The Baltimore Ravens’ season ended after a 24-17 wildcard loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday night.
Like the Miami Dolphins Sunday before, they are ending their season after a confounding mismanagement of the clock cost them at the track.
The Ravens faced a rush situation in the closing minutes of the game as they attempted to recover from a seven-point deficit. Still, they conceded valuable time and ended the game with a time-out they won’t be able to carry into next season.
Why didn’t Ravens call a timeout?
Facing first and tenth place, the Ravens advanced to the Bengals’ 17-yard line after a close from Tyler Huntley to JK Dobbins. Officials blew the game dead at 1:09 after Bengals Dobbins defenders lined up just past the first-down mark. The clock kept ticking. The Ravens had two timeouts but chose not to use any.
The Ravens offense then huddled together and lined up for a passing play. They eventually snatched the ball with 33 seconds remaining after having 36 seconds to burn the clock. They ran four more games from there, including a run that resulted in an offensive holding penalty. A fourth and 20th Hail Mary of the Cincinnati 27 fell incomplete, and the game was over.
John Harbaugh declined to take a time-out as the precious game clock had run out. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
They didn’t go with the two remaining timeouts in the holster. They burned one with the clock already stopped after an incomplete pass on third and 20 to set up the final game. That one timeout went unused while the Ravens wasted most of the final minute of regulation.
Harbaugh’s statement
After the game, Harbaugh explained the decision to reporters. He said the Ravens wanted to score without giving the Bengals time and blamed the holding penalty for thwarting his plan.
“We wanted to save the red zone timeouts,” Harbaugh said via the touchdown wire. “What killed us was the custodial sentence. That set us back. …
“We wanted to score a goal without returning the ball. We think we’re going to get into the red zone, we think it’s going to be a certain amount of games and we’re going to work until the end of the game. Instead of scoring with 30, 35 seconds left, you give them a chance to get a field goal at the end.”
That’s a contingency that requires a lot of things to go absolutely right in a pressurized playoff situation and a backup quarterback running offense. Instead of calling one of two remaining timeouts when the clock is running against you. It’s a classic case of overthinking the situation.
Unsurprisingly, the plan didn’t work out. It’s hard to say if it affected the outcome of the game after it ended with a failed fourth game. It certainly put undue pressure on a situation the Ravens could have controlled. Add it to the list of Baltimore off-season troubles, which includes figuring out what’s happening with Lamar Jackson.