The Ravens have gone seven straight video games with out scoring on their opening drive.
It’s a puzzle that Baltimore’s offense is working to unravel. Starting quick wasn’t a difficulty early within the season, when the Ravens scored on the opening drive of their first 5 video games – 4 touchdowns and a discipline purpose.
However, issues turned bitter Week 6 towards the Commanders, when Lamar Jackson was intercepted on the primary drive. Since then, they’ve opened with a punt in Week 7 (Tampa Bay), a turnover on downs Week 8 (Browns), punts in Weeks 9 and 10 (Broncos & Bengals), a fumble in Week 11 (Steelers), and a punt in Week 12 (Chargers).
Jackson mentioned the Ravens must do a greater job avoiding damaging performs, together with penalties, on their opening drives.
“Just staying on schedule,” Jackson mentioned. “The first go [Monday night] was like a 15-yard achieve, then they known as it again for a penalty known as on Pat (Ricard). We’ve simply to remain on schedule, that is our largest factor.”
Starting quick and taking an early lead could be one strategy to neutralize Eagles star operating again Saquon Barkley, who leads the NFL in speeding. Barkley had a season-low 10 carries (84 yards) towards the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who jumped to a 21-0 lead early within the second quarter and compelled Philadelphia to desert the run.
Baltimore would like to comply with go well with, however it is going to solely occur if the offense clicks early.
“We should get again within the groove of beginning our video games off the right method, after which simply as the sport goes on, getting stronger and stronger and ending how we’re purported to,” Jackson mentioned. “At the start of the season, we have been doing an incredible job at that, after which because the season went on. … Someway, someway, we have simply been horrible beginning the sport. We should discover a strategy to stability that out – be good from the start of the sport till the tip.”
