Redskins at Ravens Week 5: 3 things we learned

The Baltimore Ravens learned they can’t abandon their running game and win, after losing out by six points to the Washington Redskins in Week 5.

Things seemed under control while the AFC North club was keeping the ball on the ground early on. But momentum shifted for good once head coach John Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Marc Trestman put the game in quarterback Joe Flacco’s hands.

It didn’t help when the Redskins found more than one big play on special teams. Ultimately though, the blame for this 16-10 setback belongs firmly with Flacco and a misfiring passing game.

Meanwhile, the Redskins proved their own oft-criticised defense can win games, but only as long as coordinator Joe Barry takes a few risks.

Here’s what we learned about both teams after Week 5:

Ravens must stick with the running game

For all their fine defensive work, the Redskins still couldn’t stop the run this week. Barry’s unit allowed Terrance West to amass 95 yards on just 11 carries, a whopping 8.6 yards per rush. Even Buck Allen averaged 4.5 yards on a mere four carries.

But the Redskins got lucky, because Baltimore let their feeble run front off the hook. Specifically, Trestman abandoned a highly effective ground game and tried to win it with Flacco.

It was a bizarre ploy, especially given how dominant the Ravens were running the ball during the early stages. Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun detailed the sharp contrast in Trestman’s run-pass selection as the game wore on:

Breaking Burgundy’s Ben Standig attempted to pinpoint the reason for the shift by highlighting a key injury:

Yet it would be too generous to give Trestman the benefit of the doubt. As Standig pointed out, the Ravens abandoned what was proving successful, a no-go for every NFL team.

But it’s particularly ill-advised for a team with a struggling quarterback, a depleted, reshuffled O-line and lacklustre receivers.

The latter problem was ruthlessly exposed by Washington’s coverage schemes.

Baltimore receivers can’t separate

Flacco’s radar is wayward, no doubt about it. Yet the towering passer is hardly being helped by a group of receivers seemingly incapable of separating from man coverage.

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Ebony Bird

Unfortunately, it’s what the Redskins played across the board in the second half. Barry had his coverage defenders plaster to Flacco’s targets, and nobody was able to shake free.

It was an indictment of wideouts Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman and Steve Smith Snr. No wonder Flacco missed on 16 of his 46 passes.

The quarterback found success targeting the voided middle to find tight ends Dennis Pitta and Crockett Gillmore, who scored Baltimore’s only touchdown. But whenever he needed to push the ball outside for a big play, Redskins’ star corner Josh Norman and his teammates had thrown a net over his struggling receivers.

Granted, the more attacking brand of defense suited Washington. Players such as Norman and end Ziggy Hood were especially impressive.

But the real takeaway was how easily Flacco and his pass-catchers were frustrated.

Special Teams a problem

Harbaugh made his name as an expert on football’s third phase during his time as an assistant with the Philadelphia Eagles way back when. But the Ravens were an outright mess on special teams this week, something true of their season so far.

Not only was Jamison Crowder given 85 yards worth of freedom to return a punt for six. But Will Blackmon also produced another long gain running back a kick.

Those are the kind of plays the Ravens signed Devin Hester for. However, he was reticent to even return the ball in some admittedly treacherous weather.

His unease meant Baltimore never had a chance of winning the vital field position battle.

Even when Harbaugh tried to get cute and reach back into the archives, a fake field goal became a comedy of errors. This isn’t what fans and pundits have come to expect from this franchise on special teams.

Next: Redskins at Ravens Week 5 : Highlights, score and recap

Defeats are inevitable when only one unit on the team is playing well. The Ravens D’ is formidable, but not quite dominant enough to add to the win column every week.