It was bad enough that the Ravens lost to the Steelers in a two-point game on Sunday, a game in which they had the opportunity to tie with a post-touchdown conversion with 1:06 to play in the fourth quarter and the score at 18-16. That conversion attempt failed.
Games between the Ravens and Steelers are always grinding, smashmouth contests, and this was no different. But the loss was punctuated by some odd decisions on how the team used one of its key stars in this game: running back Derrick Henry.
Henry had just 13 carries for 65 yards, tied for the second-fewest carries of the season. The Ravens have lost all three games in which he has had 13 carries or fewer. Worse, Henry was not even on the field for the Ravens’ failed conversion.
For the gang on the “Get Up” program on ESPN on Monday morning, this was a “criminal offense.”
As former star lineman Damien Woody said, “How the hell does Derrick Henry have 13 touches? Why did you bring him here? Why? In games like this, this was not going to be some high-flying circus act. This is the biggest rivalry in the NFL. This is why you bring Derrick Henry in, for games like this, this knock-‘em-out type of game.”