The Baltimore Ravens ultimately fell to the Cincinnati Bengals in the first round of the NFL Playoffs. A closer contest than people would’ve thought, the Bengals were able to survive by one score, 24-17. However, after the game, the sour taste of the loss left some controversial comments to be made. These sour comments let fans get a peak behind the curtain to unveil the bitterness in Baltimore.
Bitter Baltimore Ravens Post-Game Comments
This costly fumble at the beginning of the fourth quarter is what gave the Bengals the extra score needed to seal their victory. It was this critical moment that would draw some choice words from Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins:
Now, it is never a good situation when players start openly questioning the coaching staff. And that is precisely what J.K. Dobbins did after the loss. However, it was in poor taste. Not only did he speak ill of decisions, but he also needlessly threw his quarterback under the bus with his comments. As seen in the tweet above, Dobbins states that Lamar Jackson would have surely won the game.
Tyler Huntley has been filling in for the injured Jackson and has left his blood, sweat and tears on the field, and now he has to deal with criticism from his teammates. It is an absolutely negative remark that poorly reflects Dobbins’ character, if he is going to start openly pointing the finger at everyone else. For a full list of his comments, check out this article.
Drama in Baltimore
Even head coach John Harbaugh pointed out Huntley’s fumble was a mistake on the quarterback’s part. Now, we have players openly questioning coaching decisions, saying they should’ve been given the ball more, and coaches directing blame at players. Which, suffice it to say, is not a good look for the organization. Nor a situation fans of the team want to see played out. The team has had drama simmering all year long due to the lack of a contract extension for Lamar Jackson. But this loss raises the question: what will the Ravens do with Lamar Jackson?
For the Ravens, this loss and injury is a good turn for the contract negation. The team reportedly didn’t offer Jackson his desired amount of money, and now the injury concern can cause the Ravens to lowball their next offer to the quarterback. Additionally, with the loss, their draft position could potentially land them in a favorable spot to draft Jackson’s replacement. Last, but certainly not least, offensive coordinator Greg Roman has been at the center of controversy for Baltimore’s offensive woes this season. Many fans and critics believe his time with the club could be nearing an end after this dramatic finish.
In conclusion, Baltimore could be down their OC and their franchise QB this offseason. The offseason can already be a cruel time for players and coaches alike, but the magnitude of comments, finger-pointing, and playoff defeat might have left some bitterness in Baltimore.