With the Ravens suffering their third straight home loss to see their playoff hopes plummet in a 28-24 final against New England on Sunday night, I’ve offered a dozen thoughts, each in 50 words or less:
1. A blown double-digit fourth-quarter lead, an injury to Lamar Jackson, costly turnovers, star players coming up small, and head-scratching coaching decisions. Sunday’s loss was not only a microcosm of 2025, but it encapsulated the most frustrating moments of the Jackson era altogether. It’d be unbelievable if it weren’t entirely believable.
2. Jackson’s back injury could have been the fatal blow to any big-picture January hopes, but the Ravens still held a 24-13 lead at home in the fourth quarter. Even acknowledging the shutout in Cincinnati, this defense has been a disappointment down the stretch after beating up on junior varsity opponents.
3. Drake Maye looks like the real deal and shook off two first-half turnovers to throw for 139 yards and a touchdown in the fourth quarter alone. To rub salt in the wound, Patriots fans were the ones in Baltimore cascading their second-year quarterback with “MVP” chants in the final moments.
4. “You think the Patriots have to send a thank you note for not putting Derrick Henry in the game for this drive?” John Harbaugh was on autopilot at the game’s most critical juncture. It was akin to Buck Showalter leaving Zack Britton in the bullpen in Toronto. Just inexcusable.
Good question from @BaltimoreLuke to John Harbaugh – don't you want Derrick Henry on the field for the game winning drive?
John deferred to the two-back rotation and the rhythm Derrick and Keaton developed in it. But then at the end, said "Sure I want him on the field."
OK … pic.twitter.com/wfz9nkxKD1
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5. Of course, it was Henry’s fumble in the first quarter that all but halted Baltimore’s early momentum seconds after a certain reporter in the M&T Bank Stadium press box had just remarked, “This is a butt whooping so far.” Sorry about that one, guys.
6. “It’s been a theme for the past couple years honestly. It’s frustrating at this point to keep having the same conversations with you guys, and I’m sure it’s frustrating on your end to keep asking these questions.” Kyle Hamilton didn’t mince words about the collapse or “terrible” 3-6 home record.
7. Opponents are attacking Marlon Humphrey more and more in coverage, which prompts questions about whether a move to safety would be best for his future. According to OverTheCap.com, he’s owed $15.25 million in base salary and a $4 million roster bonus entering the final year of his contract. Decisions.
8. “What is he doing?” That was Mike Tirico’s reaction to Mark Andrews inexplicably trying to lateral the ball at the end of the first half. It was a mind-numbing mistake from someone who was just given a contract extension in part because of his veteran presence on this roster.
9. Ar’Darius Washington registered a strip-sack to thwart a scoring drive late in the first half, but he was a half-step late undercutting the quick out to Stefon Diggs on the critical fourth-and-2. I couldn’t help but wonder if Washington gets there if he hadn’t just returned from the Achilles injury.
10. Zay Flowers is the only dependable part of the passing game at this point, but the ball security concerns cannot be ignored. You love his shiftiness and big-play ability, but he’s way too loose with the football as he changes direction. New England was fully aware of that too.
11. An underrated disappointment of 2025 is how little we’ve learned about Tyler Loop. You need someone who can consistently make kicks from beyond 50 yards in today’s game, and he’s just 1-for-4 in that department after coming up short from 56. He hasn’t been tested much in high-leverage situations either.
12. Harbaugh has had a tremendous run in Baltimore and would headline any candidate list for head coaches. Barring a miracle turnaround, however, change could benefit both sides after the most disappointing season of his 18-year tenure. That said, only Steve Bisciotti’s opinion — which we never hear anymore — truly matters here.
