Instant analysis from Ravens’ 10-9 win over Denver Broncos
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Here’s what the Baltimore Sun sports staff had to say immediately after the Ravens’ 10-9 win over the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s Week 13 game at M&T Bank Stadium:
Jonas Shaffer, reporter: A win is a win, except when you lose a quarterback like Lamar Jackson to something as serious a a knee injury. The Ravens have to be proud of how they finished Sunday’s win, especially considering all the hand-wringing over their fourth-quarter problems. But a Jackson-less offense would be an albatross around the Ravens’ strong defense and special teams. The playoffs are still within reach, but beyond that? It gets dicey.
Childs Walker, reporter: The Ravens and backup quarterback Tyler Huntley showed real mettle, pulling out a win on an afternoon when so much went wrong. But nothing that happened in the game mattered as much as Lamar Jackson leaving it with a knee injury.
The Ravens’ offense was going nowhere with Jackson at the helm in the first half, and Huntley made some fine throws in relief. But the Ravens won’t have the same upside as long as they’re without Jackson and the magic dimension he brings. We saw this last year when they lost three all three games Huntley started in December and January. The Ravens that scrounged for field goals Sunday against one of the league’s worst teams could be the Ravens we see the rest of the way. With Jackson out, no win will be assured. The team’s playoff chances, 92% coming in, according to Football Outsiders, are in doubt.
The Ravens’ defense played well enough to keep them in the game against the lowly Broncos, but James Proche II threw an interception on a misbegotten trick play, and their running game went to sleep without Jackson at the controls. Everything was difficult. Fans booed the offense with increasing fury. Huntley flipped the narrative with that gutsy final drive, but for how long?
Mike Preston, columnist: The Ravens were fortunate to escape with a win. Neither team showed much on offense, but the Ravens had backup quarterback Tyler Huntley do his best Lamar Jackson impression. Injuries continue to mount for Baltimore, which hasn’t played well without Jackson on the field.
Ryan McFadden, reporter: Sunday wasn’t pretty by any means. The Ravens’ offense was shaky, but Denver’s was worse and that was the difference. Tyler Huntley continued to show his ability to be reliable backup, leading the Ravens down the field in the final seconds to pull off the victory.
Even though the Ravens secured their eighth win of the season, questions remain about the health of quarterback Lamar Jackson and inside linebacker Patrick Queen. It’s hard to imagine the Ravens making any kind of postseason run without two of their best players.
Hayes Gardner, reporter: The good news: the Ravens won. The bad news: everything else.
The Ravens improved to 8-4, but in their first December game, they had one of their worst offensive showings of the season. Twice, they threw puzzling interceptions. Worse still, Lamar Jackson left the game with a knee injury.
Still, they escaped with a win by the skin of their teeth. Ravens fans will now hope for good news regarding Jackson’s knee — and a more robust offense next week.
C.J. Doon, editor: Never in doubt, right? Just about everything that could go wrong did, and the Ravens still won. Baltimore could end Sunday in first place in the AFC North, and yet it feels like this season is slipping out of control. Is star quarterback Lamar Jackson out for an extended period of time with a knee injury? Is offensive coordinator Greg Roman on his way to Stanford? Is the ever-growing pile of injuries that now includes inside linebacker Patrick Queen and versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari too much to overcome? After a stunning loss in Jacksonville, the Ravens needed a victory to gear up for the stretch run. They got it, but it might have come at a huge cost.
Tim Schwartz, editor: The Ravens picked a good time to score the only touchdown of the game. Tyler Huntley made some really bad decisions — that interception was one of the worst you’ll see — but he also made some really good plays and knows how to use his legs when he needs to. He showed that in the final drive, a 16-play, 91-yard march in which he looked completely in charge. Huntley also completed his last 13 passes and led the Ravens with 41 yards on the ground. If quarterback Lamar Jackson is out for an extended period of time, I wouldn’t be ready to count them out of making the postseason. But in the playoffs? That’s a different story. They’ll need good news on Jackson’s knee to have a shot.
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