Ravens Face Bills: Lamar Jackson Returns Amid Five Persistent Flaws

Baltimore Ravens fans must decide if their team can reverse a three-game losing streak before facing the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. The Ravens enter the matchup at Highmark Stadium with a 35-13 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals still fresh on their minds. That defeat marked their third consecutive collapse this season and their worst margin of error of the year. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is expected to return from an ankle injury for this game.

The team’s struggles began in Week 2 and worsened through Week 6. Coach Jesse Minter addressed the squad on Monday following the Cincinnati loss. He told the players that they control where the team goes from here. The Ravens now face their most difficult stretch of the schedule. They must fix specific issues in all three phases to secure a victory.

The running game has failed in critical moments. Derrick Henry attempted short-yardage runs or late-down carries seven times Sunday. He gained a first down only once, and that play was a pass. Henry is 2-for-9 on such runs this season, a 22.2% conversion rate that ranks among the worst in the league. He has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage on 46.9% of his carries. Henry averaged 3.9 yards per carry in the loss. He called his performance terrible and said he is looking at himself.

Penalties have drained the offense as well. The Ravens committed 10 penalties for 57 yards Sunday. That is the third time this season they have reached double digits on flags. They lead the NFL with 38 offensive penalties. The team has lost about 30.5 expected points to these infractions. Center Cam Jurgens noted that the team did not do well enough on things they can control.

The pass defense has allowed too many long completions. The unit allows 12.8 yards per attempt on passes of at least 10 air yards. That figure is the fourth-worst in the NFL. Opponents have connected on nine deep passes against Baltimore for 302 yards this season. Defensive backs missed eight tackles in the Sunday loss. The team has allowed a touchdown on 66.7% of red-zone trips. That pace would be the worst single-season mark in franchise history.

Special teams have also regressed under coordinator Anthony Levine Sr. The unit ranks 17th in overall DVOA. Kicker Tyler Loop is 5-for-5 on field goals of at least 50 yards but just 2-for-5 from between 40 and 49 yards. The team has only one kickoff return of at least 40 yards and one punt return of at least 20 yards this season. The Ravens need improvement in these areas to beat Buffalo.

The next scheduled game is against the Bills on Sunday. The Ravens hope Jackson’s return provides a spark. The team must convert short-yardage runs and limit penalties to give itself a chance. The defense must stop deep passes and tighten up red-zone coverage. Special teams must provide field position advantages. These five areas define the path to a win.