Read the Beforeitsnews.com story here. Advertise at Before It's News here.
Profile image
Story Views
Now:
Last hour:
Last 24 hours:
Total:

GOOD, BAD & UGLY: Another Season, Another Heartbreak

Monday, January 5, 2026 14:09
% of readers think this story is Fact. Add your two cents.


In many ways, it seems like the Ravens’ blown fourth quarter lead in Buffalo to start the season was just a few weeks ago. While leading 40-25 riding on the wings of the preseason accolades and the predictions of a deep playoff run, for a moment in time it felt like 2025 could be the Ravens year. But during a 5-minute stretch at Orchard Park, Josh Allen and the Bills gave us all a glimpse of the future. That torturous 4th quarter would prove to be a microcosm of the season to come. There would be no happy ending. And there was none on Sunday night in Pittsburgh.

Like so many other times during the John Harbaugh administration, the Ravens had an opportunity to win a big game and failed in dramatic style – a missed 44-yard field goal attempt as time expired never had a chance. Prior to the attempt, Tyler Loop was 29 for 29 for the season on attempts inside of 50 yards. Never as a professional, was Loop asked to win a game and when called upon, he failed by a wide margin. The blow was yet another in a long string of crushing defeats on Harbaugh’s watch that left the Ravens and their fans in utter despair.

  • Divisional Round 2010: Ravens led the Steelers in Pittsburgh at halftime 21-7; lose 31-24.
  • Divisional Round 2011: Ravens led the Patriots 20-16 heading into Q4; fall behind 23-20; Lee Evans drops a go ahead TD; Billy Cundiff misses a 32-yard game tying FGA
  • Divisional Round 2014: Ravens blow two 14-point leads during the game; led 31-28 with under 6 minutes to play; fall behind 35-31; driving for another score late in the game; throw an INT in the end zone to end it.
  • 2016 Week 16: Christmas night and the Ravens need a win in Pittsburgh to keep playoff hopes alive; the Steelers face similar postseason obstacles; with 1:18 left in the game the Ravens take a 27-24 lead; the Steelers start from their own 25; 13 seconds left and no timeouts, Ben Roethlisberger and Mike Tomlin roll the dice and run a play from the Ravens 4; complete over the middle to Antonio Brown who is stopped but extends the ball across the goal line for what would be the game winning score; a stop could have ended the game.
  • 2017 Week 17: Final regular season game needing a win to advance to the playoff; Ravens led 27-24 with 53 seconds remaining and the Bengals facing a 4th-and-12 from the Ravens 49; TD Tyler Boyd
  • Divisional Round 2019: The Ravens are the No. 1 seed and get skull-dragged by Derrick Henry (195 yards rushing) and the Titans 28-12.
  • Divisional Round 2020: Down 10-3, Ravens are driving, facing a 3rd-and-goal from the Bills 9; behind a sieve of an offensive line (sound familiar) Lamar throws a pick-6, returned 100 yards.
  • Wildcard Round 2022: Game tied at 17; just under 12 minutes to play; Tyler Huntley fumbles on the 1-yard line and the Bengals return it the distance for what would prove to be the game winning score; a 14-point swing
  • AFC Championship 2023: 3 turnovers to none for the Chiefs; Ravens lose 17-10 during the first AFCCG played in Baltimore in over 50 years
  • Divisional Round 2024: Ravens overcome 3 turnovers against the Bills but Mark Andrews drops a game tying 2-point conversion with under 2 minutes to play
  • Win And In Game 2025: Tyler Loop misses a 44-yard game winner as time expires

Revisiting these losses was to relive them in some ways. Yet it’s a reminder that for over a decade the Ravens have been unable to close big games and that unfortunately has become their identity. They are the team that if you keep it close will shit the bed when the chips are down. And the common denominator during this Ravens Age of Philanthropy is John Harbaugh.

