The Baltimore Ravens lost to the New England Patriots late in the game, further dwindling their playoff hopes and increasing pressure on head coach John Habug.
Hours after the 28-24 loss, Harbaugh was met with questions about his job security during Monday’s news conference.
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Harbaugh: ‘I’m trying to do a good job, not trying to keep a job’
“That’s sports. That’s how it works,” Harbaugh said. “One of the things I’ve always believed is, first of all, coaching at any level is a daily job. Your job is to do your best job today. And do whatever you can to help your players and coaches – if you’re the head coach – be the best they can be every day.
“It’s never been a question of keeping a job. It’s not a question of your job or my job. We have responsibilities. When you’re given a job, we have the opportunity to take on those responsibilities. Until you’re not. I’m trying to do the job, not trying to keep the job.”
Why doesn’t Derrick Henry play in the final seconds?
Harbaugh was also specifically asked about the usage of All-Pro running back Derrick Henry late in Sunday’s game.
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The Ravens led 24-13 early in the fourth quarter after Henry’s second touchdown with 12:50 left in the game. At that point, he had rushed 18 times for 128 yards (7.1 yards per attempt) and anchored the Ravens’ offense late in the second quarter with quarterback Lamar Jackson injured.
He didn’t touch the ball again. Instead, Keaton Mitchell held the ball the rest of the fourth quarter as part of a predetermined running back rotation.
After Henry’s final drive, the Ravens had just one first down in two possessions. The Patriots scored 15 points to win by four points.
Harbaugh reiterated that the decision to keep Mitchell in the game to start the final series was part of a rotation plan, and Henry and running backs coach Willie Taggart agreed with the decision, which ultimately ended with a fumble by Zay Flowers.
“In retrospect, to your point of view, I would have grabbed him and said, no, let Derrick play,” Harbaugh said. “But that’s not really how it works in real time.
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“It’s the guys who make the rotations and coach the rotations. It’s the plays that are called. Certain plays are for Keaton. And that opening game was more of a Keaton play.”
It’s not just a loss for the Patriots
The mounting pressure on Harbaugh goes well beyond Sunday’s running back rotation and loss. Baltimore is on the shortlist for a Super Bowl title this season.
A 1-5 start, coupled with Jackson’s recurring injuries, all came to naught. Despite a slow start, the Ravens improved to 6-5 after five straight wins and were on track to win the AFC North.
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But they have lost three of four games since then, including a key loss to the division-leading Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 14. The Ravens are currently 7-8 and need a perfect formula to leapfrog the Steelers for the division title. They needed to win their last two games, and the Steelers lost their last two games.
The Ravens controlled one of those games in Week 18 when they faced the Steelers. But if the Steelers beat the Browns next week, they will lock up the division title and the Ravens will miss the playoffs. Baltimore has no path to a wild-card berth.
The Ravens were also in the midst of a long stretch of playoff disappointment. After the 2012 season, Harbaugh coached the Ravens to a Super Bowl championship. Since then, they have advanced to just one AFC Championship Game and have not returned to the Super Bowl.
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That includes four seasons with 11 or more wins for Jackson, who has won two MVPs since his first season as Baltimore’s full-time starter in 2018. In the Jackson era, expectations were high. They haven’t been satisfied yet.
This is Harbaugh’s 18th season as Baltimore’s head coach. He is a respected Super Bowl champion who has left a lasting mark on the franchise’s history.
But the Ravens have repeatedly failed to live up to expectations. Teams’ patience to make the most of the Jackson era is wearing thin. In Baltimore, that means more than just getting to the Super Bowl, it means winning.
