The Baltimore Ravens won't be gently tapping the panic button after their 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, which dropped them to 1-3; they're hammering it.
With the Ravens' year now in serious danger of falling away just a month into the season, head coach John Harbaugh will need to rally the troops and try to figure out a way to halt this slide.
If not, the Ravens won't win the division, and there is a case to be made that they won't even make the playoffs. And that would be unthinkable.
For CBS Sports' John Breech, he gave the Ravens an "F" grade for their failings at Arrowhead.
"It's official: The Ravens defense can't stop anyone," Breech wrote. "Going up against a struggling Chiefs offense, the Ravens didn't force a single punt until the fourth quarter. Lamar Jackson usually plays well enough to keep Baltimore in the game when the defense is struggling, but that simply wasn't the case here. Jackson turned the ball over twice, before leaving with a hamstring injury in the second half.
"After just four games, it seems like Baltimore's season is already hanging on by just a thread."
More: Ravens' Lamar Jackson holds no 'fear' for Chiefs claims analyst
Could Ravens miss the playoffs?
Right now, at 1-3 and Lamar Jackson injured, that is a very real question and one that has a very real answer - yes.
Now, am I saying it will happen? No, but you can't completely discount it, considering the Ravens are third in the division, behind the Pittsburgh Steelers and Aaron Rodgers, who currently lead with a 3-1 record.
Things need to turn around in a hurry, and with the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams to come before their bye week, the scenario is simple: Baltimore has to win those two games to get to 3-3.
That gives it a fighting chance, but lose and the sky will suddenly feel like it's falling in, if it isn't already.
It's officially gut-check time in Baltimore...a month into the season.
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