Why Are the Ravens So Bad in Short Yardage in 2026?

The offensive line, Derrick Henry, Lamar Jackson's injuries, the loss of Pat Ricard and Mark Andrews' decline are all contributing to Baltimore's biggest offensive problem.

The Baltimore Ravens are supposed to be one of the toughest teams in the NFL to stop when they need one yard. They have Derrick Henry, one of the most physically imposing running backs in football, and Lamar Jackson, a two-time NFL MVP whose mobility forces defenses to account for another running threat.

Yet through the first seven games of the 2026 season, the Ravens have repeatedly struggled in short-yardage situations. They have failed to consistently convert third-and-short, fourth-and-short and goal-line opportunities, turning what should be routine plays into drive-killing mistakes.

This is not a problem that can be blamed on one player. The offensive line has dealt with injuries and constant changes, Henry's rushing production has cooled, Jackson has missed multiple games, fullback Patrick Ricard is gone, and veteran tight end Mark Andrews has not been the same reliable difference-maker. New offensive coordinator Declan Doyle also has to find answers.

Baltimore has too much offensive talent to keep struggling this badly when the field gets shorter. Here are the five biggest reasons why the Ravens have developed this problem.

1. The Offensive Line Has Not Been Consistent Enough

Start with the offensive line, because everything in short-yardage football begins up front.

Baltimore rebuilt parts of its offensive line during the offseason, but injuries have prevented the group from establishing a consistent starting five. The Ravens lost projected starting center Danny Pinter during training camp, then suffered further setbacks at center during the season. They also dealt with an injury to left tackle Ronnie Stanley, forcing additional changes to the lineup.

The constant shuffling has been a serious problem. Young linemen have been forced into bigger roles, and the team has had to adjust its combinations instead of building chemistry across the entire unit.

Pro Football Focus ranked Baltimore's offensive line 23rd in its early-season rankings after the first two weeks. At that point, the group also ranked 30th in pass-block win rate at 35%, although its run-block win rate was an impressive 79%. Sports Illustrated subsequently assigned the offensive line a C grade through six weeks, highlighting the injuries and personnel changes. Those figures describe different aspects of the line, but neither suggests a fully settled unit.

The 79% run-block win rate is an important counterpoint. It indicates that Baltimore's offensive line has shown it can win individual run-blocking battles. The problem is that winning a block does not always mean creating a clean lane for a first down when the defense knows exactly what is coming.

On third-and-1 or fourth-and-1, defenses can crowd the line of scrimmage, attack the interior gaps and force the running back to make his decision immediately. If the center and guards cannot move the defensive front off the ball, Henry has very little room to generate momentum.

The Ravens need more than a respectable run-blocking percentage. They need reliable interior push when the opponent is expecting a run.

Ravori verdict: The offensive line is not hopeless, but the injuries and constant changes have made it difficult to trust this unit in the moments when physical dominance matters most.

2. Derrick Henry's Production Has Dropped Off

Derrick Henry remains Baltimore's primary running back, but his recent performances have raised legitimate concerns.

According to Pro Football Focus' statistics updated October 27, Henry has 579 rushing yards on 147 carries, averaging 3.9 yards per attempt, with seven rushing touchdowns. His overall PFF grade is 72.2, while his rushing grade is 69.7. He ranks 24th among 42 qualified running backs in yards per carry.

Those are not terrible numbers. Henry remains productive overall, and seven touchdowns demonstrate that he can still finish drives. However, the recent trend is concerning.

His rushing totals over the last five games have been 89, 73, 102, 58 and 45 yards. After a strong 102-yard performance against Atlanta, Henry managed only 58 yards against Cleveland and 45 against Cincinnati.

Against the Bengals, the Ravens needed their veteran running back to provide a physical response, but the offense never found the consistency required to control the game. His costly fumble against Cleveland was another reminder that Baltimore cannot afford mistakes when possessions are precious.

