Nobody in the Baltimore Ravens' locker room wants to hear about moral victories after another home loss. Baltimore had opportunities to beat theNew Orleans Saints and didn't capitalize on enough of them. The result was a disappointing loss, a 1-1 record, and a long flight to Brazil looming next week.
Still, not every takeaway from Sunday's game was negative. The Ravens learned some things about their wide receiver room without Zay Flowers. Their pass rush continued showing signs of life, and several players offered evidence that better days could be ahead.
Losses can reveal strengths just as easily as weaknesses. Here are a few silver linings Baltimore can take from Week 2 and lean on as they move forward.
Ravens wide receivers step up in Zay Flowers' absence
It may seem like you're hearing or reading
this more often than you would like, but that's for a good reason. There were obvious and legitimate concerns about this group. Even though Rashod Bateman had the largest statistical output, the rest of the corps chipped in with some fine moments.
Devontez Walker grabbed one catch for 47 yards. LaJohntay Wester was targeted twice and caught one for 14 yards. Chris Moore returned four kickoffs for 108 yards and added a six-yard reception.
Bateman was the headliner with seven catches for 88 yards and a touchdown, but Sunday's game wasn't solely about his production. Baltimore needed answers from a receiver room that suddenly lacked Flowers, and several players delivered.
The Ravens would certainly prefer having Flowers available, but they now have more evidence that other receivers can help carry the load when opportunities arise.
Tavius Robinson added another sack as Baltimore's pass rush is gaining some traction.
A week ago, some of the conversation centered on Baltimore's inability to finish pressures with sacks. Two games into the season, that discussion feels a little different.
Mike Green notched his first sack of the season. Tavius Robinson added another, bringing him to two, and Trey Hendrickson recorded his first sack as a Raven.
The encouraging part isn't simply the sack total. It's the variety of contributors. Baltimore isn't relying on one player to generate pressure. Multiple edge rushers are beginning to show up on the stat sheet, which is exactly what the Ravens envisioned when assembling this group. There is still room for growth, but the pass rush appears to be trending in the right direction.
It doesn't seem unreasonable to assume Derrick Henry will bounce back
68 yards on 16 carries is a nice day at the office for most running backs. For Derrick Henry, whether fair or unfair, that's considered a relatively quiet afternoon.
That perspective says more about Henry's standard than it does his performance. The Saints clearly made slowing Henry a priority, and Baltimore's offensive line struggled throughout the afternoon, especially after Ronnie Stanley exited with a toe injury.
Even then, Henry still found a way to produce nearly 70 rushing yards. Rest easy when you retire for bedtime this week. Henry isn't someone Ravens fans should lose sleep worrying about. History suggests he'll have bigger afternoons ahead.
The Ravens were still in position to win despite not playing their best football.
This may be the biggest silver lining of all. Baltimore played without Flowers. Ronnie Stanley left the game. Henry was held below his usual standard. The offense scored only three points after halftime and was shut out in the fourth quarter. Despite that, the Ravens still had a chance to win in the closing moments.
That doesn't excuse the mistakes or make the loss any easier to accept. It does provide some perspective. Baltimore did not play anywhere close to its best football and still found itself one possession away from escaping with a victory.
The Ravens have plenty to clean up before facing the Dallas Cowboys next week, but Sunday's loss also reminded everyone that this roster still has considerable talent and depth. The frustration surrounding Sunday's result is understandable. The Ravens expected to win their home opener, and they let an opportunity slip away.
At the same time, the game offered a few reminders of why Baltimore remains optimistic about its long-term outlook. The Ravens would have preferred a win. Since they didn't get one, the next best thing is to identify what they can still build on. More of that happened Sunday than the final score might suggest.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Silver linings from Ravens' Week 2 home loss vs. the Saints
