Ravens snap-count analysis: Veteran defenders carry heavy load in season-closing loss

Ravens offensive snap counts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 1/9/22

Alejandro Villanueva T 71

Ben Cleveland G 71

Bradley Bozeman C 71

Kevin Zeitler G 71

Tyler Huntley QB 71

Mark Andrews TE 66

Rashod Bateman WR 62

Patrick Mekari T 60

Marquise Brown WR 58

Latavius Murray RB 39

Eric Tomlinson TE 37

Devonta Freeman RB 27

Sammy Watkins WR 21

Josh Oliver TE 19

Devin Duvernay WR 18

David Sharpe T 11

Tylan Wallace WR 5

Ty’Son Williams RB 2

Trystan Colon C 1

Observations: With Freeman battling a rib injury, Murray returned to being the team’s lead running back for the first time since Week 6. Bateman played the most snaps of any wide receiver for the second straight week, while Duvernay played his lowest snap count of the season (aside from week 16, when he was inactive). Watkins received his largest workload since Week 14 but still played a significantly smaller role than he had early in the season. With Nick Boyle (reserve/COVID 19) and Patrick Ricard (knee) out, Tomlinson played 52% of offensive snaps, his highest of the season. Andrews also played a season-high 93%.

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Baltimore Ravens defensive back/linebacker Anthony Levine Sr. (41) walks off while Pittsburgh Steelers teammates congratulate kicker Chris Boswell (9) who celebrates his game-winning field goal near Ravens outside linebacker Jaylon Ferguson (45) and defensive back Kevon Seymour (38) during overtime of Pittsburgh's 16-13 victory of the final NFL football regular season game in Baltimore on Sunday., Jan. 9, 2022. (Karl Merton Ferron/The Baltimore Sun)

Ravens defensive snap counts vs. Pittsburgh Steelers 1/9/22

Chuck Clark SS 76

Jimmy Smith CB 76

Brandon Stephens FS 65

Patrick Queen LB 58

Calais Campbell DE 57

Kevon Seymour CB 53

Justin Houston LB 50

Tyus Bowser LB 46

Josh Bynes LB 45

Pernell McPhee LB 41

Geno Stone SS 38

Brandon Williams NT 35

Jaylon Ferguson LB 33

Justin Madubuike DT 32

Tavon Young CB 31

Chris Westry CB 26

Justin Ellis DT 20

Tony Jefferson SS 18

Chris Board LB 18

Broderick Washington DT 16

Kristian Welch LB 2

Observations: Smith again played every defensive snap in what might have been the final game of his 11-year career. Westry played defensive snaps for the first time since week 14, while the Ravens called on Stephens to fill multiple roles. Stone received his second-largest workload of the season. Bowser suffered a potentially serious injury, leaving McPhee to play more snaps than he had all season and Houston to play his most snaps since Week 1. The Ravens stuck to their familiar pattern with Queen and Bynes. It will be interesting to see how they conceive Queen’s role in 2022 and whether they again pair him with an experienced middle linebacker. Campbell played 75% of defensive snaps, his most since Week 13, in what could also be his final NFL game. Madubuike played less than half the team’s defensive snaps. Will we see him step into a greater role in 2022?