Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens Had Offensive Gameplan Issues in AFC Title Loss
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odelll Beckham Jr. was a consummate professional for the team in 2023, but that didn't stop him from venting frustrations in the AFC title game.
Hosting their first conference title in franchise history, the Ravens turned the ball over three times while struggling against a top Chiefs defense in what became a 17-10 loss last Sunday.
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Following the loss, it's since come out that OBJ tried to will the offensive group to new heights after falling into a 7-0 hole early in the game. That included talking to MVP front-runner Lamar Jackson in between series.
"You change the whole dynamic of the game when you take off," Beckham said to the Ravens quarterback. "We gotta get some s*** going on, like what the f*** is going on.”
Jackson ran for 54 yards on eight carries in the loss, but he accounted for the same number of carries that Baltimore's running back group had in the entire game.
That, in itself, is a reason why Baltimore isn't participating in Super Bowl LVIII.
"That’s not the number [of rushing attempts] you want to have," Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said. "When it’s all said and done, and you look back on it, that’s not going to win us an AFC Championship game, for sure. It’s more than just calling plays...Sometimes, they’re run-to-run, but a lot of what we were doing was directed at the line of scrimmage by what the defense gave us."
Harbaugh's comments Friday were a sign that the coaching staff understood the frustrations players like OBJ had during Sunday's loss. The former Giant, Brown, and Ram caught just three passes for 22 yards. He will be a free agent going into the 2024 offseason with many wondering if he would be willing to return to the Charm City.
If the two sides decide to stay together, finding a better game plan going into the regular season next year will be a key part of the process.
