OTL: The Song Remains the Same in Baltimore

The Baltimore Ravens season is technically not over, yet the math isn’t mathing for the Ravens to get into the playoffs. The Ravens had a simple proposition; they had to win three games in a row to win the division. The wild card is not in the cards, a symptom of starting 1-5 and losing three out of four games late in the year. Control is no longer in the Ravens’ hands. For the Ravens to make the playoffs, the Steelers have to lose their last two games and the Ravens have to win out. It’s not completely outlandish – the Browns did just give Josh Allen and the Bills a scare. That said, do you really trust the Ravens to beat the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field and then top the Steelers in Pittsburgh? It’s not completely out of the realm of possibility, but it takes the faith of a 10-year-old at Christmastime to believe it.

Several voices on the Baltimore Beatdown Round Table point to the coaching staff as the biggest problem facing the Ravens. Dustin Cox wrote this:

This game featured many of the main problems the Ravens have faced this season. From key players fumbling the ball, to abandoning Derrick Henry, failing to sack the opposing quarterback, and Lamar Jackson getting injured. This team does not deserve to make the playoffs after failing to learn from their mistakes time and time again. It is time to try something new this offseason. John Harbaugh has been a fantastic coach for this team for a very long time, but I’m afraid the train has run out of steam at this point.

The game is a great example of the things that happen with John Harbaugh coached teams. First of all, no coach has lost more fourth quarter leads in this era than John Harbaugh. Leaving Derrick Henry on the bench is the biggest sin of Harbaugh’s Sunday evening. Henry had 128 yards and two touchdowns. Cris Collinsworth said on the NBC broadcast that the Patriots should send the Ravens a thank you letter for not playing Henry. It couldn’t be more obvious that the Ravens turned away from their star running back who was having a great game, even with the early fumble. Harbaugh finds ways to lose these games. You can blame execution all you want, the argument for his removal is gaining what has to be an uncomfortable amount of steam for owner, Steve Bisciotti.

Mark Meyers added this:

The coaching staff needs to go. The culture is broken. The “Baltimore” label cannot be given to this defense. Todd Monken cannot consistently call a game for the offense. It’s just painful. Lamar Jackson deserves better. Hopefully Eric DeCosta can rip off this band-aid.

It does not feel like Ravens football anymore. There’s just something off. This is arguably the most disappointing season in Ravens history and nothing ever seems to change. What’s different about this year is that normally the Ravens are wasting an MVP performance from Lamar Jackson, but this year we’ve never gotten the full Lamar Jackson show. Jackson has been banged up, which serves as a decent excuse. Still, the Ravens were moving the ball with Tyler Huntley. This game should have been finished – Harbaugh-coached Ravens teams have struggled to do that post Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. It’s an inescapable truth.

Kyle Goon of The Baltimore Banner thinks the Ravens have wasted Derrick Henry’s potential this season:

That question will haunt the team for years after this bitterly disappointing season. Between Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Todd Monken, the Ravens have squandered a season of the best running back ever to play for this franchise.

Henry has 1,253 yards on the ground this season, averaging 5 yards per carry with 12 touchdowns. In an injury-riddled season for Lamar Jackson, you can make a convincing case that Henry has been the offense’s best performer.

The Ravens keep deviating from what works, after they let it work. It’s truly inexplicable. Maybe the Ravens are overthinking this. It’s one idea to save Henry for the playoffs when you know the playoffs are a promise. It is another thing altogether when you desperately need to win the game in front of you. The Patriots couldn’t stop Henry. All the Ravens needed to do was trust Henry to run the rock and protect the football, and this loss could have been a convincing win. The Ravens had a backup quarterback in and didn’t lean on Henry. Make it make sense. Seriously. I don’t get it.

Nobody else does either. Here’s my evidence:

Derrick Henry scored a rushing touchdown with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter. The Ravens led 24-13.

HE NEVER TOUCHED THE BALL AGAIN AND THE RAVENS LOST!

John Harbaugh needs to be fired. pic.twitter.com/eivDVWz3O7

— Scott Reichel (@ReichelRadio) December 22, 2025

The NFL world is understandably dumbfounded by Baltimore’s misusage of Derrick Henry last night:

Rodney Harrison: “That’s the one guy the Patriots did not want to tackle. … I absolutely, at times, hate the Ravens’ offensive strategy. … What are you saving him for? You… pic.twitter.com/Fz1KtbC7q5

— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltim0re) December 22, 2025

Just unfathomable coaching from the Ravens

Derrick Henry averaged 7.1 yards per carry on 18 carries with two touchdowns against the Patriots

He didn’t see a snap on the Ravens’ final two drives of the game with Baltimore having three timeouts

— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 22, 2025

Okay, you get the point.

Ravens snap counts in loss to Patriots: Bateman 38 snaps and no catches. Henry plays less than 45 pct of snaps. Green below 50 pct. E. Jones gets most extensive action to date as Vorhees hurts foot. pic.twitter.com/fH0ViPPoD6

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) December 22, 2025

Jeff Zrebiec tweeted out the snap counts for each player. Derrick Henry was on the field for less than 45 percent of the plays. I like Keaton Mitchell. I even like Rasheen Ali. When it is do or die time though, Henry should be on the field.

As for the Lamar Jackson injury cloud, here is a video of Ian Rappoport talking about the situation:

From @GMFB: #Ravens QB Lamar Jackson is day-to-day with a back bruise, one that ended his night early against the #Patriots. pic.twitter.com/kmr6GwdXG7

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 22, 2025

Rapoport says that Jackson is day to day with a back bruise. He also emphasizes that Jackson is just as frustrated with his injuries as are the fans. It just seems like a cursed season, doesn’t it? Just about every week there is something else wrong with Jackson. It’s hard to judge his season for a few reasons. First, he missed a chunk of games. Secondly, he’s been hurt essentially the entire season and thirdly, the Ravens have a questionable at best offensive line. This season feels wrapped up but it’s never felt good.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.

At least the College Football Playoffs are fun.

The post OTL: The Song Remains the Same in Baltimore appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/12/22/out-to-lunch/song-remains-same/