Ravens Week 16 Breakdown: Injuries, Missed Opportunities, and Defensive Fatigue in Loss to Patriots
The Ravens walked into Week 16 with playoff momentum and walked out with more questions than answers after a tough loss to the Patriots - and they didn’t just lose the game. They lost two key offensive starters to injury, saw some baffling late-game decisions, and watched their defense wear down under another heavy snap load.
Let’s break it down.
Offense: Injuries, Explosiveness, and a Few Head-Scratchers
The biggest blow came before halftime, when Lamar Jackson exited the game after just 26 snaps. His absence changed the entire dynamic of the offense.
Tyler Huntley took over and finished the game under center, but the rhythm never quite returned. And the injuries didn’t stop there - rookie left guard Andrew Vorhees also left in the second half after logging 42 snaps, forcing Emery Jones Jr. into action.
Jones played 24% of the offensive snaps, and while he held his own, the line clearly missed Vorhees’ physicality.
In the backfield, Derrick Henry looked like vintage King Henry - until he mysteriously disappeared when it mattered most. He out-snapped Keaton Mitchell (24 to 19), and despite losing a fumble early, he bounced back in a big way: 128 yards, two touchdowns, and a jaw-dropping 7.1 yards per carry.
But on the Ravens’ final two drives, Henry was nowhere to be found. For a back who was running over defenders all game long, his absence in crunch time was puzzling, to say the least.
Keaton Mitchell and Rasheen Ali split the rest of the work, with Ali logging 12 snaps in his usual third-down role. Mitchell showed flashes but never got the volume to make a major impact.
At wide receiver, it was another frustrating outing for Rashod Bateman. He was on the field for 69% of the snaps (38 total) but failed to register a catch on two targets.
Meanwhile, Zay Flowers continued to shine - and frustrate. Flowers caught all seven of his targets, racked up over 100 scrimmage yards, and scored a touchdown.
But a costly fumble on the Ravens’ final offensive drive put a damper on what was otherwise a stellar performance. DeAndre Hopkins, playing just 20 snaps, chipped in with a season-high four catches for 41 yards.
While not game-breaking, it was a solid step forward for the veteran.
At tight end, the snap counts were nearly even across the board. Charlie Kolar led the group with 27 snaps, followed closely by Mark Andrews (24) and Isaiah Likely (22).
Likely surprisingly didn’t see a single target, while Andrews and Kolar combined for just three catches and 39 yards. Still, all three made their presence felt in the ground game, contributing to the run blocking that helped spring Henry’s big day.
Defense: Heavy Workload, Resilient Effort, and a Few Bright Spots
For the second week in a row, the Ravens’ defense was stuck on the field for over 70 plays - a workload that’s starting to show.
Kyle Hamilton, playing through an ankle injury that had him listed as a game-time decision, didn’t miss a snap. That’s the kind of toughness and leadership Baltimore has come to expect from him. He was joined by a deep rotation at safety: Alohi Gilman (73 snaps), Malaki Starks (57), and Ar’Darius Washington (20) all saw significant time as the Ravens leaned heavily on their secondary.
At linebacker, the absence of Teddye Buchanan opened the door for Trenton Simpson to step back into a starting role. He played 72% of the snaps (53 total) alongside Roquan Smith, who once again played every snap (74).
Smith’s durability and consistency continue to be a cornerstone of this defense. Backups Jake Hummel and William Kwenkeu each logged just one defensive snap, highlighting how thin the rotation was at the position.
The cornerback group was also tested. With Chidobe Awuzie inactive due to a foot injury, Marlon Humphrey (67 snaps) and rookie Nate Wiggins (71) were leaned on heavily. Wiggins, in particular, continues to prove he can handle a full workload, even under pressure.
On the edge, Mike Green saw a dip in playing time, logging just 34 snaps - the fewest among the group. Tavius Robinson, in just his second game back from injury, led the edge rushers with 53 snaps (72%) and looked like he’s getting back into form. Dre’Mont Jones (45 snaps) and Kyle Van Noy (36) rounded out the rotation.
The defensive line was anchored once again by Travis Jones, who continues to be a force in the trenches. He led all linemen with 57 snaps (77%) and delivered seven pressures and a quarterback hit - a disruptive presence all game long.
John Jenkins played half the snaps, while Josh Tupou, called up from the practice squad, contributed 30 reps in his first action after being activated. Brent Urban chipped in with 26 snaps, helping to keep the rotation fresh.
Takeaways
This was a game where the Ravens had the talent to win but couldn’t overcome key injuries, puzzling decisions, and a defense that’s clearly feeling the weight of back-to-back high-snap performances.
Lamar Jackson’s health will be the top storyline heading into Week 17, but the coaching staff will also need to answer for some late-game choices - especially the decision to keep Derrick Henry off the field during the final drives. On defense, the workload is becoming a concern, and the depth is being tested across multiple position groups.
With the postseason looming, the Ravens still control their destiny - but they’ll need to get healthy, stay sharp, and clean up the mistakes if they want to make a serious run.