Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry had just manhandled the Pittsburgh Steelers with 26 carries for 186 rushing yards in the 28-14 Wild Card victory. So common sense would tell Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken to give Henry more than 16 carries in the AFC Divisional round versus the Buffalo Bills, right?
Tied 7-7 to begin the second quarter, the Ravens had gained chunks on four consecutive rushing plays for 46 yards on the Bills defense. That’s when, on 1st & 10 from the Bills’ 45-yard line, Monken decided to get cute and sequence in a few passing plays to try and cap the drive off in style.
Jackson’s second-quarter fumble on 2nd & 10 from the Bills 28-yard line was the fourth consecutive pass play called by Monken on the drive. Perhaps center Tyler Linderbaum was preoccupied with having to pass block so many successive times and rushed the snap. Yet, it doesn’t end there.
Monken used the exact same recipe on the ensuing drive, a drive that stalled out with a field goal by kicker Justin Tucker. With the Ravens on the Bills 2-yard line, Monken called a reasonable run-play out of 21 personnel, and rightfully so. The Ravens successfully used the I-formation in the red zone all year but were stuffed for losing one on first down.
No big deal, Monken still had 2nd & Goal from the 3-yard line with 4:38 to go in the second quarter. Monken could’ve forced the unstoppable Henry or even sequenced in the QB inside zone play. Fans had seen the Ravens succeed with Jackson all season. Instead, Monken tried to use play-action with the same 21 personnel and tackle Ronnie Stanley, reporting as an eligible receiver! Take a look below, Jackson’s eligible targets on the play-action play that led to a five-yard loss (sack) were Stanley, fullback Patrick Ricard, tight-end Mark Andrews, Henry and wide receiver Tylan Wallace.
While Ravens head coach John Harbaugh defends Monken, it’s obvious that Monken’s play calling always favors passing the ball over running it in the most important games. For perspective, Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had three more passing attempts than Bills quarterback Josh Allen in the AFC Divisional Round.
Monken’s genius sometimes suggests that he tends to be overwise. Yet, his wisdom doesn’t seem to prompt him to do the most obvious thing: give Henry the ball.
