OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The season seemed to be lost for John Harbaugh.
The Ravens were ahead of fourth and fifth places, and were less than two minutes behind them in a critical game against the Browns in Week 14.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson was already in the locker room with cramps and now Trace McSorley was sprawled on the lawn with a knee injury.
“It’s fourth and fifth and my husband Trace is downstairs,” Harbaugh said in one Video posted by James Light. “He missed the season with a knee injury. So it’s the fourth and fifth and we don’t have a quarterback and it’s the two-minute warning. Our season is looking grim.”
With no other true quarterbacks healthy, Harbaugh had to turn to wide receiver Willie Snead to take control. Obviously it wasn’t an ideal situation with the playoff hopes on the line.
“I’m on the rise again and who’s the quarterback? Willie Snead is the quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “And Willie is right there. And I look over at Willie and he looks right at me while he takes a snapshot. From the middle he looks at me and says, ‘Coach, this is my time to shine. This is Willie . Made it.” I feel better? No. But I appreciated it. “
Now Harbaugh considered playing Snead for quarterback. Harbaugh had the best kicker in the NFL, Justin Tucker, but a 68-yard field goal would have been difficult in any situation.
“Tucker, who always runs right when I want to score a field goal, walks past me, turns around and looks at me like, ‘Am I kicking the field goal?’ “Said Harbaugh. “And I look at him and go: ‘It’s 68 meters.’ And he looks at me and says, “Yeah.” And I go, “Can you do it?” Now I think it might be a good idea. He looks at me and says, “I think I have a better chance than Willie. “I say,” You might be right. “” “
Seconds later, Jackson emerged from the locker room and was ready to get back into the game. Harbaugh could hardly believe what was going on.
“At that moment, before the decision has to be made, the coach pats me on the shoulder and says, ‘He’s back,” said Harbaugh. “And I’m like ‘Who?’ And here he comes, Lamar, like Willis Reed out of the tunnel, he comes in from the back of the bench and says, “I have this trainer. I have him.” “”
Sure enough, Jackson threw Marquise Brown a 44-yard touchdown pass for a 42-35 lead with 1:51 in the game.
Jackson then set up Tucker’s 55-yard field goal with a seven-second lead for a 47-42 win.
It was named Game of the Year by the NFL Network.
And it’s certainly a game that Ravens coaches, players and fans will never forget.
“It will be a game that will go down in history,” said Harbaugh after the game.
