The best way I can put what I just watched between the
#Ravens and
#Bengals:
I didn’t expect the Ravens to win today. Even with a two-score lead at halftime, I wasn’t convinced they would hold on.
But what bothered me most wasn’t the loss itself. It was how this team responded when things started going wrong.
The Bengals came out of halftime and scored with ease. The Ravens followed that up with a three-and-out. At that moment, fans felt like the game was over. I felt like the game was over. And watching the players, it almost seemed like they felt the exact same way.
The body language changed. Mistakes started compounding. The energy disappeared. It felt like everyone was waiting for someone else to make a play instead of taking it upon themselves to change the momentum.
To me, that’s a leadership problem.
Someone has to step up in those moments. Whether it’s on the field, on the sidelines, or between drives, somebody has to be vocal, hold people accountable, and get everyone locked back in.
Adversity is inevitable in the NFL. You’re going to give up touchdowns. You’re going to have bad drives. You’re going to lose momentum. But the response to those moments is what separates good teams from bad ones.
And right now, this team looks like one that allows a single bad sequence to completely unravel everything they’ve built.
I’m not questioning anyone’s effort or desire to win. I’m questioning who’s taking ownership when things start falling apart.
Because talent isn’t the issue. This team has enough talent to compete with just about anybody.
But when adversity hits, somebody has to be the one to stop the bleeding.
And right now, I’m not seeing that person.