BALTIMORE — Notable figures such as Marcus Allen, Edgerrin James, and Marshall Faulk witnessed a shift in the NFL’s career rushing hierarchy.
Derrick Henry surpassed these prominent Pro Football Hall of Fame running backs on the NFL’s career rushing leaderboard during Sunday’s 23-10 triumph over the New York Jets.
His demeanor in the locker room post-game, however, suggested a different narrative. His facial expressions conveyed more than his brief responses to inquiries about the fluctuations of the Ravens’ offensive execution, which somewhat marred the team’s five-game winning sequence.
“Our performance didn’t align with our expectations, and we need to elevate our game,” stated Henry, who now holds the 12th position on the all-time leading rusher list.
[Stay updated with Ravens news: Baltimore team feed]
He’s maintaining a high standard for the Ravens, mirroring the caliber he’s achieved, despite their recent ascent to the top of the AFC North after trailing significantly six weeks ago.
Statistically, only a small fraction (1%) of NFL teams that have stumbled to a 1-5 start or worse have managed to rebound and secure a postseason berth, as reported by ESPN.
As of Sunday, Baltimore would qualify as one of those rare success stories.
What adjustments are necessary as the Ravens face a more challenging schedule ahead?
Following a stretch of three games on the road, the Ravens commenced a three-game stint at home by successfully handling the Jets, a team with only two wins, led by Tyrod Taylor. This victory marked the first time this season that Baltimore has achieved a record above .500. With a 6-5 standing, Baltimore possesses a divisional edge over the Pittsburgh Steelers, who also hold a 6-5 record.
“It’s a positive feeling, but we’re only halfway through. The season is far from over,” remarked John Harbaugh, who has experienced only two losing seasons throughout his 18-year tenure as the Ravens’ head coach.
Baltimore’s schedule includes two remaining games against both the Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals. Additionally, matchups against the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers are on the horizon. This challenging sequence begins in just three days on Thanksgiving when the Ravens will host the Bengals, who may see the return of Joe Burrow.
M&T Bank Stadium might require a dynamic offensive display from Baltimore. In Sunday’s game, both of the Ravens’ touchdown drives were significantly aided by defensive pass interference penalties committed by the Jets.
When questioned about the specific improvements his unit needs to make, Henry responded with visible frustration.
“We need to perform better and execute our plays effectively. I’m not sure how else to put it,” the 31-year-old running back expressed.
“It’s about playing at a higher level and each player fulfilling their role. It requires collective effort from all 11 players to execute plays, construct drives, and ultimately score points.”
The Ravens have not achieved their customary scoring levels despite accumulating victories against the Chicago Bears, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, and Jets.
During this period, they have averaged 26.2 points per game, which is 4.3 points less than their average last season and 6.6 points less than their average over the initial four games of this season — prior to Lamar Jackson’s three-game absence.
Jackson returned from a hamstring strain on Oct. 30. Since then, he has not displayed the same form that earned him two NFL MVP awards and four Pro Bowl selections in his first seven seasons. He missed a Wednesday practice in each of the past two weeks due to knee soreness and then an ankle issue. However, he stated postgame that these injuries are not impacting the offense, despite his second consecutive game without a touchdown pass.
This situation marks the first time since 2019, his second season in the league, that he has gone two games without throwing a touchdown pass.
“I believe we simply need to execute at a higher level,” Jackson stated at the press conference after completing 13 of 23 passes for 153 yards. “We are getting favorable field position, but we are not converting that into points. This has nothing to do with any injury.”
The Ravens managed to score touchdowns on only two of their five opportunities inside the Jets’ red zone. Leading up to this weekend, they were successful on just 47.2% of their attempts within the opponent’s 20-yard line, which places them 28th in the NFL in this category.
Following a game where they converted only 5 of 13 third-down attempts against the Browns, they improved slightly to 2 of 11 on third downs against the Jets.
Last season, the Ravens topped the league in red-zone touchdown percentage (74.2%) and held the third-best third-down conversion rate (48.2%). There is a clear need to regain this level of proficiency.
“We believe that achieving a Super Bowl victory requires us to have that caliber of offense,” expressed left tackle Ronnie Stanley. “While winning is important, we recognize that we need to improve to achieve our ultimate objectives.”
