It’s getting late early for the Baltimore Ravens defense, and one of their veteran leaders is getting fed up.
After getting gashed again in their 44-10 home loss to the Houston Texans on Sunday, veteran outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy spoke up about the team’s awful 1-4 start.
Aside from losing four of the final five games, the Ravens defense is ranked dead last in the NFL in points-against per game (35.4) and 31st in yards-against per game (408.8).
Baltimore has surrendered at least 35 points in each of its four losses. Its lone victory came against the lowly Cleveland Browns, with whom the Ravens share the basement in the AFC North.
Ravens Defense Has To ‘Figure It Out,’ According to Kyle Van Noy
Van Noy is used to playing in the postseason. He’s been in the NFL playoffs four years in a row and eight of the past nine, while also helping the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl twice in that span.
So he, and the prideful Ravens defense, know they need to be better. Their struggles required head coach John Harbaugh to give a vote of confidence to defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who Van Noy also did not blame for Baltimore’s defensive woes.
“We’ve got to get our s— together,” Van Noy said. “Coaches can give us the play, but we’ve got to execute, and it doesn’t matter who you are in there. Do your job. If coaches ask you to do something, do it. Me included.”
The Ravens led the NFL in rushing-yards against per game last season (80.1) yet has allowed 100-plus yards in every game this season. They have allowed 380 total yards in each of their four losses, including the 417 yards that C.J. Stroud and the Texans put up while building a 34-3 advantage in the third quarter.
“It’s fundamentals,” Van Noy said. “We’ve got to get off blocks and tackle. People don’t want to hear that, but it’s the truth. That’s what [we] have got to do better.”
A reporter brought up the litany of injuries to the Ravens defense, since linebacker Roquan Smith and All-Pro defensive backs Kyle Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey each missed the Houston game.
But Van Noy didn’t want to hear it, citing the San Francisco 49ers‘ injury-plagued roster upset the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday.
“No excuses, man,” Van Noy said, cutting the reporter off. “I just watched the Niners have injuries and go out and play football. We’re professionals. We get paid to play. Gotta play better.”
Ravens Running Out Of Time With This Core
The Ravens have been pointing to this year as one of their last chances to fulfill their assumed destiny of winning the Lombardi Trophy in this ongoing championship window.
They added veteran DeAndre Hopkins, and cornerback Jaire Alexander, who they hoped could be the missing pieces to a championship roster.
Yet, the season is quickly coming unglued, and Van Noy — who turned 34 in March — knows it.
“I don’t many chances left. I don’t have time to sit and wait,” Van Noy said. “We’ve got to figure it out.”
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