Coordinators come and go yet nothing changes. I’m sure we’ll hear sometime this week that the Ravens are parting ways with Todd Monken. He’s been fingered as the scapegoat for awhile now and I wouldn’t disagree with his dismissal. But in the end, it has been the defense. Whether it was Dean Pees, Wink Martindale or Zach Orr, the defense has failed them time and time again.

When the Ravens went up last night 24-20 with 2:20 to go, how many of you thought, “Oh boy, they scored too fast?” How messed up is that? The Ravens need their offense to score and play defense at the same time. But that’s the way it has been around here for far too long.

I remember during one of our shows with Steve Bisciotti down at The Original Greene Turtle in Ocean City, Maryland, the conversation turned towards the Ravens struggles on offense. Bisciotti lamented the challenges of the salary cap and then posed the question, “Which would you prefer, a really good offense or a really good defense?”

My first reply was to say in jest (slightly), “Why can’t we have both?” But in the end I said I’d prefer a competent offense that could run and protect the football but a stellar defense that could close out games. Bisciotti agreed with me.

And now look at what they’ve become under Harbaugh.

It’s not all on John. EDC deserves a heap of criticism. Ignoring the trenches is either ignorance or arrogance and I know that he’s a bright guy.

Last night’s loss hurts. It cuts deeply, particularly when we consider the expectations heaped upon the Ravens by the national media, the local media, the Ravens front office, the coaching staff and even the players. But there is a silver lining provided the Ravens brass has the stones to do the right things this offseason.

The seasons ending in utter despair are many – too many. And apparently only one guy is capable of setting in motion the necessary steps to lift RavensFlock from its annual state of depression. It’s the same guy I had orange crushes with at The Turtle for several years running.

“It was a tough loss, obviously. We came up a play short there at the end. I am proud of our guys. I think what you saw in this game is pretty much what you’ve seen all year from a heart and effort and fight standpoint. We just didn’t play well enough to close it out.” ~ John Harbaugh following last night’s loss

Isn’t a decade plus of this same message, this mess, evidence enough that changes must be made? Or are the Ravens going to run it back again and hope that by trying the same things the same way that one day there will be a breakthrough?

And with that thought, I just set a reminder on my calendar to buy a Powerball ticket.

Lamar Jackson

The Ravens loss will go down as another for Lamar in a big game. He’s been the author of some playoff debacles for sure. And while this wasn’t a playoff game per se, it was a big game and during the game’s most crucial moments, even behind a truly offensive, offensive line, Lamar looked like Superman.

Any team needs its star players to rise to the occasion with the game on the line. Lamar did that repeatedly and has nothing to show for it. In the 4th quarter, Lamar was 6 of 8 for 172 yards and 2 TDs for a 156.3 passer rating. Maybe Jackson wasn’t his best after the Ravens opening possession through the third quarter. But when the game was on the line, when the game was there to be won, Lamar did everything possible to secure the win. He didn’t fail. If you want a scapegoat, there are plenty to be found on the other side of the ball. And of course, No. 77.

THE GOOD

Despite being the focus of the Steelers defense, Henry still managed to rack up 126 yards on 20 carries (6.3 YPC)…Zay Flowers had 2 huge touchdowns while hauling in 4 balls for 138 yards…Devontez Walker delivered when called upon chipping in with a 38 yard TD to open the game’s scoring…Isaiah Likely’s clutch catch with seconds remaining in the game should have been the game’s most pivotal play had Loop done his job…

Trenton Simpson played fast and purposeful while making a couple of nice open field tackles…Alohi Gilman had a solid performance with 8 tackles including the big red zone stop of Kenneth Gainwell to end the first half…Chidobe Awuzie was a solid tackler and was effective in coverage until he fell down late in the 4th to surrender what would prove to be the game winning score to Calvin Austin…Travis Jones was strong at the point of attack, chipping in with 5 tackles and a sack…Nate Wiggins was very tight in coverage with 2 PDs to his credit…Jordan Stout averaged 47.8 yards per punt with 3 landing deep inside the 20…clutch 41-yard kick return by Keaton Mitchell to set up the Ravens final drive.

