They thought they had done enough to position rookie kicker Tyler Loop to kick them to retaining the AFC North title and earning a spot in the playoffs, but the Baltimore Ravens could have done more, according to a former NFL quarterback, who trashed the way the team managed the clock before Loop’s decisive miss from 44 yards to seal a heartbreaking 26-24 defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 18.
Loop stepped up after quarterback Lamar Jackson took a knee with the ball at the Pittsburgh 24-yard line. There were 14 seconds left and the Ravens still owned a timeout, prompting ex-Atlanta Falcons QB Kurt Benkert to point out they “should have ran another passing play to try and get closer. If incomplete, fine – still time for another get closer play + timeout. Instead they kicked from where they were and lost.”
Benkert, an undrafted free agent back in 2018 who also spent time with the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers during a short-lived pro career, doubled down on his initial take. He chided the Ravens for making the decision to take a knee at Acrisure Stadium “AFTER they used their second timeout to gather their thoughts and figure out the best course of action. They can’t get out of their own way.”
Those points don’t completely explain nor excuse Loop’s miss, but Benkert has shone an unflattering light on the conservative strategy head coach John Harbaugh employed in a critical moment. There was time for Jackson, who was in red-hot form during a wild fourth quarter, to take at least one shot toward the end zone or at least get a first-year kicker closer for his most pivotal moment in the big league.
Instead, Harbaugh erred on the side of caution when it mattered most.
John Harbaugh Defended Safety-First Approach
Harbaugh was content with how he managed the clock, at least when speaking with reporters after the game. The 63-year-old said “I don’t think it was a bad decision,” per The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer.
Pressed for further details, Harbaugh admitted the Ravens “didn’t want anything bad to happen on a run before the FG try, wanted the ball centered and figured they were in a good spot,” per Bo Smolka of PressBox.
Harbaugh’s reference to “a run” stands out. It sounds as though the Ravens would’ve stayed conservative and kept the ball on the ground, even if they had opted to call another play before sending for Loop.
This speaks to the safety-first approach Harbaugh leaned into with so much at stake. He made the percentage call, but daring for more might have yielded a greater reward.
Such a reward was attainable when Jackson had been shredding a tough Steelers defense during the final period. The two-time NFL MVP “was a perfect 4/4 on downfield throws after halftime for 155 yards and 2 scores,” according to Next Gen Stats, so the Ravens could’ve justified letting Jackson go for broke.
If not, then a quick, short throw to an underneath receiver like tight end Mark Andrews or running back Keaton Mitchell would have worked. Harbaugh would’ve looked foolhardy if keeping the ball in Jackson’s hands led to a sack or turnover, but easing the pressure on Loop was worth the risk.
Ravens Haunted by Tyler Loop Decisions
Playing safe with the clock and field position isn’t the only decision related to Loop sure to haunt the Ravens. So will hand-picking the sixth-round choice in last year’s draft, despite some accuracy issues.
Loop was supposed to be an able replacement for All-Pro Justin Tucker, but there were warning signs. Like when the first-year kicker muddled through a camp competition with undrafted rookie John Hoyland.
Ultimately, Loop should have converted a field goal from under 45 yards when the ball was as close to dead center as possible. Yet, the Ravens got the kicker they drafted, and that’s at least in part on Harbaugh.
So is playing buttoned-up football when his quarterback had the hot hand. This caution helps explain why Harbaugh has been a great regular-season coach, but owns a 13-11 record in the postseason.
Too many near misses have defined his tenure, with the latest among the most painful.
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