In a weekend of upsets within the NFL, from the Saints throttling the Cowboys in Dallas to the Buccaneers edging out the Lions in Detroit, not anything was once extra sudden than the Ravens falling to 0-2 after a loss to the Raiders in Baltimore.
The Ravens blew a 10-point lead because the Raiders scored 13 unanswered within the ultimate 10 mins for a 26-23 victory. Baltimore, the AFC’s most sensible general seed within the playoffs a 12 months in the past, is off to an 0-2 get started for simply the second one time in John Harbaugh’s tenure.
“We’re now not going to be outlined by way of everybody that’s pronouncing we’re now not any excellent, that we’re excellent (or) that the season is over after two video games,” Harbaugh mentioned. “That’s what’s going to be mentioned, and we remember that, however they’re now not right here; they’re now not inside of. No person inside of goes to mention that. We all know that we’re a excellent soccer crew, and we’re going to head stay getting higher and higher and higher and outline the season by way of the best way we play.”
The Ravens misplaced by way of a toe, actually, within the season opener on the reigning Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs in Week 1. In Week 2, they have been heavy favorites to knock off a Raiders crew that has posted consecutive dropping seasons.
After operating again Derrick Henry scored a landing to make it 23-13 early within the fourth quarter, it appeared like the Ravens would cruise to a victory of their house opener. Then the Raiders had 3 immediately scoring drives to complete the sport whilst forcing a few three-and-outs by way of the Ravens’ offense.
Reigning MVP Lamar Jackson completed 21 of 34 for 247 yards passing with one landing and one interception, and he rushed for 45 yards on 5 carries. Consistent with ESPN, Jackson is solely the fourth reigning MVP to lose his first two video games of the season for the reason that 1970 merger and the primary since Kurt Warner in 2002 with the Rams. The Rams went 7-9 in 2002, a 12 months after achieving the Tremendous Bowl.
“I’m indisputably going to speak to my guys as a result of we’ve were given to search out our mojo,” Jackson mentioned. “We’ve were given to search out (it), and do what we do, as a result of that’s now not us in any respect.”
The season remains to be younger, after all, however an 0-2 get started has been traditionally tricky for groups to combat out of, with lower than 10 p.c of groups to start out this poorly achieving the postseason within the expanded playoff generation.
Getting out of this hollow received’t be simple for Baltimore, both. The Ravens’ subsequent recreation is on the Cowboys, a fellow 2023 playoff crew that shall be taking a look to dance again after a forgettable efficiency. Then, Baltimore hosts Buffalo, a crew that has made 5 immediately postseason journeys and is off to a 2-0 get started.
However the agenda might be considered as a chance for the Ravens. They may be able to flip their season round and reestablish themselves as reputable contenders. Alternatively it’s considered, there’s no query; it’s sudden to look Baltimore on this place this early on.
Maximum would have anticipated Baltimore (0-2) to be flipped with Pittsburgh (2-0) within the AFC North given the Ravens returning the MVP at quarterback and the Steelers bringing in rebuilding initiatives on the place.
As the good Invoice Parcells mentioned, you might be what your file says you might be. And the Ravens are 0-2.
“Our same old could be very prime,” take on Ronnie Stanley mentioned. “That’s indisputably now not OK for us to start out that means.”
