If you’ve studied the Baltimore Ravens since the franchise’s inception in 1996, you might start to wonder if the receiver position is somewhat cursed for them. No Ravens receiver (non-tight end) has had a 1,000-yard season since 2021, and that was Marquise Brown. Before that, you’d have to go back to Mike Wallace in 2016, and Steve Smith Sr. in 2014.
That receiver curse reared its ugly head in a major way on Sunday, as Lamar Jackson — who has been playing out of his mind in Todd Monken’s offense this season — was waylaid by receiver drops over and over and over in Baltimore’s 17-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday. The Ravens put up a 10-0 lead on Pittsburgh, and then, Baltimore’s receivers couldn’t catch a cold in a blizzard from there.
This pass went directly through the hands of Ravens WR Nelson Agholor. pic.twitter.com/mhmZo7OhfQ
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) October 8, 2023
The #Ravens WRs are letting Lamar down in the redzone.
Rashod Bateman drops a TD pass vs the #Steelers – Mark Andrews dropped one the previous play but at least that one was well covered, this was open.pic.twitter.com/dRc2oNU3lEhttps://t.co/r0jsWaXUhV
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 8, 2023
Todd Monken’s reaction to his team’s SEVENTH dropped pass today. #Ravens pic.twitter.com/yojSic83Dc
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbybaltimoree) October 8, 2023
Lamar Jackson: “We don’t expect our guys to drop passes.” pic.twitter.com/iF6lsLXmhx
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) October 8, 2023
Jackson finished his day with 22 completions in 38 attempts for 236 yards, no touchdowns, an interception, and a passer rating of 65.2. But this is a case where statistics don’t tell a fraction of the story. Jackson’s receivers let him down to a horrific degree.
