BALTIMORE — Ravens coach John Harbaugh mentioned he is sticking with defensive coordinator Zach Orr following Sunday’s 44-10 loss to the Houston Texans, the newest defensive meltdown in a season that continues to spiral for Baltimore.
“I don’t suppose that that is the reply,” Harbaugh mentioned when requested if he’ll think about modifications with Orr and the defensive employees. “We now have to go to work, is what we have to do. We have to stick collectively, is what we have to do. We have to discover ourselves. And that has to do with coaches and gamers [working] collectively.”
The Ravens fell to 1-4 for the second time within the franchise’s 30-year historical past as a result of they could not cease quarterback C.J. Stroud and the Texans offense. The 44 factors are essentially the most allowed by the Ravens in a house sport in Harbaugh’s 18 seasons as coach. It was a low level for the Baltimore protection, which allowed 5 touchdowns to a Texans crew that had scored solely six touchdowns this season.
The struggles on protection have been a season-long pattern for Baltimore and Orr, who changed Mike Macdonald in 2024 and is in his second season because the unit’s playcaller. The Ravens have given up 177 factors this season, their most in a five-game span in crew historical past.
“We now have to get our s— collectively,” outdoors linebacker Kyle Van Noy mentioned. “Simply being brutally sincere. Coaches can provide us the performs, however we now have to execute. It would not matter who you’re in there. Do your job. [If the] coaches ask you to do one thing, do it. Myself included.”
If the season hadn’t been difficult sufficient for Baltimore, accidents have taken a toll. The Ravens on Sunday had been with out seven Professional Bowl gamers from final yr, together with two-time NFL Most Priceless Participant Lamar Jackson.
Baltimore dropped to 4-10 in video games with out Jackson, who’s sidelined with a hamstring damage. This was the fifth straight loss when Jackson has been unable to play. It is unknown whether or not Jackson will be capable of play subsequent Sunday in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams.
“No excuses,” Van Noy mentioned. “I simply watched the Niners have accidents, go on the market and play soccer. No excuses for accidents. [As] professionals, you receives a commission to play, so we now have to play higher.”
The opposite Professional Bowl gamers sidelined for the Ravens had been: security Kyle Hamilton (groin), offensive deal with Ronnie Stanley (ankle), cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf), center linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), fullback Patrick Ricard (calf) and defensive deal with Nnamdi Madubuike (neck), who’s out for the season. Baltimore was pressured to begin 5 rookies on protection to fill in for the injured gamers.
“I believed we’d play higher,” Harbaugh mentioned. “I believed we’d deal with higher. It was lower than commonplace. We had adequate gamers on the market to play quite a bit higher than we did.”
The 34-point loss is tied for the second-worst margin of defeat underneath Harbaugh and represented Baltimore’s largest residence defeat since 2013.
Harbaugh known as it “a whole disappointment.”
“We will should discover a method to flip it round and determine who we’re this subsequent week after which into the bye [week],” he mentioned. “And after the bye, we will have greater than half the season left, and we will have to search out ourselves. So that is what our intention will likely be going ahead.”
The Ravens’ postseason hopes are dwindling. Within the Tremendous Bowl period, solely 4.1% of groups (16 of 382) that misplaced a minimum of 4 of their first 5 video games had been capable of rebound and make the playoffs, in keeping with ESPN Analysis.
Ravens operating again Derrick Henry mentioned he “undoubtedly” believes the coaches’ messages are connecting with the gamers.
“I nonetheless imagine in these guys,” Henry mentioned. “It is easy to be unfavorable. All people can have the ‘Poor me’s,’ and ‘Why this? Why that?’ However I am not blaming anyone. I take a look at myself first and see what I must do higher, after which all of us go in there as a gaggle, as a unit, and attempt to repair every part and switch this factor round as shortly as attainable.”
When Van Noy was requested if he has seen sufficient accountability after latest losses, he paused 5 seconds earlier than responding.
“That is an excellent query,” Van Noy mentioned. “I believe I will be capable of reply that higher after the week, to be sincere — simply being blatantly sincere. I really feel like there’s accountability, however we’ll see.”