Film Study on Ugly Moments for the Baltimore Ravens Offense

Even the most successful NFL offenses have “ugly moments”—sequences of miscues, poor execution, or costly mistakes that derail drives, squander scoring opportunities, and shift momentum to opponents. For the Baltimore Ravens, a team with Super Bowl aspirations and a top-10 offense (averaging 27.8 points per game), these moments have been rare but impactful—often occurring in high-pressure situations against elite defenses. To fix these issues, the Ravens’ coaching staff has turned to exhaustive film study, breaking down every misstep to identify root causes and implement corrections. Film Study on Ugly Moments for the Baltimore Ravens Offense dives into the most notable problematic sequences of the 2024 season, the film-based insights behind them, and how the Ravens are working to eliminate these flaws before the playoffs.

Film Study on Ugly Moments for the Baltimore Ravens Offense first highlights red-zone inefficiency—a recurring issue that has cost the Ravens valuable points despite their ability to move the ball into scoring territory. Through 14 games, the Ravens rank 18th in the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage (52%), well below their 2023 mark of 63%. Film breakdowns of their Week 6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs illustrate the problem: the Ravens entered the Chiefs’ 20-yard line three times but scored just one touchdown, with the other two drives ending in a missed field goal and a Lamar Jackson interception. On the interception play, film shows Jackson forcing a pass to Mark Andrews in double coverage instead of checking down to Derrick Henry, who was open in the flat. “Red-zone football is about precision, and our film shows we’re making mental errors,” said Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken. “Whether it’s a bad read from Lamar, a missed block from the offensive line, or a receiver not adjusting his route, these small mistakes add up. We’re spending extra time in film sessions replaying these drives to make sure everyone understands their responsibility.” Another red-zone issue revealed by film: the Ravens’ overreliance on Henry in short-yardage situations. Defenses have started stacking the box to stop Henry, leaving receivers open—but the Ravens have failed to capitalize, with Jackson missing open targets on 30% of red-zone passing plays this season.

A critical ugly moment uncovered by film study is third-down struggles against blitz-heavy defenses—a weakness that opponents have exploited to force punts. The Ravens rank 22nd in third-down conversion rate (38%) when facing blitzes, compared to 51% when defenses drop back in coverage. Film from their Week 10 win over the Buffalo Bills shows why: on a third-and-7 in the third quarter, the Bills sent a five-man blitz, and Ravens right tackle Daniel Faalele failed to pick up edge rusher Von Miller, who sacked Jackson for a 10-yard loss. Replays reveal Faalele was caught looking at a linebacker instead of Miller, a technique error the coaching staff addressed in subsequent film sessions. “Blitz pickup is a team responsibility, and our film shows breakdowns in communication,” said Ravens offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris. “The tackle might be focused on one rusher, while the guard is slow to pick up a blitzer from the inside. We’re using film to drill these scenarios until they become second nature.” Film also shows Jackson’s tendency to scramble too early on third down instead of staying in the pocket to read the defense. In Week 8 against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson scrambled for a 2-yard gain on third-and-5, failing to see Andrews open downfield—a play the team replayed repeatedly in film sessions to emphasize patience.

A defining aspect of Film Study on Ugly Moments for the Baltimore Ravens Offense is turnover-prone sequences in high-pressure situations—mistakes that have turned potential wins into close calls or losses. The Ravens have committed 15 turnovers this season, 10 of which occurred in the fourth quarter or overtime. Film of their Week 12 win over the Cleveland Browns highlights a near-disaster: with the Ravens leading 21-17 late in the fourth quarter, Henry fumbled the ball at the Browns’ 10-yard line, only for guard Kevin Zeitler to recover it. Replays show Henry failing to secure the ball with both hands as he was hit by Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah—a fundamental mistake the running backs’ coach addressed in film sessions by emphasizing ball security drills. “Turnovers are the biggest killer in football, and our film doesn’t lie—we’re making avoidable mistakes,” said Henry. “Whether it’s me not holding the ball tight or Lamar forcing a pass, these are things we can fix by studying film and learning from our errors.” For the Baltimore Ravens, these turnover sequences are particularly concerning because they come against divisional rivals like the Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers—teams the Ravens will likely face in the playoffs. The coaching staff has responded by adding a “turnover prevention” segment to every film session, replaying miscues and role-playing scenarios to help players make better decisions under pressure.

Another ugly moment revealed by film study is miscommunication in the passing game—a issue that has led to dropped passes and missed opportunities. The Ravens have 23 dropped passes this season, 12 of which came on plays where the receiver and Jackson were on different pages. Film from their Week 4 win over the Arizona Cardinals shows a prime example: Jackson threw a deep pass to Zay Flowers, who was running a go route, but Flowers stopped short, leading to an incomplete pass. Replays and sideline audio reveal Flowers misread the defense and adjusted his route, while Jackson stuck to the original play call. “Communication is key in the passing game, and our film shows we’re not always on the same wavelength,” said Flowers. “We’re spending extra time in film sessions going over route combinations and defensive looks to make sure Lamar and I are on the same page.” For the Baltimore Ravens, these communication breakdowns are fixable with repetition—and film study has been instrumental in identifying patterns. For example, film shows the issue is most common on “option routes,” where receivers can adjust based on the defense; the Ravens have since simplified their route tree in certain packages to reduce confusion. The results have been positive: dropped passes are down 40% in the last six weeks, a trend the team attributes to their film-based corrections.

Wrapping up Film Study on Ugly Moments for the Baltimore Ravens Offense is how the team is using these insights to improve—turning ugly moments into teachable opportunities. The Ravens’ coaching staff has implemented a “mistake breakdown” process: after every game, they compile a 10-minute film reel of the offense’s ugliest moments and review it with the entire unit the next day. Players are asked to explain what went wrong and how they would fix it, fostering accountability and understanding. “Film study isn’t just about pointing out mistakes—it’s about empowering players to correct them,” said Monken. “When a player sees himself on film making a bad read or missing a block, he’s more likely to fix it than if a coach just tells him what to do.” For the Baltimore Ravens, this process has already paid dividends: red-zone touchdown percentage is up to 60% in the last four weeks, third-down conversion rate against blitzes has improved to 45%, and turnovers have dropped to just two in the last six games. As the Ravens head into the playoffs, their ability to learn from ugly moments will be critical—because in the postseason, one miscue can end a season. “We don’t shy away from our mistakes,” said Jackson. “We study them, fix them, and come back stronger. That’s what championship teams do.” Ultimately, Film Study on Ugly Moments for the Baltimore Ravens Offense is a story of growth—how a team uses self-scrutiny to eliminate flaws and position itself for success when it matters most.