Garceau: Ravens Rare Bad Beat At The Bank
That NFL record streak of starting the season with 12 straight games being decided by a single possession (8 points or less) ended with a thud Sunday. The Ravens got whipped by Seattle 35-6.
It was no contest as Russell Wilson threw 5 touchdown passes and the Seahawks defense held the over-matched Ravens to just 2 field goals.
Ravaged by injuries, the Ravens have fallen to 4-9 and it doesn't look like they'll be able to get up 'till next year.
The remaining three games are against 3 teams that are likely to be in the playoffs. It'll be Kansas City (7 game win streak) and Pittsburgh (avg. 35 points last 5 games) at home then the finale on the road against division leading Cincinnati (10-3).
The bad beat at home is unusual; Sunday's 29-point loss is the second worst in franchise history. Even that stumbling first edition of the Ravens in 1996 avoided getting blown out at home. Ted Marchibroda's inaugural team went 4-12 with all 4 wins at home. Three of the four home losses that season were by 3 points (one in OT), the other an entertaining 46-38 shoot-out with New England.
M&T Bank Stadium is usually football death to Baltimore opponents, since 2000 the Ravens have the second best home record in the NFL; it's now 93-33. Under John Harbaugh the Ravens were 17-1 at home against NFC teams and 12-1 at home against West Coast teams, and then came Russell Wilson and friends.
The worst home loss came two years ago and that one, unlike Sunday's loss had playoff implications. The Ravens had won 4 straight when the Patriots came to the Bank three day before Christmas in 2013. With an 8-6 record the Ravens were looking to get back in the playoffs just months after winning the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
They were hot garbage in this game, the Ravens turned the ball over 4 times, New England scored 2 defensive touchdowns and handled Baltimore a 41-7 loss, the worst at home in the franchises 20-year history. The following week the Ravens season ended with a loss in Cincinnati, they finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the first time in 6 years.
A bad home beat in a bad season, cruel and very unusual punishment for the Ravens and their loyal fans.
