The Baltimore Ravens faced a disappointing setback against the Cleveland Browns, marking the end of a promising five-game winning streak. Despite entering the game with high hopes, the Ravens allowed a struggling 2-6 team to outscore them 23-14 in the second half, highlighting ongoing issues with their defense, particularly in pass coverage. Cleveland Browns defeated 29-24 Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens' secondary has struggled significantly this season, allowing the highest quarterback rating in the NFL at 103.5. This was evident as Jameis Winston, who hadn’t started in over two years, threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns against them. Despite Winston's struggles, including nearly throwing three interceptions, the Ravens couldn't capitalize on crucial opportunities, such as when safety Kyle Hamilton dropped a potential game-winning interception late in the fourth quarter. This misstep allowed the Browns to score a touchdown, ultimately sealing the game.
Here’s what Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh and quarterback Lamar Jackson had to say following the loss. They spoke to wbaltv. Head Coach John Harbaugh on the Tough Loss:
"Congrats to the Browns. (It was a) tough loss for us, (but it was) hard fought (and I) appreciate the effort and the fight with our guys as always. We'll get ourselves organized; get back to Baltimore and start getting ready for Denver next week at home."
Harbaugh on the Absence of Starting Safety Marcus Williams:
"It was a personnel decision. We’re kind of working through some things there, (and) I feel very confident Marcus (Williams) is going to be out there playing great football the rest of the season. I’ll just talk about it being an internal type of situation."
Harbaugh on Injuries in the Secondary:
"I mean it's impossible to really put a metric on that. It's obviously a factor, but I appreciate the guys going in there (and) playing, fighting and competing. (I) love our guys, and I thought that they competed out there – the guys that were out there playing in those spots that you're talking about."
Quarterback Lamar Jackson on the Frustration of the Loss:
"Yes, like you said, every loss is frustrating. Yes, because we've been doing so good on the offensive side of the ball [and] the defensive side of the ball. We've just been putting points on the board, keeping teams out of the end zone. We just have to play better."
The Ravens will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next matchup against the Denver Broncos, aiming to address their defensive struggles and improve their performance on both sides of the ball.