Post-Game Analysis Reveals Flaws in the Baltimore Ravens Strategy

In the aftermath of a narrow 27-24 loss to the Tennessee Titans, the Baltimore Ravens are left grappling with a harsh reality: their pre-game strategy, which focused on neutralizing Derrick Henry and leveraging their own offensive firepower, contained critical flaws that ultimately cost them the game. Post-game film study, player interviews, and statistical breakdowns have highlighted gaps in both the Ravens’ defensive and offensive game plans—from lapses in gap discipline to inconsistent playcalling that failed to capitalize on mismatches. This loss isn’t just a setback in the AFC playoff race; it’s a wake-up call for a team that entered the game with Super Bowl aspirations. Post-Game Analysis Reveals Flaws in the Baltimore Ravens Strategy dives into the specific missteps, why they happened, and what the Ravens must fix to avoid repeating them in future high-stakes matchups.

Post-Game Analysis Reveals Flaws in the Baltimore Ravens Strategy begins with defensive breakdowns in stopping the run— a critical failure given the team’s pre-game focus on containing Derrick Henry. Despite planning for Henry’s power and evolved finesse, the Ravens’ defensive line and linebackers struggled with gap discipline all game long. Film shows that on 12 of Henry’s 26 carries, a Ravens defender abandoned their assigned gap to chase Henry, creating open lanes for him to exploit. This led to Henry rushing for 143 yards and two touchdowns—well above his season average of 93.7 yards per game. The most costly example came in the fourth quarter, when Ravens linebacker Roquan Smith left his gap to tackle Henry at the line, only to miss, allowing Henry to break free for a 32-yard gain that set up the Titans’ game-winning field goal. “We talked all week about gap discipline, but we didn’t execute it,” Smith admitted in the post-game press conference. “When you leave your gap against a back like Henry, he’s going to make you pay. That’s on us—we didn’t do our jobs.” Statistically, the Ravens allowed 5.5 yards per carry against the run, their worst mark of the season and a stark contrast to their usual ranking (top 5 in the NFL in rushing defense entering the game). This breakdown wasn’t just about individual errors; it was a strategic flaw in how the Ravens deployed their defensive personnel, relying too heavily on lighter, pass-focused sets even when the Titans were clearly committed to the run.

A second major flaw uncovered in post-game analysis is inconsistent offensive playcalling— a failure to capitalize on mismatches against the Titans’ defense. The Ravens entered the game with a clear advantage in the passing game: their star tight end Mark Andrews had a history of dominating Titans linebackers, and their wide receivers had the speed to beat Tennessee’s cornerbacks deep. Yet the Ravens’ playcalling oscillated between overly conservative (relying on short passes and runs on third-and-long) and overly aggressive (forcing deep balls into double coverage), never finding a rhythm. For example, on three separate third-and-7+ plays in the first half, the Ravens called running plays that gained just 2-3 yards, forcing punts. In the third quarter, with the Ravens trailing by 7 points and facing a favorable matchup (Andrews vs. a Titans linebacker), they instead called a deep pass to a wide receiver that was intercepted. “We had opportunities to take control of the game, but our playcalling didn’t put our best players in position to succeed,” said Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson, who finished with 220 passing yards but two interceptions. Post-game stats back this up: the Ravens converted just 33% of their third-down attempts (well below their season average of 48%) and had three drives that started in Titans territory but resulted in no points. This inconsistency wasn’t just a coaching error; it was a strategic failure to adapt to the Titans’ defensive adjustments, which shifted to double-covering Andrews in the second half—yet the Ravens continued to force the ball to him instead of targeting other open receivers.

Post-Game Analysis Reveals Flaws in the Baltimore Ravens Strategy also includes special teams lapses— a often-overlooked phase of the game that played a pivotal role in the loss for the Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens’ special teams unit, which had been solid all season, made two critical errors that swung momentum to the Titans. The first came in the second quarter, when a Ravens punt returner fumbled the ball deep in Baltimore territory, setting up a Titans touchdown that gave them a 14-7 lead. The second came in the third quarter, when the Ravens’ field goal unit missed a 42-yard field goal— a kick their kicker had made 85% of the time this season— that would have tied the game at 21-21. “Special teams is supposed to be a strength for us, but we let the team down today,” said Ravens special teams coordinator Chris Horton. “Those two plays changed the entire complexion of the game—we gave them easy points and left points on the board ourselves.” For the Baltimore Ravens, these lapses weren’t random mistakes; they were the result of a strategic oversight in practice. Post-game reports indicated that the Ravens had spent less time practicing punt returns and field goal scenarios in the week leading up to the game, focusing instead on stopping Henry and refining their passing game. This decision to deprioritize special teams proved costly, as it left players unprepared for high-pressure situations.

Another critical flaw revealed in post-game analysis is poor situational decision-making— a failure to manage clock and field position effectively for the Baltimore Ravens. In the final two minutes of the game, with the Ravens trailing by 3 points and possessing the ball at their own 25-yard line, they made a series of questionable decisions that prevented them from mounting a game-tying drive. First, they called a running play that gained just 3 yards, burning valuable time off the clock. Then, instead of using a timeout to stop the clock after an incomplete pass, they let 20 seconds tick away. By the time they attempted a deep pass to tie the game, they had just 10 seconds left, and the pass was intercepted. “We didn’t manage the clock well at the end,” Jackson said. “That’s on me, but it’s also on the coaches to call plays that give us a chance to move the ball quickly.” For the Baltimore Ravens, this situational failure was a reflection of a broader strategic issue: the team lacks a clear “two-minute offense” plan that prioritizes quick passes and clock management. Post-game film shows that the Ravens didn’t use any of their designed two-minute plays in the final drive, instead relying on ad-libbed calls that lacked cohesion. This is a flaw that extends beyond this game; the Ravens have struggled in two-minute situations all season, converting just 25% of their late-game drives into touchdowns (ranking 28th in the NFL).

Finally, Post-Game Analysis Reveals Flaws in the Baltimore Ravens Strategy wraps up with the Ravens’ failure to adjust to the Titans’ in-game tactics— a strategic rigidity that allowed Tennessee to take control for the Baltimore Ravens. The Titans made several key adjustments in the second half, including shifting to a “wildcat” formation that used Henry as a pseudo-quarterback and increasing their use of short passes to tight ends to exploit the Ravens’ run-focused defense. Yet the Ravens failed to counter these adjustments, sticking with the same defensive sets and offensive playcalling that had been working in the first half. For example, when the Titans started using the wildcat formation, the Ravens didn’t substitute a linebacker for a defensive back to better cover short passes—instead, they kept their defensive line heavy, allowing the Titans to complete three short passes for first downs. “We saw what they were doing, but we didn’t adjust fast enough,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “In the NFL, you have to adapt on the fly, and we didn’t do that today.” For the Baltimore Ravens, this rigidity is a recurring issue: this season, they’ve been outscored by 45 points in the second half of games, a sign that their halftime adjustments aren’t effective. Post-Game Analysis Reveals Flaws in the Baltimore Ravens Strategy ultimately shows that while the Ravens have the talent to compete for a Super Bowl, their strategic flaws—from defensive gap discipline to situational decision-making—are holding them back. Fixing these issues will require not just better execution from players, but more flexible, adaptive game-planning from coaches in the weeks ahead.