BALTIMORE —Quarterback Lamar Jackson was visibly agitated after Sunday’s 26-23 loss to the Raiders dropped the Ravens to 0-2.
It was a frustrating setback because the Ravens squandered a 10-point fourth-quarter lead. Since 2007, the Ravens have 10 losses when leading by seven or more points in the fourth quarter, the most by any NFL team, according to CBS Sports.
“When we have the lead, just keep scoring [and] find a way to keep scoring; just keep milking the clock; keep doing what we do,” Jackson said. “Play Ravens football.”
A 3-yard touchdown run by Derrick Henry gave the Ravens a 23-13 lead with 12 minutes remaining. However, everything fell apart as Daniel Carlson kicked a 25-yard field goal and Gardner Minshew threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to Davante Adams that tied the game with just under four minutes left.
Jordan Stout shanked a 24-yard punt and a 5-yard penalty gave the Raiders the ball at the Ravens’ 48-yard line. Las Vegas quickly moved deeper into Ravens territory and Carlson converted a 38-yard kick that proved to be the winner.
The Ravens are 0-2 for the first time since 2015 when they went 5-11. Jackson does not want a repeat of that performance.
“It’s always business. We are going to see; we are going to see. I’m definitely going to talk to my guys, though, because we’ve got to find our mojo. We’ve got to find [it], and do what we do because that’s not us at all.”
The Ravens are still making adjustments. The team has three new starters on the offensive line, which has struggled in the first two games. The wide receivers have not consistently made plays downfield. The defense has given up big yardage late in the game.
The good news is that running back Derrick Henry got rolling against the Raiders after a slow start and finished with 84 yards on 18 carries. Jackson has seen progress, but the Ravens need better results, starting with the next game against the Dallas Cowboys.
“I believe we’ve got young guys on the team [and] on our offense this year,” Jackson said. “We’ve just got to do what we do still because Derrick was running the ball tremendously. He had a few bursts out there [and] a few plays that he burst out on, and [the offensive] line was doing their job. We’ve just got to find a way to just get the ball rolling and stay consistent.”