That offensive line and choppy running game are the biggest reasons why the Ravens have fallen off a cliff on third downs, entering the weekend ranked 29th in conversion rate after finishing in the top four the previous two seasons. They were an abysmal 2-for-14 on third down against the Dolphins with nine of those 12 failed conversions needing nine or more yards.
Make no mistake, no offense prefers to be in such a down and distance, but the Ravens entered Week 10 ranked dead last in Football Outsiders’ efficiency metric for third- and fourth-and-long situations — “long” defined as seven or more yards — this season.