The Baltimore Ravens escaped the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10, defeating them by the final score of 35-34. It was a much-needed win for Baltimore, especially considering they moved to 2-1 in the division with the victory.
Despite the win, Baltimore’s defense struggled mightily throughout the game, failing to stop Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and others. While acknowledging the unit’s struggles, head coach John Harbaugh also said he was proud of the heart his defense showed, especially in some critical moments.
“Yes, it means a lot. I really do, I’m proud of those guys for that, because it’s the kind of heart they have. They didn’t get down. They didn’t point the finger. Nobody pointed any fingers out there, but we have to get better. That’s just not the standard. I think I heard many guys say … That’s what the defensive guys were saying in the locker room, that that’s not the standard. We have to be much better. We have to take pressure off our offense, too. We’re required to do that on the defensive side, but for them to keep fighting the way they did and find a way to win the game, that’s really … At the end of the day, that really is the important thing. I’m really proud of those guys for that.”
The Ravens need to figure out their pass defense quickly to have a realistic shot at winning a Super Bowl this season. It has been far below the standards necessary to win, and they will need to figure out where the problems are coming from sooner rather than later.