Aversion Therapy

The Ravens were routed 44-10 by the Texans in a game that featured the most points allowed by an opponent at home in the Harbaugh era.

Playing without 4 of their defensive stars, the Ravens were unable to force a punt until midway through the 4th quarter after the Texans had scored on 8 consecutive drives.

If you’ve seen A Clockwork Orange, it’s not difficult to imagine a dedicated Ravens fan being forced to rewatch the last 2 games as reconditioning to lose any love of the team or game.

Shorthanded

The Ravens had just 7 DBs active for the game, including 4 CBs and 3 safeties.  Only Sanoussi Kane did not see action on defense.  Let’s review:

  • Nate Wiggins (53 snaps) remains the best Ravens CB by a wide margin although he allowed his first TD of the season to Collins.  He has allowed just 5.4 YPT for the season.  His return from being carted off the field a week ago is remarkable.  Any success the Ravens have in lessening their woes on pass defense involves a healthy Wiggins.
  • Keyon Martin (49 snaps) continues to play with high effort but was flagged for a pair of ticky-tack fouls on the drive which put the Texans up 24-3.  He wiped out his own 16-yard sack with an offside foul where he appeared to get back.  He was then flagged for DPI vs WR Kirk to negate a drive-ending incomplete on a play with minimal contact (Q2, 0:35).  He was also flagged for running out of bounds to negate Stout’s 61-yard punt (Q2, 9:46) which resulted in a re-kick and 25-yard change in field position.
  • TJ Tampa (60 snaps) played most of the game at RCB and was regularly soft in coverage.  He surrendered 4 targets for 46 yards (11.5 YPT), including a 10-yard TD to Hutchinson (Q2, 0:31).  On that play, he had tight coverage but could not get his head around to find the ball.
  • Jaire Alexander (28 snaps) was the Ravens 4th CB for the game.  He played just 1 snap in the first half (as 4th CB in dime) but also played the final 27 snaps beginning with 3 plays on which he replaced the injured Wiggins.  It was his first action since Buffalo and he surrendered passes of 19 and 14 yards on his 2 times targeted.
  • Malaki Starks (70 snaps) was unable to stay with WR Christian Kirk who crossed the field for a 47-yard completion (Q4, 15:00) then was flagged for a facemask on the tackle.  He had contributions to 10 tackles for the game, of which 4 were defensive wins in run support.
  • Reuben Lowery (70 snaps) had contributions to 5 tackles without a miss but only 1 was a defensive win.  He surrendered short TDs to WR Xavier Hutchinson (Q1, 9:29) and WR Jalin Noel (Q4, 13:53).

I cannot recall the last time I saw an NFL team play a game with 7 DBs.  It was strange the Ravens did not make a move on Saturday to activate one of CB Marquise Robinson, CB Amani Oruwariye, or S Keondre Jackson.

Outsnapped…Again

The Ravens were outsnapped 66-40 on Sunday, the 5th consecutive game in which they’ve been decisively beaten in that category.  For the season, they have now recorded a mind-boggling 102 fewer offensive snaps than their opponents (20.4 per game).

The defense has played very poorly to be sure, but the Ravens offense made an outsized contribution with an impotent run game and 3 more turnovers.

Among a number of reasons for the lopsided snap-count losses is the fact the Ravens have now allowed 8 consecutive 4th-down conversions over the last 3 games.

Turnovers? Turnovers?

Not only did the Ravens again fail to generate a turnover, but they did not have a single PD vs the Texans.  I don’t know of a way to look that up without going through every gamebook, but I’d bet it’s been quite a while.

Where does the Team Go from Here?

Incredibly, the Ravens remain a slight betting favorite to win the AFCN as of Monday morning.  If they beat the Rams (they opened at 7.5 point underdogs), they may claw back into contention if additional health problems do not arise and if Jackson returns after the bye (a lot of ifs).

