RAVENS’ 2-POINT ISSUES COSTLY
In the past three weeks, the Baltimore Ravens have gone for three big 2-point conversions.
If they’d converted any of them, they might be in a much safer spot right now in the playoff chase.
Instead, coach John Harbaugh and his team were left to lament another missed opportunity at the end of their 31-30 loss to Green Bay on Sunday. Baltimore went for 2 with 42 seconds left, and Tyler Huntley’s pass was incomplete.
“I felt good about it. I thought we had a good play,” Harbaugh said.
The Ravens have lost three straight. Two weekends ago, they went for 2 with 12 seconds left and failed, so they lost at Pittsburgh 20-19.
Last weekend, Baltimore trailed by 15 at Cleveland, meaning the Ravens needed two touchdowns and a 2point conversion to tie. They got the touchdowns but missed a 2-pointer after the first TD. Final score: 24-22, Browns.
On Sunday, Baltimore trailed 31-17 in the final quarter. Huntley — playing in place of an injured Lamar Jackson — scored on a 3yard run with 4:47 remaining.
There’s a school of thought that says that would have been the opportune time to go for 2. If successful, the Ravens would have trailed by six and would have been on track to win in regulation with another touchdown. If unsuccessful, they’d have been down eight — still with a chance to get to overtime.
But Baltimore kicked the extra point to pull within seven. Then Huntley led another pulsating drive and ran for an 8-yard TD. The Ravens lined up to go for 2.
“That’s what I anticipated. That’s what we anticipated as a coaching staff,” Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur said. “Sure enough, they did it.”
After lining up, Baltimore then called timeout. Then the Ravens came back out and went for it.
“I think people that second-guess that are wrong,” tight end Mark Andrews said. “I think that was the right thing to do.”
The pass from Huntley toward Andrews — who had 10 catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns — was incomplete.
“He had space for a moment,“Huntley said. “The defense, they just did a good job of just going down, and they just made a good play right there.”
Bridgewater carted off
Broncos quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was taken to a hospital for a head injury after he was carted off the field in the third quarter of Denver’s 15-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals.
Bridgewater was hurt in a scary collision that also sent Bengals linebacker Joe Bachie from the game with a leg injury. Bridgewater had movement in his extremities, and coach Vic Fangio said he’d be held overnight for observation but was expected to be OK.
More injuries
Carolina kicker Zane Gonzalez had to be helped off the field after injuring his quadriceps in warmups, leaving the Panthers without a placekicker in a loss to the Bills.
Jets safety Elijah Riley was taken off the field on a backboard after being injured during the third quarter of a loss to the Dolphins. Riley injured his neck in a collision with teammate
Kyle Phillips.
Giants wide receiver
Sterling Shepard is done for the season after tearing his left Achilles tendon late in a loss to the Cowboys.
Jaguars safety
Rayshawn Jenkins broke his right ankle trying to make a tackle on Tremon Smith’s 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in a loss to the Titans. Jenkins was placed in an air cast and carted off the field in the first quarter. His season is likely done.