unless its making noises that deserve your attention.

This mother fucker is gonna get deep over the next few weeks.

Love you man

I’m all here for it lol

 

[rossihunter2]

If Lamar is over the playoff hiccups, he doesn’t commit the turnovers. Because those are mistakes he doesn’t make, until he gets in the playoffs, and yeah he did enough at the end to give us a chance and andrews is far more to blame, but without Lamar’s two turnovers the bills might never have a lead

Idk is it playoff hiccups or is it the snow

Ball looked like it slipped out of his hand slightly on the INT

And he definitely doesn’t fumble that ball if it’s not slippery

And the biggest positive, is despite those mistakes he brought us back to win (if not for the 2 massive Andrews mistakes)

 

[Tank]

Yeah I guess the point is that it’s hard to overcome mistakes in games like that and it really doesn’t matter when you make them. Good teams are going to make you pay.

Yep, circumstances change when it's win or go home. Everything is amplified in tournament games.

 

[rossihunter2]

I'm too lazy to dig for the site again, but I saw stats that said the Bills blitzed more than they had all season against the Ravens. They also pressured Lamar on over 60% of his plays.

They actually blitzed more in the second half than in the first half, but the major difference was that the pressure got home half as often.

Lamar actually had a higher YPA and ADOT in the first half by considerable margins, so that probably to a degree explains the higher pressure rate. He was going deep more often and that usually lends itself to holding the ball longer.

I don't know that the Ravens were expecting such a heavy blitz plan from the Bills, but the plan very clearly was blitz heavily and use Romo's secret lover in Matt Milano to be a spy on Lamar if he tries to scramble.

In the first half, Lamar scrambled around 20% of the time, but dropped it to under 7% in the seconr half.

For all those who say they didn't see growth from Lamar or that he has the yips or he tries to be Superman, I point to the above and say bullshit.

Lamar clearly came out of half and settled in. He got the ball out faster, scrambled less, and took what the defense gave him to lead three (should have been four) scoring drives, including the 88 yard should be game tying drive.

Lamar did the OPPOSITE of what some of you like to pretend he does, but can't override narratives. Can't be wrong.

As an aside, had the offensive line played half as well in the first half as they did in the second half and I'm not sure either turnover happens. Both were a direct result of the blitz and pressure forcing mistakes (and an errant snap.)

There’s a way to lose in a disappointing way that is different to how we’ve lost before

Lamar was insanely good vs pressure and the blitz this year and that carried over to the playoffs

Feels like the fear for many is that Lamar will finally get “found out” and that has been the criticism in previous playoff losses…

But you can’t levy that criticism at Lamar anymore… he doesn’t make those kinds of mistakes anymore and still makes amazing miracles happen

 

[JAAM]

Wait… we can save 11 million by cutting Mark?

 

[Deebo813]

Honestly, we shouldve two peat. Last season and this season shouldve easily been two SB appearances. Best roster in afc two years straight. If we keep monken, next season we should take it all.

 

[Deebo813]

Wait… we can save 11 million by cutting Mark?

No reason to cut mark.. he just gonna go to kc

 

[Deebo813]

Wait… we can save 11 million by cutting Mark?

With mark, likely, bateman and zay.. we really have some great weapons. Keep the band together

 

[rossihunter2]

On the Mark Andrews front, the one thing I've found most surprising is that he opted not to face the media. While I don't think guys owe an explanation, I do think the culture has been one of accountability. Zay faced the media as a rookie last year when he messed up. Lamar is always out there facing the media. Tucker never once shied away during his struggles. Mark was just unavailable, and I think it only bothers me a bit because he got that C on his chest which has never been done before.

I mean I get it if the team is protecting him if he’s not emotionally ready

Tbf what’s he gonna say that we don’t already know? “I fucked up!” We know that and so does he…

I was surprised when Zay showed up to face the music last year - thought they’d protect him more as a rookie tbh

Obviously I get that media want to talk to him, but let’s be honest, what are they gonna actually ask him that’s in any way valuable…

 

[Militant X 1]

I mean I get it if the team is protecting him if he’s not emotionally ready

Tbf what’s he gonna say that we don’t already know? “I fucked up!” We know that and so does he…

I was surprised when Zay showed up to face the music last year - thought they’d protect him more as a rookie tbh

Obviously I get that media want to talk to him, but let’s be honest, what are they gonna actually ask him that’s in any way valuable…

Nothing! But, it is that accountability factor to a degree.

Lamar was pissed off by his performance but faced the music and got it over with when asked about his issues (i.e., the INT and the Fumble).

Mark had an earlier drop, a costly fumble, and a crucial 2-pt conversion drop that was season-ending.

Sure, the media ask dumbass questions but, go out there face the music and get it over with! Disappearances lead to speculation and allow people to ignorantly form a false narrative about you.

 

[rmcjacket23]

Wait… we can save 11 million by cutting Mark?

You can also save a good chunk of that by keeping him too...