The Baltimore Ravens are known for their ball-hawking defense.



They started the season by forcing seven turnovers against the Steelers, but since that first game, the Ravens have given up six more turnovers than they have caused.

The Ravens are in the middle of the pack in the NFL when it comes to the turnover margin, and one common thread in all three of their losses has been the lopsided turnover differential.

“It’s a recurring thing around the league, you watch the turnover battle,” Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis said after the Seattle game.

Defense has been a bright spot for Baltimore all season, as it is ranked third in the NFL in yards and points allowed per game.

But one change over the course of the year has been the number of turnovers the group is causing.

In the first four games of the season, the Ravens defense forced 14 turnovers. In the five games since that point, Baltimore has forced only four and given up 10.

Here is a look at the turnover numbers through the team’s first nine games:

Opponent Result Takeways Giveaways Net (Game) Net (Season) Pittsburgh W 7 0 +7 +7 Tennessee L 1 3 -2 +5 St. Louis W 2 1 +1 +6 NY Jets W 4 3 +1 +7 Houston W 0 2 -2 +5 Jacksonville L 1 2 -1 +4 Arizona W 1 2 -1 +3 Pittsburgh W 2 1 +1 +4 Seattle L 0 3 -3 +1

The Seattle game was just the second time this year that the Ravens defense did not force a turnover. And Baltimore gave the ball away three times.

The Ravens committed three turnovers against Tennessee, two against Jacksonville and three against Seattle, resulting in a -6 turnover differential in the three losses.

“The only thing I can pinpoint is turnovers,” Ravens tight end Ed Dickson said when asked about similarities between the team’s losses. “You’re not going to win the game turning over the ball.”

The team’s three turnovers against Seattle – two fumbles on kickoff returns by David Reed and a third-quarter interception by Joe Flacco – proved costly in the 22-17 loss to the Seahawks. All three turnovers gave the Seahawks the ball inside the Ravens 20-yard line, giving them great field position that they used to convert short field goals.

“Obviously, we have to protect the football,” Harbaugh said. “That’s why you lose football games.”