If they are beaten by the Rams, multiple events may be triggered, including:

  • The possibility of coaching changes over the bye week
  • A reluctance to hurry back any injured players
  • A fire sale of expiring contracts to acquire draft capital in both 2026 and 2027 (soft rebuild)
  • Additional emphasis on live fire for talent that can help the team in 2026 with or without dramatic changes in playing time

Packages

Note: all snap totals exclude penalties resulting in no play, kneels, spikes, and specials team plays resulting in a run or pass.  As such, they will be lower than other published totals.

The Texans ran 64 such snaps.

Base (18): The Ravens used their base 3-4 defense with 2 ILB on 18 plays, primarily as a response to heavier personnel.  These included 14 runs for 37 yards and 4 passes for 44 yards. 18 plays, 81 yards, 4.5 YPP.

Standard Nickel (36): The standard nickel includes 2 down linemen, 2 OLB, 2 ILB, 3 CB, and 2 S.  These plays included 15 runs for 96 yards and 21 pass plays for 131 net yards.  36 plays, 227 yards, 6.3 YPP, 1 sack.

One striking package oddity from the game was the use of standard nickel personnel versus some of the Texans 6-OL packages.  Among 14 times the Texans inserted a 6th OL (Blake Fisher), Orr responded with this standard nickel 6 times.  Those plays resulted in an offensive holding penalty, 2 runs for 12 yards, and 3 passes for 33 yards.

Rush Nickel (7): The Ravens used a rush nickel with 1 DL, 3 OLB, 2 ILB, 3 CB, and 2 S on 7 obvious passing downs.  These included 2 runs for 36 yards and 5 pass plays for 18 net yards. 7 plays, 54 yards, 7.7 YPP, 1 sack.

Jumbo Nickel (2): This package included 3 DL, 2 OLB, 1 ILB, 3 CB, and 2 S. These were both passes, 1 incomplete and the other for 47 yards.  2 plays, 47 yards, 23.5 YPP. 

Dime (1): The Ravens again used their 4-CB version of the dime with 1 DL, 2 OLB and 1 ILB.  Alexander was the 4th CB added.  1 play, 10 yards.

Pass Rush

Orr used numbers, but only spartan deception to generate pressure.  The numbers were not particularly effective (see below), but the Ravens managed to generate pressure on 6 of 8 plays where they used some form of deception.

For the game, Stroud and Mills had ATS on 14 of 33 drop backs (42%) which is extremely high.  Those plays gained 157 yards (11.2 YPP).  However, they also delivered the ball before pressure could develop (BOQ) 10 times (30%) with an array of screens, slants, and swings for 55 yards (5.5 YPP).  The Ravens generated a pressure event on 9 plays (27%) for a net of 38 passing yards (4.2 YPP) with 2 sacks.

The Texans QBs exceeded expectation by 39 yards (250 actual less 211 expected, 1.2 YPP) relative to the standard for their opportunity set.

Summarizing by number of pass rushers:

3: None

4: 19 plays, 132 yards, 6.9 YPP, 1 sack

5: 11 plays, 108 yards, 9.8 YPP, 1 sack

6: 3 plays, 10 yards, 3.3 YPP

7+: None

Total: 33 plays, 250 yards, 7.6 YPP, 2 sacks

The Ravens rushed 5+ on 14 of 33 drop backs (42%) on which the Texans averaged 8.4 YPP.

Orr used 4 individual blitzes (0.12 per pass play) from off the LoS, all singles.  These plays resulted in 3 pressures (including a 9-yard sack) and 1 BOQ, 26 net yards (6.5 YPP).

The Ravens stunted 3 times including 1 double resulting in 1 ATS and 1 QH.  The Texans completed 1 of 2 for 12 yards (6.0 YPP). 

The Ravens showed simulated pressure twice with 2 dropping from the LoS each time.  These plays resulted in 2 pressures, including an 8-yard sack. 2 plays, 6 yards (3.0 YPP).

I define a deceptive pass rush as incorporating 2 or more of the above elements (off ball blitzes, stunts, and simulated pressures).  The Ravens only deceptive rush was their double stunt on which went incomplete with a QH.

Only 2 Ravens had contributions to more than 1 pressure event, Kyle Van Noy (S-8, pressure) and Tavius Robinson (QH, pressure).