Analyzing the Ravens’ playtime percentages in their Week 8 loss to the Cleveland Browns.
The Baltimore Ravens spread out their offense to combat the Cleveland Browns’ stacked boxes in Week 8 while making several changes across their secondary.
Offense
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson: 68 (100%)
Josh Johnson: 0
Jackson was great on Sunday, but the Ravens needed him to be perfect with mistakes on both sides of the ball throughout the game. He fought until the very end, mounting a 56-yard drive to give Baltimore a shot at winning the game at the end of regulation. Unfortunately, a few missed passes earlier in the game came back to bite Jackson, who was unable to complete the last-second comeback.
Running backs
Derrick Henry: 35 (51%)
Justice Hill: 34 (50%)
Chris Collier: 0 – 7 special teams snaps (24%)
Rasheen Ali: inactive
The Ravens continued to rely on just two running backs in their offense, with both Henry and Hill struggling to gain consistent yards outside of Henry’s 39-yard run in the second quarter. Collier drew criticism from John Harbaugh after the game for taking several kickoffs out of the end zone instead of taking an easy touchback to set the offense up at the 30-yard line. Collier could lose return duties once Ali recovers from his ankle injury.
Wide receivers
Zay Flowers: 59 (87%%)
Rashod Bateman: 57 (84%)
Nelson Agholor: 30 (44%)
Tylan Wallace: 6 (9%) – 17 (59%)
Devontez Walker: 0 – 23 (79%)
The Ravens’ receivers were able to get open against the Browns’ man-heavy coverage scheme, but Bateman and Agholor combined for three crucial drops that may have changed the outcome of the game. Flowers turned in another excellent performance with his third 100-yard effort in the last four games, while Wallace continued to see minimal time on offense. Walker more-than doubled his special teams snap share from his NFL debut in Week 7, indicating that the rookie is progressing towards more playtime as the season goes on.
Tight ends
Mark Andrews: 50 (74%)
Isaiah Likely: 47 (69%) – 4 (14%)
Patrick Ricard: 11 (16%)
Charlie Kolar: 10 (15%) – 24 (83%)
Baltimore streamlined their tight end rotation in Week 8, sharply reducing the snap shares of Ricard and Kolar in favor of a more spread-out offense with Andrews and Likely. Andrews’ 74% snap share was his highest since Week 1, leading to his first game leading the tight end room since Week 2.
Offensive line
Daniel Faalele: 68 (100%) – 7 (24%)
Patrick Mekari: 68 (100%) – 7 (24%)
Roger Rosengarten: 68 (100%) – 6 (21%)
Ronnie Stanley: 68 (100%)
Tyler Linderbaum: 68 (100%)
Ben Cleveland: 1 (1%) – 10 (34%)
Andrew Vorhees: 0 – 5 (17%)
Josh Jones: 0 – 5 (17%)
Nick Samac: inactive
The Ravens’ went with the same offensive line as their last four games, though the unit allowed consistent pressure on Jackson and struggled to open holes in the run game. Baltimore seems intent on sticking with this combination, though, despite the return of Andrew Vorhees from injury in Week 6.
Defense
Interior defensive line
Nnamdi Madubuike: 59 (86%)
Broderick Washington: 42 (61%) – 5 (17%)
Travis Jones: 15 (22%) – 6 (21%)
Michael Pierce: 15 (22%) – 2 (7%)
Brent Urban: 1 (1%)
Defensive line depth was a serious issue for the Ravens entering Week 8 with Jones already limited due to an ankle injury. The situation got even worse with a calf injury to Pierce and Urban suffering a concussion, forcing Baltimore to give Madubuike and Washington season-high snap shares. Even if Urban is able to clear concussion protocol before Week 9, this unit will need reinforcements to stay afloat over the next few weeks.
Edge rushers
Kyle Van Noy: 51 (74%)
Odafe Oweh: 45 (65%)
Tavius Robinson: 31 (45%) – 20 (69%)
Yannick Ngakoue: 12 (17%) – 5 (17%)
David Ojabo: inactive
Adisa Isaac: inactive
The absences of Ojabo and Isaac stretched Van Noy to a season-high snap share on the edge. The injuries to the interior of the defensive line forced Oweh and Robinson to flip inside for a handful of snaps in the second half. Ngakoue continued to be an efficient pass rusher in a reduced role despite the lack of healthy defensive line depth for the Ravens.
Linebackers
Roquan Smith: 69 (100%)
Trenton Simpson: 67 (97%) – 15 (52%)
Malik Harrison: 6 (9%) – 24 (83%)
Chris Board: 0 – 24 (83%)
The Ravens’ shakeup in the secondary led to a massive increase in playing time for Simpson, who played his highest snap count and second-highest snap share of the season. Harrison returned from a two-week absence to resume a limited role on defense and a starting position on special teams. With Harrison back, Baltimore opted not to elevate Kristian Welch from the practice squad and relied on Board on special teams instead.
Cornerbacks
Brandon Stephens: 69 (100%)
Jalyn Armour-Davis 69 (100%) – 10 (34%)
Arthur Maulet: 26 (38%) – 10 (34%)
Bump Cooper: 0 – 6 (21%)
Marlon Humphrey: inactive
Nate Wiggins: inactive
The returns of Armour-Davis and Maulet from injured reserve came at a crucial time for the Ravens secondary as they dealt with the absences of Humphrey and Wiggins. Armour-Davis went the distance alongside Stephens, but Maulet played just 26 snaps in his first appearance of the season.
Safeties
Kyle Hamilton: 69 (100%)
Eddie Jackson: 69 (100%)
Ar’Darius Washington: 44 (64%) – 10 (34%)
Sanoussi Kane: 0 – 24 (83%)
Marcus Williams: did not play (coach’s decision)
Williams’ benching – explained by John Harbaugh as a “personnel decision” that would be kept “internal” – was the Ravens’ biggest game day story as their third-highest cap hit stayed on the sidelines for the duration of the game. There’s no question that Williams was struggling this year, but Jackson looked even worse in his place with two dropped interceptions. Hamilton was all over the field as usual, but dropped another pick that would have essentially secured the victory for the Ravens; instead, the Browns scored on the next play. Washington committed no major mistakes in his highest snap share of the season, but his presence did little to slow Cleveland’s passing attack.
Specialists
Justin Tucker: 10 special teams snaps (34%)
Jordan Stout: 9 (31%)
Nick Moore: 9 (31%)
Tucker missed from 50 yards out, but another attempt from 49 yards and all three of his extra points. Stout allowed returns on three of his four punts, with just one being downed inside the 20.