OTL: Ravens Give Baltimore the Worst Case of the Mondays

Despite putting up 40 points and 432 total yards of offense, the Baltimore Ravens lost to the Buffalo Bills. If we’re being honest, they lost the second they inexplicably decided to punt the ball back to Josh Allen. So happy Monday. Happy you stayed up and we lost so you’re cranky this Monday. Happy this is an instant classic and you’re already sick of it Monday.

What a Monday we have for you today.

Sports Illustrated’s Joe Alfano wrote an article titled “the Baltimore Ravens Suffer Embarrassing Collapse Vs. Bills.” The title tells you everything you need to know. This quote is important though:

With 11:46 left in the fourth quarter, Derrick Henry scored a 46-yard touchdown, his second of the night, to give Baltimore a 40-25 lead. That could have, and probably should have, sealed the win, but as has happened far too often in recent years, they found a way to blow it.

The could have and probably should have speak very loudly here. Those are the key words, the ones that sting through the screen of your smartphone, as you bite into your sandwich. Many Ravens fans probably did so much celebrating during this game that they can’t believe this is real. That loss was delivered in a shocking fashion. This goes on the list of the great games where John Harbaugh has seen a double-digit lead slip away. In fact it might top it.

John Harbaugh pic.twitter.com/QP2pF3GGqq

— Yuri (@Yuri_Ravens) September 8, 2025

This tweet by Yuri shows you all of the pre-disaster scoreboards from that list of Ravens collapses. Whatever game you think is the worst moment for the Ravens, you have to admit that this is a trend for Harbaugh. The roster changes but some of the most damning problems remain the same. The Ravens have a problem with closing games.

Kyle Phoenix of Baltimore Beatdown wrote an article about the winners and losers on the Ravens from Week 1. John Harbaugh tops the losers section.

Head Coach John Harbaugh – This is the eighth game the Baltimore Ravens have lost after having a 90+% win probability. The ends of these games this team crumbles and it happens every year.

The repetitive feel of this game is the biggest problem. The scores are never the same but that feeling deep down in your gut is. That annoyance dancing at the front of your mind as you lick your emotional wounds feels familiar. Mr. Phoenix is right. This happens every single year.

So why did the Ravens punt the football? Jeff Zrebiec tweets that the combination of field position and Lamar Jackson cramping tilted the decision towards punting.

Harbaugh said he did consider going for it on 4th and 3, but he felt like if they got stopped, bills would’ve already been in FG range.
Lamar said he was cramping which is why he didn’t push to go for it.

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) September 8, 2025

The Ravens should have gone for it. That’s my two cents. The second they punted the ball, they lost the game. It felt like everyone in the stadium knew it. It felt like everyone watching on TV knew it. It just seemed obvious. I think back to the 36-35 win over the Chiefs in 2021. In that game the Ravens converted on a fourth down attempt because they knew if they gave the ball back to the Chiefs it was game over. I was looking for a decision more akin to that game.

Fan pushes Hopkins and Lamar Jackson. Gets pushed back by Jackson.pic.twitter.com/WQRtr59CUW

— ✶ ð•’ð•£ð•”ð•¦ð•¤ ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) September 8, 2025

DeAndre Hopkins and Lamar Jackson took a push from a Buffalo fan after Hopkins secured an amazing touchdown grab. Jackson pushed back. This probably opens him up to trouble with controversy and hub-bub being the minimum but likely punishment. You can see in the video the fan acted poorly and aggressively. Jackson isn’t necessarily unjustified but you would like to avoid these situations.

Lamar said he saw the fan slap Hopkins in helmet and he reacted. “I forgot where I was a little bit. You’ve got to think in those situations. I’ll learn from that.”

— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) September 8, 2025

The Ravens had a 99.1% chance of winning against the Bills with 4:48 left, according to ESPN Analytics pic.twitter.com/ovyNUVgO1d

— ESPN (@espn) September 8, 2025

How bad is this collapse? According to ESPN, the Ravens found themselves in a spot where they had a 99 percent chance of winning the game and still lost. There is probably an urge to say that the Ravens should have no shame losing a game to a great team on the road. The way they did it though, that opens the door to the shame train. That train is hitting as hard as Derrick Henry with a full head of steam.

The @Ravens are the first team in NFL history to score 40+ points and rush for 235+ yards in a loss (teams were previously 277-0 including playoffs) pic.twitter.com/a9VZ4OKp6R

— NFL+ (@NFLPlus) September 8, 2025

This game will go down as a classic. If you’re not a Ravens fan you probably found yourself highly entertained by the night’s action. The loss is historic. The Ravens are the only team to score 40 points and run for 235 yards and still lose, according to NFL+. Unbelievable is the theme of the Monday we’re having, isn’t it?

We’ll stop beating the dead horse here. Just know that Derrick Henry had 169 yards and two touchdowns. The Ravens lost the game. Zay Flowers had seven receptions for 143 yards and a touchdown. The Ravens lost the game. Make it make sense.

It’s a Don’t Poke the Bear Monday, Baltimore. Careful out there…everyone is grumpy.

The post OTL: Ravens Give Baltimore the Worst Case of the Mondays appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/09/08/out-to-lunch/otl-ravens-give-baltimore-the-worst-case-of-the-mondays/