Once again through 2013 Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens fail to perform at the expected level. The Ravens fought Sunday afternoon with Cleveland Browns in a close game coming to the final quarters. The Ravens defense was unable to stop the Browns offense as they marched down the field taking valuable time off the play clock.
The Cleveland Browns wound up in the red zone with a minute left in the ball game and eventually sealed the deal by scoring a field goal putting the Browns on top by six markers.
Flacco and the Ravens had one more opportunity with fifteen seconds left in the intense game to draw up an 80 yard drive. The miracle drive didn’t happen for the former Super Bowl champs and once again the team was left wondering what did we do wrong?
The Ravens haven’t given up on Joe Flacco yet although they have good reason to do so. During Sunday’s head to head battle with the Browns Flacco failed to be on target and hit his receivers down field. Early in the season from a fan standpoint we would’ve suspected blocking to be the issue for the Maryland team, but now halfway through the NFL’s regular season the Ravens are struggling at the QB position.
“It’s obviously frustrating,” Flacco said to Sports Illustrated. “We just haven’t been good enough. It’s not easy on Sundays when you’re going out there and its tough sledding and you’re not getting the job done.”
Now just one week through November the Baltimore squad is mired at 3-5 on the season with just a cushion of one game over last in their division (The Pittsburgh Steelers). The Ravens are now three games behind first in the AFC North, The Cincinnati Bengals who they’ll face this upcoming week. This is an all-important match up for both teams, the Ravens are looking to stay in contention and the Bengals are looking to keep hold of a comfortable two game lead in the division.
It’s going to be a challenge,” Harbaugh said to Sports Illustrated. “We’re 3-5. We’ve got our work cut out for us.”