What I am about to say, I do so with a heavy heart.
I take no joy in the discussion we are about to have.
I just feel it is necessary to have a frank, open and honest dialogue about this grave matter.
John Harbaugh is not a good coach when it comes to the postseason.
And he hasn’t been for a long, long time.
This is that conversation you have when a loved one is in decline.
When someone once commanded respect has lost their faculties.
When they can no longer perform the simple functions that they used to master.
That’s Harbaugh in January.
I know how this sounds.
And I know what your first reaction will be.
That is all a part of Harbaugh’s permanent record.
That was also 12 seasons ago.
A lifetime in the harsh reality of NFL head coaches.
Which ignores several key points:
–The NFL controls the scoreboard, not the home team.
–Keeping track of the downs requires the math skills of a preschooler watching a vampire puppet count.
–Note the yellow dot above Baltimore’s score.
That indicates the time out he still had but inexplicably took with him into the offseason.
All these added up equal one indisputable fact: The moment was too big for Harbaugh.
Thanks to coaching schemes he wasn’t ready for and could not adjust two.
Which they promptly proceeded to do, leaving Michael Hoomanawanui undefended for big gains.
Here’s a callback to that 2011 conference championship game.
He then spent the offseason getting the league to outlaw the formation.
That was 10 years ago.
Since that night:
–Harbaugh’s postseason record is 3-7.
–He’s been one & done in the playoffs three more times.
–He’s had the No.
1 seed in the AFC twice, and is 1-2 in those playoffs.
Last night was more of the same.
Yet again, the moment was too much for him.
Despite having a 5.3 yards per attempt average, Derrick Henry had just 16 of Baltimore’s 30 carries.
Because facing Baltimore in the postseason once again is exactly where I believe my team is headed.
Hopefully this season thanks to a Commanders-like turnaround.
But if not, then the season after that.
