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Ravens Face Questions After Loss to Saints

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BALTIMORE -- Trailing by a touchdown in the final minute Sunday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson threw deep toward wide receiver Rashod Bateman, but the pass sailed 5 yards past and was intercepted by Saints safety Julian Blackmon. Bateman pounded the ground, summing up Baltimore's frustrating 24-17 loss to New Orleans. A week after everything went right in the season opener, Jackson and the Ravens must figure out what went wrong. "We are going to stick together," running back Derrick Henry said. "Obviously, we didn't get the result we wanted... It is just a little adversity. It is all about how we respond."

There is uncertainty about which players will line up Sunday in Rio de Janeiro. Wide receiver Zay Flowers didn't play because of a hamstring injury, and left tackle Ronnie Stanley couldn't finish because of a toe injury. The most debated playcall came with the game tied at 17 in the fourth quarter. On third-and-1 at the Baltimore 37, Jackson launched a 50-yard pass to Chris Moore that was batted away. It seemed risky for first-year playcaller Declan Doyle to pass to Moore, just elevated from the practice squad, instead of handing to the 6-foot-3, 252-pound Henry. "It's a play that we liked," coach Jesse Minter said. "Thought we had a shot there for an explosive. Obviously, it didn't work out."

Jackson's interception with 13 seconds remaining was only the second time in his nine-year career he has been picked off in the final two minutes of regulation. The pass was nowhere near Bateman, causing many to wonder who was at fault. "We were just trying to make something happen," Jackson said. "I feel like I want that pass back, though." With Flowers inactive, Bateman led Baltimore with a career-tying seven catches for 88 yards, including a 22-yard touchdown. Asked about the interception, Bateman said there was no miscommunication. "I ran the right route, looked up [and] the ball was what it was," Bateman said. "Lamar played well. I think we all played well. [There] is just a lot of cleanup to do."