THE BAD

Mitchell and Rasheen Ali were pretty much useless as runners spelling Henry. Ali was completely overmatched by Nick Herbig on an A-gap blitz…Andrew Vorhees was tossed around regularly by Cameron Heyward…Roger Rosengarten looked tired and slow…the Ravens had just 12 first downs the entire game and were 4-of-12 on third down conversion attempts…the Ravens had just 48 plays compared to the Steelers 73…Despite having Henry the Ravens possessed the ball 8 ½ minutes less than Pittsburgh…Roquan Smith played to his number – ZERO. He was a complete non-factor…Malaki Starks has played more like a Day 3 pick instead of the Ravens first-round pick. Like his classmate Mike Green, disappearing acts are quite common…Losing Kyle Hamilton really hurt.

Zach Orr’s unit never recovered from the loss of Hamilton to a concussion early in the third. The huge loss did not go unnoticed by Aaron Rodgers and to his credit, he took advantage. Without Kyle on the field Rodgers led the Steelers on four scoring drives – 3 touchdowns and a field goal.

THE UGLY

We may as well label him “King Ugly” given his repeat appearances in this category throughout the season. Daniel Faalele was a joke in training camp, a joke from Weeks 1 thru 18 except for the Green Bay game. He barely missed a snap all season and while most might take that as a testament to his durability, the fact that the Ravens had him on the field perpetually tells you all you need to know about the quality of their offensive line.

And to beat a dead horse, the Ravens pass rush is PA-THE-TIC! A 42-year-old quarterback dropped back to throw 50 times, and the Ravens got to him twice. Most of the time he had all day, giving his receivers time to execute double-move route combos which challenged the footing of the Ravens DBs atop that Acrisure hayfield…the Steelers had 24 points in the second half. They had a total of 6 points against the Browns a week earlier…tackling was abysmal particularly when trying to stop Gainwell and Jaylen Warren on passes out of the backfield…The biggest culprit was Marlon Humphrey who played like he was ill. After watching him, so was I…

Loop’s missed FGA is going to be a hard one for him to shake. It will haunt him until he exorcises those demons. But like Billy Cundiff before him, you must wonder if he’ll get the chance…Oh and let’s not forget Loop sailing ANOTHER kickoff out of bounds – he’s a league leader in that category. Did you know that an NFL field in 53.3 yards wide? Does Loop?

COACHING

Harbaugh

Maybe it would have had little to no effect, maybe it would have. But Harbaugh played scared during the Ravens last possession. After Likely’s spectacular catch the Ravens faced a 1st-and-10 from the Steelers 24 with 14 seconds to go and a timeout in their pocket. Instead of giving the ball to Derrick Henry or have Lamar throw a quick pass, they opt to have Lamar take a knee for a 2-yard loss. Winners don’t play scared. They attack. The Ravens under Harbaugh, don’t possess a winner’s mindset. But they sure do try hard.

Monken

After taking a 10-0 lead early in the second quarter, the Ravens ran 16 offensive plays in total during the balance of the second quarter and the entire third producing 32 yards. THIRTY TWO. The play calling was abysmal as Todd Monken refused to use the attention directed towards Derrick Henry by the Steelers against them in the form of play action. It took the offense off schedule, and they found themselves in far too many 2nd and 3rd and long situations undermining the playbook and Henry’s effectiveness. And with that O-line, it’s a recipe for disaster, something the Lamar & Co. bathed in for the better part of 2 quarters.

I did love this play call. I’m just wondering why Henry wasn’t used as a decoy earlier in the game.

Orr

Zach Orr did what so many of his predecessor have done on Harbaugh’s watch – he played not to lose which as we all know usually ushers in a loss. If there’s a silver lining in this game, it’s that both coordinators, if not the entire staff are forced to update their resumes for Indeed.

