PITTSBURGH — The Baltimore Ravens proceed to underachieve, and Lamar Jackson is bored with it. The reigning league MVP did not disguise his frustration following Sunday’s 18-16 loss to the Steelers that dropped Baltimore to 7-4 and 1.5 video games behind Pittsburgh for first place within the AFC North.聽
As soon as once more, the Ravens have been unable to beat their self-inflicted wounds. Particularly, Baltimore’s offense constantly shot itself within the foot with carless penalties and damaging performs that usually put Jackson in apparent passing conditions.聽
“Completely,” Jackson mentioned afterward when requested if he looks like Baltimore is its personal greatest enemy. “It has been that manner ever since final yr, I imagine, going again to the AFC Championship (when) we killed ourselves. Chiefs recreation, the opener, we killed ourselves. Raiders, we killed ourselves, and at the moment it is the identical factor.聽
“We will not be beating ourselves in these kind of video games. We have got to discover a approach to repair that. That shit is annoying.”聽
It is onerous to argue with Jackson. Regardless of having the league’s top-ranked scoring offense, two MVP candidates and a protection that options a number of stalwarts, the Ravens proceed to take a again seat to Kansas Metropolis, Buffalo and now Pittsburgh within the AFC pecking order. That is due to their lack of ability to get out of their very own manner.聽
On Sunday, Derrick Henry fumbled on the sport’s second play, resulting in the primary of Chris Boswell’s聽six area targets. Forward 7-6 late within the first half and deep in their very own territory, Baltimore determined to be aggressive as an alternative of taking a knee and going to halftime with the lead. The gamble backfired, the Ravens fumbled once more, and Boswell made them pay with a area purpose, once more.聽
Trailing 15-10 within the fourth quarter, the Ravens protection made an enormous play when Marlon Humphrey picked off Russell Wilson in the long run zone. Jackson sprinted for 25 yards on the subsequent play, and the Ravens gave the impression to be again within the driver’s seat.聽
However on the very subsequent play, a 15-yard completion from Jackson to Henry on a display screen cross was worn out after lineman Patrick Mekari was penalized for being illegally downfield. Jackson went deep on the subsequent play and was picked off by Steelers rookie linebacker Payton Wilson. Wilson’s choose arrange Boswell’s game-winning area purpose.聽
There have been additionally the 2 missed area targets within the first half by Justin Tucker, one of the traditionally correct kickers in NFL historical past. Tucker has already tied his profession excessive for many area targets in a season (six).聽
One other instance of Jackson’s frustrations occurred on a play when Jackson broke seemingly a half-dozen tackles within the backfield earlier than discovering Zay Flowers downfield for what would have been a primary down. However Flowers dropped the ball, negating Jackson’s herculean effort.聽
Each workforce makes errors. The Steelers made a number of on Sunday, together with Wilson’s choose that was the outcome an especially ill-advised throw. However good groups decrease their errors and normally discover a approach to overcome their miscues. The Ravens have not been doing both at a excessive sufficient degree, a truth that’s clearly gnawing at their All-Professional quarterback.聽
