Ravens Collapse Again: What Went Wrong in Painful Monday Night Loss

A lot of people seemed to forget that the Detroit Lions went 15-2 last season when they began the current campaign with a two-touchdown setback against the Green Bay Packers.

It was just one measly loss but the ensuing panic made it feel like the Lions had reverted back to their form under past head coaches like Matt Patricia, Rod Marinelli, or Marty Mornhinweg.

But this is the Dan Campbell era, and that 27-7 regular-season record over the previous two seasons isn’t phony. It’s very real.

The Lions got back to proving it during Monday night’s 38-30 primetime win at Baltimore.

The Lions (2-1) showed off their Super Bowl-type offense in the victory by racking up 224 rushing yards and 202 through the air against the Ravens. Detroit even put together touchdown drives of 98 and 96 yards.

That running game assault was pretty impressive but it must be noted that Ravens star defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike was out with a neck injury.

Still, David Montgomery rushed for a career-best 151 yards and scored two touchdowns. His 72-yard run is the longest offensive play through the first three weeks of the NFL season.

Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 67 yards and two touchdowns. Wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown continued his strong start by catching his fourth touchdown pass, tying him for the NFL lead. Jared Goff completed 20 of 28 passes for 202 yards.

The defense gives up points but it also put constant pressure on Ravens star Lamar Jackson. The Lions sacked the hard-to-corral Jackson seven times, and Aidan Hutchinson made a big play by punching the ball out of Derrick Henry’s hands.

Regardless, it is offense that makes the Lions go, and they have scored 90 points over the past two weeks as they head into a Week 4 home game against the Cleveland Browns.

Meanwhile, it wasn’t a good night for the Ravens (1-2), who pounded Detroit 38-6 during the 2023 season.

This time, Baltimore couldn’t protect the passer or rush one, as Goff left town with a clean uniform.

The Ravens couldn’t get off the field on the long drives, and the contest turned into another bad night. In Week 1, Baltimore allowed 16 points in the final 3:56 while losing 41-40 to the host Buffalo Bills.

Ravens star safety Marlon Humphrey made it clear that the defensive performance on Monday was below par.

“No excuses can be made,” Humphrey said. “If it’s not one thing, it’s another. It’s on us as a defense to put that fire out and we didn’t do that.”

Henry, one of the NFL’s top running backs, isn’t a problem but it sure was surprising to see him lose another fumble.

Henry has fumbled three times in three games, losing two of them. It was his lost fumble in the fourth quarter in Week 1 that fueled the Buffalo comeback.

Yet, there he was losing another fumble with his team down four in the fourth quarter. Also odd was that Henry rushed for 36 yards on three carries – including a 28-yard touchdown – on Baltimore’s first possession and then had just 14 yards on nine carries the rest of the game.

A big reason why his fast start evaporated was that the Ravens couldn’t get the ball back. Detroit’s 98-yard TD drive in the first half lasted 10:48 and sapped energy from Baltimore.

Jackson’s stat line looks good – 21-of-27 passing for 288 yards and three touchdowns – but Baltimore led just once the entire game.

Just like the Lions, the Ravens are a good team. They have made the playoffs in six of the last seven seasons and they figure to be there again.

They definitely need to get their defense in line, or they will have to continue to outscore teams to win games.

Next up on the slate is a visit to the Kansas City Chiefs. This is interesting timing because the Chiefs also have started slow.

The loser of this matchup will be 1-3. The winner will gain the momentum it needs to get its season moving.