The Baltimore Ravens suffered another damaging defeat Sunday. They left upstate New York with more questions than answers after a 36-10 defeat to the Buffalo Billsthat ha s now dropped them to 4-4. The loss was costly in more ways than the final score. It exposed just how fragile their season has become. What began as a highly anticipated return for Lamar Jackson quickly turned into a quarterback emergency, while familiar problems kept surfacing elsewhere.
Baltimore has reached a point where simply getting through another week healthy is no longer enough. Last season was truly disappointing. This campaign was supposed to be the bounce-back, and it's teetering toward a massive step in the wrong direction.
There weren't many positives to take from
a game in which Baltimore managed just 144 total yards and watched its quarterback situation unravel. Still, a few individual efforts were worth recognizing, along with several problems that are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Here's a brief snapshot.
The good things we saw during the Ravens' loss to the Bills
- Joe Fagnano got an extended look. Nobody wanted to see the undrafted rookie quarterback enter his NFL debut under those circumstances, but he showed some poise after being thrust into action. Fagnano completed 10 of 21 passes for 91 yards while taking plenty of punishment from Buffalo's pass rush. He threw an interception and lost a fumble, but the circumstances surrounding his entrance deserve consideration.
- Roquan Smith continued to make plays. Smith finished with 11 tackles, two passes defended, and a forced fumble. His second-quarter strip of DJ Moore gave Baltimore a much-needed takeaway, and T.J. Tampa recovered the ball. Smith was one of the few Ravens defenders consistently making an impact.
- Broderick Washington Jr. recorded his first career interception. The defensive lineman took advantage when a pass from Josh Allen bounced off a Bills tight end and into the air. Washington secured the ball, giving Baltimore another takeaway and helping set up Derrick Henry's touchdown.
- Rasheen Ali provided a special teams spark. His 59-yard kickoff return was Baltimore's longest of the season. With the offense struggling to generate much, Ali gave the Ravens a rare chance to start with favorable field position.
The bad news from the Ravens' loss to the Bills
- Jackson's long-awaited return sadly lasted one play. After missing three games with an ankle injury, he had finally returned to the lineup, only to injure his right thumb on Baltimore's first offensive snap.He will undergo surgery and be placed on injured reserve. There are no guarantees, but there is fear that a season-ending absence is possible.
- Tyler Huntley also went down. As if losing Jackson wasn't damaging enough, Huntley suffered a toe injury in the second quarter. His departure forced Fagnano into action and left Baltimore facing major quarterback uncertainty heading into a Thursday night matchup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
- Tyler Loop missed another field goal. Loop made one of two attempts against Buffalo, missing a 34-yard try that clanked off the left upright. He is now 13-for-17 on the season, with three of his four misses coming from 40-49 yards. Jake Moody remains on the practice squad. Baltimore's kicking situation remains worth watching.
- Henry and Flowers weren't involved enough. Henry finished with 11 carries, while Flowers received five targets and didn't record a reception. The quarterback injuries obviously disrupted the offensive plan, but Baltimore still needs to find ways to get two of its most important playmakers involved. Flowers' first career game without a catch was particularly disappointing.
The downright ugly
The offensive production remains unacceptable. Baltimore hasn't topped 13 points since Week 5. They managed just 52 yards in the first half and finished with 144 total yards. Buffalo piled up 426. The Ravens also surrendered four sacks and 12 quarterback hits, leaving all three quarterbacks under constant pressure.
The offensive line's lack of continuity is becoming a major problem. Baltimore lacks cohesion up front, and the revolving door at right guard has made it hard to establish consistency. The protection problems aren't going away, and Fagnano is the starter for the foreseeable future. He'll need better support.
The Ravens' second-half offense has disappeared. Baltimore has scored just three total points after halftime during its three-game losing streak. The inability to sustain drives puts even more pressure on a defense that eventually wears down. Losing Jackson makes that problem considerably more concerning.
What's next for the Ravens?
The Ravens don't have much time to process Sunday's defeat. Jacksonville visits Baltimore on Thursday night, giving the team only a few days to recover and determine who will be available at quarterback. Huntley's status is uncertain. Jackson's absence will extend well beyond one game.
At 4-4, Baltimore still has a chance to turn its season around, but the margin for error has shrunk considerably. The Ravens need answers quickly, particularly on offense, because the next stretch of their schedule won't wait for them to get healthy.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Good, bad, and ugly from Ravens’ 36-10 loss to Bills
