Lessons are learned from losses and a young Washington Commanders team losing to the Baltimore Ravens was a learning experience with a few silver linings following a 30-23 loss.
Mainly, the Commanders are a good NFC team that can play with an AFC Championship team but the team is not ready for yet.
The loss is also against an AFC team and that AFC team is one of the best in the NFL.
Again, the poise of Jayden Daniels on fourth down plays was shown throughout the game, not to mention a simple adjustment in almost losing the lateral on a flea flicker but handling it and throwing it to Austin Ekeler without losing his timing.
Then, Daniels threw a pass for a TD that only Terry McLaurin could catch and the same in the second half to make the score 27-20.
On the other hand, there was no pressure on Lamar Jackson. In the first half, an interception by cornerback Mike Sainristel and a muffed center snap ended two drives with only 3 points in the first half..
Whether or not Dan Quinn’s timeout was on time early on the second half. It helped to add 3 points for the Commanders and if the field goal at the end of the firsr half wasn’t tipped, his time management could have added another 3 points.
The Ravens had to settle for a couple field goals in the red zone but Lamar continued to expose weaknesses in a less talented yet improving Commanders defense.
To say that Dorance Armstrong and Jonathan Allen might be an explanation for an unstoppable Ravens offense but not an excuse.
Fortunately it will be four years until the Commanders see the Ravens in the regular season. Hopfully, unless it’s the Super Bowl, they will no longer see the Ravens Hall of Fame head coach John Harbaugh, likely MVP Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers and a hard-hitting Ravens defense–nevermore.
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