The Ravens’ season is on the brink after a disappointing 28-24 loss to the Patriots on “Sunday Night Football” — and that’s not the only reason Lamar Jackson was frustrated.
Late in the second quarter of the pivotal matchup, the two-time MVP was pulled from the game after taking a hit to the back, forcing him to leave without returning.
“My knees, my legs felt great tonight,” a frustrated Jackson told reporters postgame. “I just got a knee in the back in the red zone. Just couldn’t finish the game. I was trying to get cortisone shots and stuff like that, but it still ain’t getting no better, yeah.”
Jackson was asked about his level of frustration after the late hit in a season that has been filled with injuries and bad luck.
“Yeah man, yes bro. I can’t control that. I’m on the ground, like I gave myself up [and] I got kneed in the back,” Jackson said. “But yeah, for the most part you can say that, ’cause getting injured and then we’re fighting for a chance to make the playoffs. I can’t finish the game with my guys. So, yes, it’s BS.”
Jackson left the game with the Patriots leading 10-7, but backup Tyler Huntley played admirably in his stead, completing 9 of 10 passes for 65 yards.
The Ravens led 24-13 during the fourth quarter, but some questionable decisions by coach John Harbaugh helped lead to his team’s downfall.
Running back Derrick Henry, who was in the middle of a vintage performance where he was dominating the game for large stretches, did not receive another handoff after he scored his second touchdown of the game in the fourth quarter with 12:50 remaining in the game.
“Do you think the Patriots have to send a thank-you note to the Ravens for not putting Derrick Henry in the game for this drive?” NBC Sports color commentator Cris Collinsworth said after Henry was nowhere to be found during their second drive of the fourth quarter.
Despite the rough ending, the Ravens had a chance to come back and take the lead before a Zay Flowers fumble put the nail in the coffin.
Baltimore’s playoff hopes aren’t completely lost, although it was certainly dinged on Sunday with the Steelers pulling off a last-second win over the Lions. Pittsburgh now leads Baltimore by two games in the AFC North.
The Ravens need to beat the Packers and the Steelers must to lose to the Browns in Week 17 in order to set up a winner-take-all matchup between the two rivals in the season finale.