As the Ravens’ offensive players repeatedly emphasized the importance of “execution” on Sunday, their head coach highlighted the effectiveness of their defense and special teams. Harbaugh noted that the Ravens forced the Jets into four turnovers — twice on downs, once with a forced fumble, and once with a late-game interception — and benefited from Jordan Stout’s punts of 74 and 67 yards, which significantly shifted field position in both halves.
“Special teams played a crucial role in keeping us competitive. The defense also played exceptionally well,” stated center Tyler Linderbaum. “And we have talented offensive players capable of scoring. We’re just thankful for the victory.”
Regarding the offense, Linderbaum added, “We aspire to perform at a higher level, and we will continue to explore options, maintain our effort, and strive for continuous improvement.”
‘It’s not always pretty’: Harbaugh anticipates improved performance from Lamar in the future
Injuries are a recurring challenge for the Ravens’ franchise quarterback. His 2022 season was prematurely ended by a knee injury, and an ankle issue disrupted his 2021 campaign.
Dealing with frequent injuries on a weekly basis, however, is a new experience for Jackson, who wore spatted cleats on Sunday to provide additional support for his ankle.
When asked about his ankle postgame, he mentioned it felt “relatively stable.” However, Jackson’s reluctance to utilize his rushing ability is evident. He carried the ball seven times for a total of 11 yards against the Jets. Over his four games since returning, he has accumulated only 71 rushing yards on 25 attempts.
By comparison, he rushed for 70 yards and scored a touchdown in the season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills, which was the first of two consecutive games where the Ravens scored over 40 points to begin the season.
During a third-and-5 play late in the second quarter against the Jets, Jackson initially moved forward to scramble. Instead of outrunning New York linebacker Jamien Sherwood to the sideline, Jackson cut back and collided with both Sherwood and Jets defensive end Jermaine Johnson II.
He gained a single yard, and the Ravens settled for a 31-yard field goal, marking their first points of the afternoon. Four additional points were left off the board, partly due to Jackson’s hesitance to activate the speed that has enabled him to achieve two 1,000-yard rushing seasons in his career.
Jackson was asked if he has felt completely healthy in any game since returning from his hamstring strain.
“It’s hard to say,” Jackson responded. “But I am playing, so I believe I should still be able to perform as I normally do.”
The issue is that he is not performing at his peak, at least not as consistently. Known for his elusive moves in the backfield, Jackson is not escaping pressure as frequently. Before Sunday’s game, 25.6% of the pressures he faced this season resulted in sacks, according to PFF. This represents a career-high rate and is significantly higher than the 11.3% pressure-to-sack percentage he recorded as one of the league’s most effective passers under pressure last season.
Early in the second quarter against the Jets, defensive tackle Jowon Briggs pushed through the interior of the offensive line, an area where the Ravens have struggled this season, and sacked Jackson for a loss of 10 yards on third-and-7. This was the 24th sack Jackson has absorbed in eight games this season, compared to 23 sacks in 17 games last season. While the offensive line’s performance contributes to this stat, so do concerns regarding Jackson’s mobility.
To mitigate these concerns, Jackson can effectively utilize quick passes, but his accuracy must be precise, which has been lacking recently.
“I have complete confidence in Lamar Jackson, and I always will,” Harbaugh stated postgame.
“He’s my player, he’s our player, he’s our quarterback. Lamar is doing what is necessary. He’s securing victories. It may not always be visually appealing. I’m not sure how many times we’ve had similar wins where we’ve acknowledged that it wasn’t pretty or perfect, but it reflects our team’s character.”
The momentum has shifted from Jackson and the offense carrying the team to the defense taking on that role.
After being plagued by injuries and struggling against opposing offenses earlier in the season, the Ravens’ defense has not allowed more than 19 points in a game since giving up 44 to the Houston Texans in Week 5.
Now, the offense must uphold its part of the agreement.
“It’s encouraging to witness our defense performing at a high level, but it would be even more fulfilling when we perform equally well and match their intensity,” Jackson commented. “We must strive to achieve this consistency, week after week, because they are stepping up. We need to do the same.”
The less demanding portion of the Ravens’ schedule has concluded. Time is of the essence for Jackson and the offense to improve.
