Ravens Notebook: 3 Takeaways From Baltimore's Loss vs. Bucs

The Baltimore Ravens were unable to come up with a win in their last preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Baltimore Ravens were unable to end the preseason on a high note, losing 26-20 on the road to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 

While preseason wins and losses don't matter for the regular season, Baltimore has now lost two straight preseason games after winning an NFL-record 24 straight games in the preseason.

There were bright spots for the Ravens despite the loss, and with roster cuts beginning, the game served as one more chance for players to make an impression. Here are three takeaways from Baltimore's last tune up before the regular season begins.

Backup QB Situation

Josh Johnson and Anthony Brown have been competing throughout the preseason for the third quarterback position on the Ravens roster. Against Tampa Bay, Johnson went 6-for-9 for 95 yards and a touchdown, while Brown went 12-for-21 for 171 yards and added 42 yards on the ground.

Baltimore has done its best over the past few seasons to have backup quarterbacks that can attempt to emulate what star QB Lamar Jackson does on the field. Most notably with mobile quarterbacks like Robert Griffin III and current backup Tyler Huntley.

Crowded RB Room

Owen Wright, an undrafted rookie running back out of Monmouth, went out with a bang in Baltimore's last preseason game. He rushed for 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries and caught two passes for 11 yards. 

The Ravens have what appears to be a difficult decision to make when it comes to which running backs will make the roster. With J.K. Dobbins, Gus Edwards and Justice Hill seemingly safe from cuts, any one of Wright, Keaton Mitchell, or Melvin Gordon III could be the fourth running back come Week 1. 

Health Is The Key To Baltimore's Success

The most notable part of the Ravens' preseason wasn't the 24-game win streak being snapped, but instead how careful they were with their starters. Key players such as Odell Beckham Jr., Rashod Bateman, Dobbins and Mark Andrews saw little or no time on the field during the preseason. 

Even a player like Zay Flowers only saw limited time, and once it was clear that he was ready for the NFL, he didn't play another snap. 

Jackson didn't play a single down of preseason football and his backup, Huntley, only appeared briefly in the first game. It's clear that Baltimore knows that if it wants to make a run deep into the playoffs, and possibly to the Super Bowl, staying healthy will be the most important thing. 

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