Lamar on Ravens' 0-2 begin: 'Acquired to search out our mojo'

BALTIMORE — The final time the Baltimore Ravens had performed at M&T Financial institution Stadium, they left one sport in need of reaching the Tremendous Bowl, dropping within the AFC Championship Sport.

In Sunday’s 26-23 upset loss to the Las Vegas Raiders, Lamar Jackson and the Ravens left their house area dejected and in an enormous gap to even get again to the playoffs.

The Ravens are 0-2 for the primary time in 9 years and simply the fifth time of their 29-year existence. Within the earlier 4 0-2 begins, Baltimore has failed to succeed in the postseason.

“We have got to search out our mojo,” Jackson stated. “We have got to search out [it], and do what we do, as a result of that is not us in any respect.”

Baltimore finds itself winless by the smallest of margins. Within the opener Sept. 5, tight finish Isaiah Likely‘s proper toe hit the again of the top zone on the ultimate play of a 27-20 loss on the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. On Sunday, the Ravens misplaced on a 38-yard area purpose by Daniel Carlson with 27 seconds remaining.

The Ravens have gone from being tied because the second-biggest Tremendous Bowl favourite at the beginning of the season (+850) to sitting in final place within the AFC North. The one different time Baltimore was 0-2 in coach John Harbaugh’s 16 seasons was 2015, when the Ravens completed with their worst file beneath him (5-11).

“We’re not going to be outlined by everybody that is saying we’re not any good, that we’re good [or] that the season is over after two video games,” Harbaugh stated. “That is what is going on to be stated, and we perceive that, however they are not right here; they are not inside. Nobody inside goes to say that. We all know that we’re a great soccer workforce, and we’ll go hold getting higher and higher and higher and outline the season by the best way we play.”

Jackson turns into the fourth reigning NFL Most Invaluable Participant to lose his first two video games of a season because the 1970 merger and the primary since Kurt Warner in 2002. This marked the primary time Jackson has misplaced consecutive begins since December 2021.

“I am not used to being 0-2,” stated Jackson, who was 21-of-34 for 247 yards passing with one landing and one interception. “[We’ve] simply acquired to catch our momentum and get it began instantly.”

This loss to the Raiders was the third-biggest upset within the historical past of the Ravens, who have been 8.5-point favorites. However it was a well-recognized collapse for Baltimore, which could not maintain a 10-point lead (23-13) with 10 minutes remaining.

The Ravens have misplaced 4 occasions after main by double digits within the fourth quarter since 2022. That ties the Chicago Bears for essentially the most within the NFL in that span, in line with ESPN Analysis.

“These are the kind of video games we won’t lose,” Ravens offensive sort out Ronnie Stanley stated. “We’re too good of a workforce to let that one slip away.”

The Ravens are coping with a collection of issues, from a struggling revamped offensive line, to penalties (11 on Sunday), to kicker Justin Tucker‘s points from lengthy distance (1-of-7 from 50 yards up to now two seasons).

“I believe it is our personal lack of self-discipline that is inflicting these issues on ourselves,” Stanley stated. “No matter it’s, it is one thing we’ll determine and I am very assured we’ll determine it out.”

This has been a troublesome summer season for the Ravens. Longtime offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris died Aug. 25. 4 gamers have been concerned in automotive accidents, together with first-round decide Nate Wiggins on Wednesday.

Now, the Ravens are hitting one of many hardest stretches of their schedule, taking part in two defending division champions — at Dallas and residential towards Buffalo — earlier than heading to Cincinnati. Baltimore has a 50% or much less probability to win every of its subsequent three video games, in line with ESPN Analytics.

“What [defines] every human being — the way you [are] outlined in adversarial moments,” Ravens center linebacker Roquan Smith stated. “I do know the blokes within the locker room and the way we really feel about it. Belief me, it sucks extra for us than anybody else.”