Ravens defense

ODDS & ENDS

Mike Tomlin is a gracious winner, isn’t he? Makes you want to be a Texans fan, doesn’t it?

Check out the dirty Steelers trying to throw a knee into Lamar’s back. Time to put a bullseye on 51 next season.

CLOSING SHOT

This has been a painful season to cover the Ravens. Expectations were so high but never realized. From the frustrating loss in Buffalo to the excruciation of last night’s loss and so many points in between, it has been an agonizing journey. Yet through all of the plot twists and the hairpin turns along the way; the one step forward two steps back seasonal dance routine, the Ravens still had a chance given the league’s mediocrity.

Maybe in the long run, this loss is better. A defense as inviting as the Ravens can’t take a team far in the postseason. The loss demands change. It demands change in the coaching ranks; a change in personnel; a change in the way the Ravens seek new players both as free agents and in the draft. The way they are going about things nowadays is just not a winning formula. If Harbaugh can’t see it (assuming he’s still around which I’m sure he will be) and if DeCosta can’t see it, then the visionary, the self-made billionaire needs to shine a light on it for them.

2026 should look different on many levels. And if not, it will tell us all once and for all that the lines between continuity and complacency have completely blurred – that the franchise has lost its way.

[Related Article: Ravens Report Card]

The post GOOD, BAD & UGLY: Another Season, Another Heartbreak appeared first on Russell Street Report.


Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2026/01/05/gbu-paige-spiranac/steelers-beat-ravens-26-24/


Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world.

Anyone can join.
Anyone can contribute.
Anyone can become informed about their world.

"United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.

Before It’s News® is a community of individuals who report on what’s going on around them, from all around the world. Anyone can join. Anyone can contribute. Anyone can become informed about their world. "United We Stand" Click Here To Create Your Personal Citizen Journalist Account Today, Be Sure To Invite Your Friends.


LION'S MANE PRODUCT


Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules


Mushrooms are having a moment. One fabulous fungus in particular, lion’s mane, may help improve memory, depression and anxiety symptoms. They are also an excellent source of nutrients that show promise as a therapy for dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases. If you’re living with anxiety or depression, you may be curious about all the therapy options out there — including the natural ones.Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend has been formulated to utilize the potency of Lion’s mane but also include the benefits of four other Highly Beneficial Mushrooms. Synergistically, they work together to Build your health through improving cognitive function and immunity regardless of your age. Our Nootropic not only improves your Cognitive Function and Activates your Immune System, but it benefits growth of Essential Gut Flora, further enhancing your Vitality.



Our Formula includes: Lion’s Mane Mushrooms which Increase Brain Power through nerve growth, lessen anxiety, reduce depression, and improve concentration. Its an excellent adaptogen, promotes sleep and improves immunity. Shiitake Mushrooms which Fight cancer cells and infectious disease, boost the immune system, promotes brain function, and serves as a source of B vitamins. Maitake Mushrooms which regulate blood sugar levels of diabetics, reduce hypertension and boosts the immune system. Reishi Mushrooms which Fight inflammation, liver disease, fatigue, tumor growth and cancer. They Improve skin disorders and soothes digestive problems, stomach ulcers and leaky gut syndrome. Chaga Mushrooms which have anti-aging effects, boost immune function, improve stamina and athletic performance, even act as a natural aphrodisiac, fighting diabetes and improving liver function. Try Our Lion’s Mane WHOLE MIND Nootropic Blend 60 Capsules Today. Be 100% Satisfied or Receive a Full Money Back Guarantee. Order Yours Today by Following This Link.


Report abuse

Comments

Your Comments
Question Razz Sad Evil Exclaim Smile Redface Biggrin Surprised Eek Confused Cool LOL Mad Twisted Rolleyes Wink Idea Arrow Neutral Cry Mr. Green

MOST RECENT
Load more ...

SignUp

Login