The Baltimore Ravens are in free fall, entering their bye week with a 1-5 record. They packed the first half with promise and inches from the goal line. But their failure to punch it in with the tush push twice left fans shaking their heads. John Harbaugh addressed the giant elephant in the room right after the 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams: the failed tush push attempts. 

When asked if the team considered dropping that play after the first failed run? “Of course you do,” he said. But Coach Harbaugh also added there’s no hesitation about running the Tush Push twice in a row. 

“The main consideration that all of us – every player and coach – would agree that we should be pushing that in there. It should get pushed in on the first one. And if not the first, it should be push in on the second.” 

In the short-yardage trick play, quarterback Cooper Rush acted more like a hairline bulldozer, driving tight end Mark Andrews forward amid a mound of bodies. Twice, the Ravens rolled it out near the goal line; twice, the Rams stopped it dead.

Stull, Harbaugh insisted, “I mean come on, we should be able to put that one in there. … You gotta get pad under pad and you gotta get push. We’re a big, physical offensive line and Mark’s big and physical guy.”

The failed conversions denied Baltimore precious points and momentum. It stung worse because Derrick Henry’s run had put the team inside the one-yard line before those attempts. Instead of Henry bulldozing in, the Ravens put their trust in the push, only to have it fizzle out and lead to a tied halftime score, 3-3.

On top of offensive frustrations, the injuries are making it worse. John Harbaugh confirmed Tavius Robinson broke his foot. He left the field limping after the loss, and tests will reveal how long he’s out.

Robinson, coming off a solid season with 9 pressures and leading the team with 2 sacks, leaves a huge hole on the outside. Baltimore will rely on Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green, and David Ojabo as they enter the bye week, trying to patch holes on defense. But there’s some good news on the injury front.

John Harbaugh on Lamar Jackson’s return & Ravens’ loss

Lamar Jackson’s status remains a bright spot for Ravens fans, even if the current streak is dark. The star quarterback was injured in Week 4. Harbaugh expects him to return after the bye week against the Chicago Bears.

This signals a turning point for a 1-5 team lost in the middle of its worst start since 2015. Jackson’s individual performance before the injury wasn’t the problem. His completion rate was 71.6%, he had 10 touchdown passes and only one interception, and his passer rating was a league-best 130.5.

Still, the offense was bleeding points and turnovers with backup quarterbacks. Cooper Rush stepped in and struggled, leading to Tyler Huntley stepping in, but neither could spark any meaningful comeback.

Baltimore got booed at home, a sad soundtrack matching an unraveling season. The Ravens face a critical stretch with what looks like an easier schedule: Bears, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals. If the Ravens can’t win five of those six, the playoffs might become a pipe dream.