At 32, Henry is carrying a substantial workload. PFF lists him with 147 carries, the most among qualified running backs in its current statistics. That workload is evidence of his importance, but it also raises questions about freshness and how effectively the coaching staff is distributing touches.

The Ravens cannot simply hand Henry the ball and expect him to bulldoze every defense. Opponents know Baltimore wants to run, especially when it needs a yard. They are stacking the box and challenging the offensive line to create movement.

Baltimore needs to use Henry intelligently, with more variety in its formations and more opportunities to attack defensive weaknesses. Justice Hill has averaged 7.4 yards per carry in the available team statistics, demonstrating that a change of pace can produce results.

Ravori verdict: Henry is not finished, but Baltimore cannot rely on his reputation alone. The offensive line and play-calling must help him rather than repeatedly asking him to manufacture yards against a loaded defensive front.

3. Lamar Jackson's Absence Changes Everything

The Ravens' short-yardage offense is a different animal when Lamar Jackson is healthy.

Jackson does not have to carry the football for his presence to affect a defense. His ability to run forces linebackers and defensive ends to respect the quarterback keeper. That hesitation can create additional room for Henry, open up read-option opportunities and make it harder for defenses to attack the running back aggressively.

When Jackson is unavailable, defenses can concentrate more heavily on Henry and the conventional running game.

Jackson has missed multiple games during the 2026 season, leaving Tyler Huntley to lead the offense. Huntley has played competently in stretches, but he does not command the same defensive attention as Jackson.

The difference is significant. Jackson combines elite passing ability with explosive running skills. Defenses must account for both, and that threat can be especially valuable when Baltimore needs only one yard.

With Jackson sidelined, Baltimore loses a major part of its offensive identity. The Ravens can still use designed quarterback runs with Huntley, but the threat is not necessarily equivalent.

The solution is not to pretend that the offense should function exactly the same without Jackson. Doyle needs a short-yardage package that accounts for the available quarterback and gives the offense multiple ways to win.

When Jackson returns, Baltimore should also use his mobility strategically rather than relying exclusively on Henry up the middle.

Ravori verdict: Jackson's injuries are a major factor, but they cannot become a permanent excuse. Good offensive teams have answers when their starting quarterback is unavailable.

4. The Loss of Patrick Ricard Has Left a Physical Void

One of Baltimore's most significant offseason changes was the departure of fullback Patrick Ricard, who joined the New York Giants in March 2026 after nine seasons with the Ravens. Ricard was a six-time Pro Bowler and a major part of Baltimore's traditional power-running identity.

His departure matters because Ricard was not simply another blocker. He gave the Ravens a physical lead blocker who could help clear space for Henry and make life more difficult for opposing linebackers.

In short-yardage football, the extra blocker can make the difference between a first down and a failed attempt. A fullback can lead through the hole, take on a linebacker and help the running back reach the line of scrimmage with momentum.

Without Ricard, Baltimore has had to find other ways to create that advantage. Tight ends, offensive linemen and running backs can all contribute to blocking schemes, but replacing a six-time Pro Bowl fullback's experience and physicality is not automatic.

This is particularly important because the Ravens have also dealt with injuries to their tight end group, including a season-ending Achilles injury to blocking specialist Durham Smythe. That has further complicated their efforts to assemble the personnel needed for certain formations.

Baltimore does not necessarily need to sign another fullback to solve the problem. But it does need a reliable lead-blocking answer. That could mean developing a replacement, using a tight end as an additional blocker or adjusting the offensive scheme.

Ravori verdict: Losing Ricard removed an important piece of the Ravens' physical identity. The coaching staff must prove it has a credible replacement strategy rather than assuming another player can fill the same role.

5. Mark Andrews Is No Longer the Same Difference-Maker

Mark Andrews deserves his share of scrutiny, too.

The veteran tight end has been one of Jackson's most trusted targets throughout their careers, but his 2026 production has been disappointing by his established standards.

