The Baltimore Ravens entered this season with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations. With a retooled offense, a healthy Lamar Jackson, and the addition of Derrick Henry, expectations in Baltimore weren’t just high - they were sky-high.
But now, sitting at 7-8 after a gut-wrenching loss to the Patriots, the conversation has shifted from playoff seeding to whether this team can even make the postseason. And more importantly, whether John Harbaugh should still be the one leading them.
Let’s get right to it: Sunday’s 28-24 loss to New England was the kind of defeat that sticks with a franchise. The Ravens had a 24-13 lead in the fourth quarter, and even with Jackson sidelined, this game should have been in the bag. Instead, it became the latest chapter in a troubling trend - Baltimore letting winnable games slip away in the final minutes.
This wasn’t just a random collapse. It was part of a pattern.
Since 2022, the Ravens have lost nine games in which they held at least a 90% win probability at some point, according to ESPN. That’s not just the most in the NFL - it’s not even close.
And when you zoom out even further, Harbaugh has now presided over 18 blown second-half leads since 1991 - the most by any head coach in that span.
At a certain point, this stops being about bad breaks or unlucky bounces. This is about decision-making. And on Sunday, that spotlight was firmly on Harbaugh.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: Derrick Henry. The veteran running back was having his best game in a Ravens uniform, slicing through New England’s front for 128 yards and two touchdowns on just 18 carries - a blistering 7.1 yards per attempt.
The Patriots had no answer for him. And yet, with the game - and arguably the season - on the line, Henry was nowhere to be found on the final two drives.
Instead, Baltimore turned to rookie Keaton Mitchell, who managed just 13 yards on nine carries all night. Now, Mitchell’s speed and versatility have made him a fan favorite and a promising change-of-pace option. But in that moment, with the offense needing to control the clock and close out a must-win game, not having Henry on the field was baffling.
Harbaugh admitted postgame that he wanted Henry out there. But that only raises more questions.
If the head coach wants his All-Pro running back in the game, why wasn’t he? That’s not a coordinator’s call - that’s a head coach’s responsibility.
And in this case, it was a missed opportunity that proved costly.
This wasn’t an isolated incident. Baltimore has developed a reputation for late-game collapses, and it hasn’t mattered who’s calling the plays or which players are on the field.
Whether it’s Greg Roman or Todd Monken, Wink Martindale or Zach Orr, the Ravens have found ways to lose games they should win. That kind of consistency - in the worst way - points directly to the top.
Harbaugh’s résumé in Baltimore is impressive. He’s brought stability, a Super Bowl title, and nearly two decades of competitive football to a proud franchise. But the NFL is a “what have you done lately” league, and lately, the Ravens have been underachieving when it matters most.
The loss to the Patriots wasn’t as dramatic as the infamous Week 1 meltdown against Buffalo, when Baltimore blew a 15-point lead in seven minutes. But it was just as damaging - and just as preventable. The Ravens didn’t just lose a football game; they lost control of their playoff destiny.
Now, the question becomes whether the organization is willing to make a change. Harbaugh signed a contract extension back in March, and the Ravens have long been one of the NFL’s most patient and loyal franchises. That loyalty has served them well over the years, but in this case, it could also delay a much-needed reset.
If ownership isn’t ready to move on from Harbaugh, then coordinators like Monken and Orr could be the ones on the hot seat. There’s also the possibility that general manager Eric DeCosta faces scrutiny.
But make no mistake - the issues plaguing this team go beyond scheme or personnel. The Ravens have an identity crisis in crunch time, and it’s been years in the making.
Sunday’s loss wasn’t just a bad game. It was a snapshot of everything that’s gone wrong in the Harbaugh era lately: questionable in-game decisions, an inability to close out leads, and a reluctance to lean on what works - like feeding Derrick Henry when he’s rolling.
Baltimore still has talent. They still have Lamar. But the clock is ticking on this current window, and if the Ravens want to capitalize on it, they may need to make a tough - but necessary - decision at the top.