By Joe Schiller
Despite a first-round exit in the postseason, the Baltimore Ravens can label the 2018 season a success.
Following a 4-5 record out of the Week 9 bye, the Ravens completely adapted their offensive formula to cater to a rookie quarterback and they rattled off six wins in their final seven regular season games.
It's certainly an impressive feat to finish 10-6 given the circumstances, but the Ravens could have easily finished with a 12-4 or 13-3 record. Bad losses happen for just about every team over the course of a 17-week season.
Here are three I believe John Harbaugh would surely want back if given the chance.
Week 5 vs. Cleveland Browns (12-9 OT Loss)
No matter their record, the Cleveland Browns feel like a trap game every year on the Ravens' schedule. Divisional games always seem to play tough, as was the case in Week 5.
This was arguably the worst offensive performance the Ravens provided throughout the regular season. Joe Flacco's pass to Nick Boyle was intercepted on the Browns' 3-yard. Buck Allen's fumble and Michael Crabtree's game-winning drop also took away multiple scoring opportunities.
Greg Joseph's 55-yard field goal missed wide left as time expired, forcing overtime, but the Ravens punted on back-to-back drives in the extra period – their final drive resulting in three incomplete passes.
In only his second start, Baker Mayfield engineered a 7-play, 65-yard drive to line Joseph up for the game-winning 37-yard field goal, that narrowly sailed over the crossbar.
The Ravens would get their revenge Week 17 but even with an AFC North title, this loss hurt.
Week 7 vs. New Orleans Saints (24-23 Loss)
Riding high following a 21-0 bashing of the Tennessee Titans, the Ravens welcomed Drew Brees and the high-flying New Orleans Saints into town for one of the NFL's biggest matchups of the early season.
The league's top offense at the time versus the top defense and it didn't disappoint.
John Harbaugh and Sean Payton exchanged aggressive blows as both sides converted crucial fourth downs as the Ravens took a slim 10-7 halftime lead off Lamar Jackson's first NFL touchdown.
The defense held Drew Brees to just 212 passing yards and limited Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram to a combined 96 rushing yards. Down 24-17 with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter, Joe Flacco led a vintage comeback drive and connected with John Brown on a 24-yard touchdown.
But we all know what happened next.
For the first time in his collegiate or professional career, Justin Tucker missed an extra point. He missed his first attemp in 223 tries and it sent the Saints home with a win.
Who knows if the Ravens would have went on to win the game in overtime but the mere shock factor of Tucker's miss overshadowed one of the best games this season.
Week 14 vs. Kansas City Chiefs (27-24 Loss)
Speaking of one of the best games during the 2018 regular season, this is among the top.
Lamar Jackson and co. had rattled off three straight wins coming into Week 14 but how would a run-heavy formula bode against one of the league's top offenses?
It turns out, pretty well.
In the final box score, the Ravens looked outmatched in virtually every statistical category except for rushing yards but they had every opportunity to win this game up 24-17 with 4:04 left to play.
Then came the magic of Patrick Mahomes. He found Tyreek Hill for a 48-yard miracle on 4th-and-9 late in the fourth quarter. The Chiefs tied the game at 24-24 and almost won in regulation following a Lamar Jackson fumble.
Harrison Butker missed a 43-yard attempt but got revenge minutes later in overtime to give the Chiefs a 27-24 victory.
The defeat brought up haunting memories of recent losses to the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cincinnati Bengals – games the Ravens had in their grasp but saw them slip away.
The Ravens should have defeated two teams that eventually advanced to Conference Championships this year, which makes it all the more frustrating.
