The Ravens have a bye next weekend, and they desperately need this break to rest and regroup.
Baltimore (8-5) suffered a 24-19 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles (10-2) on Sunday. The Eagles, showcasing their strength in the second half, secured their eighth consecutive victory.
In a match featuring the NFL’s top two running backs, Saquon Barkley (23 carries, 107 yards, one touchdown) extended his rushing lead over Derrick Henry (19 carries, 82 yards), thanks to Philadelphia’s formidable defense that prevented Henry and Lamar Jackson from dominating.
Here are five key takeaways from the Ravens’ defeat, with only four games left in the regular season:
1. Justin Tucker Needs to Regain His Form: For the Ravens to make a deep playoff run, Justin Tucker needs to overcome his slump. He missed two field goals (53 and 47 yards) and an extra point against the Eagles, marking the first time in his career he’s missed three kicks in a single game. Tucker is experiencing the toughest season of his career and hasn’t yet found a solution to his struggles.
“I just left the points out there,” Tucker said. “I feel like I cost us this one. It’s crushing. But at the end of the day, my feelings don’t really matter. What matters is getting back to work and doing everything I can to help this football team win games down stretch.”
Tucker’s teammates and coaches still support him, given his track record as a clutch kicker since his rookie year, helping the Ravens win a Super Bowl. However, the team now finds itself in unfamiliar territory, hoping Tucker can bounce back after the bye.
2. Baltimore’s Offense Is Struggling: Baltimore’s offense has been underperforming, with their two lowest-scoring games of the season occurring in the last three weeks, including an 18-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. The Ravens will use the bye week to reevaluate their strategies and try to recapture the form they had during their five-game winning streak when they averaged 35 points per game.
Philadelphia’s defense pressured Jackson, sacking him three times, and he missed several throws that could have extended drives. Despite Mark Andrews (six catches, 67 yards, one touchdown) being a major offensive presence, Jackson, the league’s leading passer entering the game, was limited to 237 yards passing.
The Eagles are a strong defensive team, but it’s concerning that Baltimore was nearly shut out in the second half, scoring only with seven seconds left in the game. The Ravens need to improve their scoring if they hope to compete with the AFC’s top teams in the playoffs.
3. The Ravens’ Defense Is Improving: Despite losing two of their last three games, the Ravens’ defense has shown solid improvement. They’ve stopped giving up big plays in the passing game, and their secondary has improved since Ar’Darius Washington became a starting safety. Roquan Smith led the Ravens with 12 tackles, showing no signs of the hamstring injury that sidelined him for one game.
Although Barkley managed a 25-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter to give Philadelphia a nine-point lead, the Ravens’ defense appears to be finding its footing. This defensive improvement will be crucial for winning games down the stretch if the offense can find its rhythm.
“After whatever game that was (Cincinnati), it was time to play Ravens defense, and ‘defense’ and ‘Ravens defense,’ there’s a big gap between that,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “The message kind of became a little bit clear; ‘If you want to play ball, then we’ll get you out there, but if you don’t, you’re going to have to sit on the sidelines.’ I think guys responded really well to what was being preached amongst the coaches, amongst the players, and we’re holding guys more accountable now.”
4. Winning the AFC North Is Tougher, But Not Impossible: This loss puts the Ravens one and a half games behind the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3) in the AFC North. Even if the Ravens win their Week 16 rematch against the Steelers, they’ll need help to catch up.
Starting the season 0-2 put the Ravens in a tough spot, and it’s been a grind to reach 8-5 before the bye. Jackson remains confident in the Ravens’ chances to win the division and the Super Bowl but acknowledges the need for more consistent play to make a postseason run.
“We don’t need to worry about the Steelers,” Jackson said. “We need to worry about us.”
5. The Bye Week Is Crucial: The bye week couldn’t come at a better time for the Ravens. They need to rest, regroup, and address their offensive issues. If they can regain their form and continue their defensive improvements, they have a chance to make a strong push in the final stretch of the season.
As the Ravens take this time to reflect and strategize, fans remain hopeful that they’ll return stronger and ready to make a playoff run.