Through seven games, Andrews has recorded 23 receptions for 204 yards and one touchdown, according to Pro-Football-Reference's game log. His average of 7.8 yards per reception is a long way from the explosive production that once made him one of the league's most dangerous tight ends. He also has struggled with drops, according to the team's early-season position-group assessment.

Andrews' impact on short-yardage football goes beyond receiving statistics. A tight end must block effectively, help create leverage at the point of attack and make defenses respect the possibility of a quick pass near the goal line.

When Andrews was at his best, Baltimore could punish defenses for overloading the box. Jackson could throw to Andrews between the hashes, use him on play-action routes or find him near the goal line.

That threat has not been as consistent in 2026. Andrews has also dealt with a hand injury, so it would be unfair to attribute every disappointing performance to age or declining ability.

Nevertheless, Baltimore needs more production from one of its most experienced offensive players. The emergence of rookies Josh Cuevas and Matt Hibner provides alternatives, and the coaching staff should be willing to use whichever tight ends are best suited to the situation.

Andrews still has value, but his reputation cannot guarantee him the same role in every package.

Ravori verdict: Andrews must become a more consistent contributor, especially in critical situations. If other tight ends can provide better blocking or more reliable production, the Ravens should adjust the rotation.

6. Declan Doyle Must Find Better Answers on Third and Fourth Down

The personnel issues are real, but the coaching staff also has responsibility.

Baltimore's short-yardage struggles were already apparent in September. Against Dallas, the Ravens converted only two of nine situations requiring three yards or fewer, and they were just one for seven on running plays in those situations. Through the first six weeks, they converted only five of 10 combined third-and-1 and fourth-and-1 attempts.

Those numbers suggest a problem that goes beyond one bad game.

When an offense repeatedly fails in the same situations, opponents begin to anticipate its decisions. If Baltimore lines up in a heavy formation and gives Henry the ball directly into a crowded interior, defenses can sell out to stop the run.

Doyle needs to create uncertainty. That means using motion, misdirection, quarterback keepers, play-action passes and different blocking angles. Baltimore should still run Henry in short yardage, but it must make defenses pay for committing every available defender to the line of scrimmage.

The Ravens also need to understand when to go for it on fourth down. Aggressiveness is not a problem by itself, but failing to execute after choosing to go for it can turn a promising drive into a momentum-changing mistake.

The answer is better preparation, more creative play design and a willingness to change the plan when the current approach is not working.

The Final Word: Baltimore Has to Fix This Before It Costs More Games

The Ravens have too much talent to be this unreliable in short-yardage situations. Henry remains a powerful runner, Jackson is one of the league's most dangerous quarterbacks when healthy, and the offense has playmakers who can punish defenses for overcommitting to the run.

But talent alone does not guarantee success.

The offensive line must establish consistency. Henry needs to be used more strategically. Jackson's absence requires a different approach. Ricard's departure has created a physical void, and Andrews must demonstrate that he can still contribute at a high level.

Above all, Doyle and the coaching staff must stop allowing short-yardage situations to become predictable.

Baltimore's offense can rank among the league's more productive units and still struggle when the game is on the line. That is the frustrating part. The Ravens have shown they can move the ball, but they have not consistently demonstrated the ability to impose their will when everyone in the stadium knows a first down is needed.

My Ravori Sports take: The Ravens' biggest short-yardage problem is a combination of offensive-line instability and a loss of the physical identity that once made their rushing attack so difficult to stop. Henry, Jackson, Ricard's replacement and Andrews all matter, but the ultimate responsibility falls on the coaching staff to build a package that works with the players available.

If Baltimore wants to compete for a playoff spot, third-and-1 cannot feel like third-and-10. And fourth-and-1 cannot keep turning into a crisis.

The Ravens need to get back to playing Ravens football: physical, creative and capable of taking over a game when they need one yard.