The Baltimore Ravens are now 6-5 on the 2020 season after losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Wednesday. While there are a million excuses for Baltimore’s loss and plenty of positives to be had in keeping a game against an undefeated team close, the end result is still a loss. As such, the Ravens continue to drop down the power rankings.
According to Mark Schofield of Touchdown Wire, Baltimore dropped three more spots down to No. 16 after Wednesday’s performance. While I’ve generally agreed with where Schofield has placed the Ravens in the past, this move down is a little hard to swallow.
Baltimore was without five starters on offense (including reigning MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson) and three starters on defense due to a COVID-19 outbreak while not practicing in the 10 days following Week 11’s game against the Tennessee Titans. Given such a massive handicap, the fact the Ravens had a shot to win the game at the end is deserving of either glowing praise for Baltimore or a serious scolding of Pittsburgh.
The Ravens’ defense came up clutch, making big plays and performing well in the red zone and on both third and fourth downs. Granted, the offense left a lot to be desired but that typically happens when you’re down to a backup quarterback who gets injured and needs the third-string quarterback to step in.
Baltimore might not have gotten any closer to the playoffs but they certainly showed they’re able to keep it competitive against some of the best the NFL has to offer. Though the Ravens sit in the middle of the pack in Touchdown Wire’s power rankings, don’t count them out quite yet.
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