Following their surprising 22-19 overtime loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was questioned about a potential pass interference penalty that went uncalled late in the game.
In response, Jackson took a brief pause, tilting his head and chuckling before saying, "We had plenty of opportunities in the game to finish strong, but it is what it is. Live to fight another day."
While there was frustration over the officiating, the Ravens were even more disappointed by their lackluster offensive performance and their inability to close out the game. In the fourth quarter and overtime, Jackson struggled, completing 8 out of 15 passes (53.3%) for 69 yards. Baltimore failed to secure a first down during their two overtime drives, when they likely only needed one to position themselves for a potential game-winning field goal.
Closing out games has been a recurring challenge for Jackson and the Ravens, especially in the absence of four injured starters during Sunday's game. Since the beginning of the 2022 season, Baltimore has been outscored by 46 points in the fourth quarter and overtime, making them the fourth-worst team in terms of point differential in these late-game situations, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
Jackson expressed frustration, stating, "[We had] great field position, and we didn't move the ball at all. That ticked me off. It ticked all of us off. We like to finish the job. The defense did great today, giving us the opportunity to finish the game, but we didn't."
In overtime, the Ravens had favorable field position, starting at the Colts' 48-yard line after Devin Duvernay's 31-yard punt return. However, on a crucial third-and-six play, Jackson missed an open Zay Flowers, which could have resulted in a first down.
On the subsequent possession, Baltimore began at their own 46-yard line after their defense stopped Indianapolis on a fourth-and-one attempt. Yet, tight end Isaiah Likely dropped a pass that would have converted a third-and-3.
Despite two no-calls by the officials during overtime, which visibly frustrated Ravens players and coaches, Baltimore also made its fair share of mistakes. They had four consecutive fumbles in the first half, losing possession twice. Jackson did not attempt deep passes as he had in the previous week against Cincinnati. Although he rushed for 101 yards in regulation, he did not receive a single carry in overtime.
Ultimately, when the game hung in the balance, the Ravens were unable to capitalize. Jackson has nine game-winning drives in the fourth quarter and overtime since the start of the 2019 season, a statistic exceeded by 11 other quarterbacks in the same timeframe.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman acknowledged the missed opportunities, saying, "We wanted to put those guys away, but unfortunately, we didn't. Like I said, the defense gave us opportunities. I think in the future, we'll definitely need to capitalize more, and I feel like we will."
The Ravens, now with a 2-1 record, will face the Cleveland Browns, who currently possess the NFL's top-ranked defense, yielding the fewest yards (163.7) and points (10.7) in the league.