Rex Ryan claims Ravens' persistent choking in fourth quarter will cost them playoff place
The Baltimore Ravens have been building an unfortunate reputation during the 2022 NFL season for blowing leads late in games. They have been ahead in the fourth quarter of all six of their games so far this season, but have lost three of them. Most recently, they blew a 20-10 lead in Week 6 to lose 24-24 to the New York Giants.
NFL analyst and former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan recently appeared on an episode of Get Up. Here's what he thought about the situation:
"I have been the biggest proponent of saying, 'Give Lamar Jackson his money.' He has earned it. Everything that he's done in this league shows that he's an elite quarterback. Elite quarterbacks make plays in the fourth quarter. Elite quarterbacks make their teams better in the fourth quarter."
Ryan went on:
"When you're the Baltimore Ravens and you didn't want to meet his demands of guaranteed money before this season, in no way is this season proving that you should do that."
He continued:
"If you're Lamar Jackson, then you know you have a defense that's going to give up points late. You have to make plays. And we saw when that ball was fumbled, I believe he immediately clicked into, 'I can't just let this play go. I can't just throw this football away,' and he hurt his team. Even if everything around you is crumbling, if you're Lamar Jackson, you cannot allow it to affect you. It's starting to affect Lamar Jackson in the fourth quarter, and this team's going to play its way out of the playoffs because of it."
Ryan pointed out that Lamar Jackson has severely struggled in the fourth quarter of games this year and the numbers back up his opinion. In addition to blowing the lead three times already, Jackson has recorded just one passing touchdown and four interceptions in fourth-quarter appearances.
Lamar Jackson speaks on the Ravens' late-game struggles in 2022
Following their loss to the New York Giants in Week 6, blowing a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson shared his thoughts. Here's what he said in a postgame press conference:
“We’re just messing up ourselves. We can’t let that happen. The mistakes happen in practice and shouldn’t happen in the game, but it’s a part of NFL football. We try to overcome it, but sometimes it happens.”
Despite their fourth-quarter struggles, the Ravens still find themselves in a good position to earn a spot in the NFL playoffs this year. They are currently tied with the Cincinnati Bengals at the top of the AFC North division. They are also being tied for seventh-best record in the conference following the conclusion of Week 6.
Baltimore will look to get back in the win column in a crucial divisional clash with the Cleveland Browns in Week 7.
If you use any of the above quotes, please credit Get Up and H/T Sportskeeda.