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The Baltimore Ravens Week 13 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers came down to the wire on Sunday. After scoring a last-second touchdown, head coach John Harbaugh went for two rather than tying it up. The decision resulted in a heartbreaking loss. We go over this Ravens-Steelers game with some of our Ravens Week 13 takeaways in mind.
Baltimore did well on the defensive end. They only allowed 20 points and made the Steelers uncomfortable throughout most of the game. However, most of the woes have come from the Ravens' offense. They couldn't outscore a poor Pittsburgh team in an important AFC North matchup. This franchise is struggling at the worst time of the year.
To turn things around, Harbaugh must consider making some changes. It was odd to see how involved Devonta Freeman was in this game. He's not the running back he used to be, but Baltimore fed him the rock more often than not. Additionally, the passing game has struggled and could benefit if Rashod Bateman received a bigger role. Furthermore, the Ravens might be in trouble for the long haul, as Pittsburgh attacked Lamar Jackson at will.
With that said, here are three Ravens Week 13 takeaways from their loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Ravens Week 13 Takeaways
3. Devonta Freeman had too big of a role in the offense
Devonta Freeman ended the day with 14 carries for 52 yards, along with five receptions for 45 yards. He also had a rushing touchdown on the day, making Freeman the most active player on the offense outside of Lamar Jackson. This is bad news for the Ravens, as the team fed the ball to an inefficient running back throughout the entire game.
It's no secret the Ravens utilize a run-first offense. What's intriguing though, is how the coaching staff continuously dialed up Freeman's number throughout the day. Baltimore has a plethora of talented pass catchers that the team isn't using properly. Look for the coaching staff to potentially make some changes moving forward, as opening up the passing game is their only hope.
2. Baltimore must find a way to get Rashod Bateman more involved
The highly coveted rookie wide receiver ended the day with no stats. No receptions, no catches, nothing. It was a nill day for Rashod Bateman, which isn't a great look for the Ravens. Instead, Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, and Devin Duvernay all seem to be higher up on the pecking order for now.
Bateman has flashed his potential in the limited amount of work he's received. So much so, the Ravens must consider getting him the ball more often. This kid has the talent to become an elite receiver in the league, but Baltimore has to give him the chance to shine. Look for Rashod Bateman to bounce back in Week 14 as Baltimore takes on the Cleveland Browns.
1. Lamar Jackson struggles against the blitz
It's been a tough year for Lamar Jackson so far, even though the Ravens are currently atop the AFC North. The Steelers followed a defensive game plan on Sunday that we've seen before. When Baltimore took on the Miami Dolphins, Miami relentlessly blitzed Jackson. It resulted in a big win and a hard day out of Baltimore's star quarterback. They seem to have found the blueprint on defending Lamar Jackson.
The Steelers followed that same strategy on Sunday. Pittsburgh did everything they could to pressure Jackson. It worked, as they were able to hold the Ravens to just 19 points. Lamar Jackson is bound to see opponents continuously blitz him, which could spell danger for Baltimore's playoff hopes. We'll see how it plays out, but this coaching staff must find a way to counteract the blitz sooner, rather than later. If not, Baltimore could be in some serious trouble.
