Even after an unexpected loss at home against the Colts, there is still hope for the Ravens to capture the AFC North this year, according to CBS analyst and former NFL kicker Jay Feely.
Following a strong first offensive drive by Baltimore that resulted in an early 7-0 lead, it seemed like the game was going how everyone predicted it might. But on the Ravens’ next drive, chaos began brewing. That gave the Colts, who were missing their top quarterback and running back, a glimmer of hope.
It appeared the Ravens were going to grab an early 14-0 lead when running back Kenyan Drake fumbled at the Colts’ 22-yard-line. The fumble was recovered by Indianapolis, the beginning of a long series of unfortunate events for the Ravens.
“Right there, it felt like the Ravens were about to just run away with that game — to go down, score another touchdown, go up 14-0 and be cruising,” Feely said on Glenn Clark Radio Sept. 26. “That play changed the whole tenor of the first half, and it became a dogfight.”
The Ravens did not score another point until there were seconds left in the third quarter, when Lamar Jackson gave the Ravens a 14-13 edge with his second touchdown run of the day.
However, the fourth quarter is when chaos truly began for Baltimore. With the score tied at 19, the Ravens had one more chance to win the game in regulation. Jackson and the Ravens were able to march down to the Colts’ 43-yard line and give future Hall of Fame kicker Justin Tucker a chance to break the tie.
Tucker’s 61-yard field goal in soggy conditions came up short. Feely was astonished.
“I truly was shocked that he missed the kick, even though a 61-yard field goal is unbelievable,” Feely said. “… I literally have watched him in practice make 70-yard field goals and watched a set where he’s making seven, eight 60-plus-yard field goals in a row.”
But that wasn’t all. On their last drive, the Ravens had two opportunities to pick up a key first down and get into field goal range for another chance to close out the game.
On third-and-3, Jackson threw a bullet of a pass at tight end Isaiah Likely, but he was not able to secure it. The Ravens then opted to go for it on fourth down, and Jackson found one of his favorite targets, rookie wide receiver Zay Flowers.
The pass fell incomplete, and everyone at M&T Bank Stadium, including John Harbaugh, thought that a defensive pass interference call was warranted on the play. However, no call was made and the Ravens turned the ball over on downs.
The Colts then marched down the field and their kicker, Matt Gay, who had a phenomenal 5-for-5 performance on the day, put the game to rest with a 53-yard field goal. Feely, as a former kicker, acknowledged Gay’s incredible performance on the day, which marked one of the rare times Justin Tucker has been outperformed by an opposing kicker.
“It’s the first time in NFL history that somebody has made four kicks over 50 yards in a single game,” Feely said. “It’s arguably the greatest kicking performance in the history of the NFL.”
However, Feely says losing this game isn’t the end of the world for the Ravens. Feely noted how the team is missing key elements to their success in Odell Beckham Jr., Marlon Humphrey, Tyler Linderbaum and Marcus Williams, among others. Those players are all expected to return by the end of the season.
The Ravens are currently 2-1, tied with the Steelers and Browns at the top of the AFC North. Joe Burrow and the Bengals are 1-2.
As the season progresses, the Ravens hope some of their vital players return soon. When they do, Feely thinks the team could be dangerous.
“I just have a lot of confidence in this team going forward,” Feely said.
For more from Feely, listen to the full interview here:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox