You know the drill by now, but if you’re new, here at Glenn Clark Radio, we always try to reflect on the most recent Ravens game in a more convivial manner. In retrospect, we like to choose five players on the team who — depending on the outcome of the game — deserve a ‘Pat On The Ass’ or ‘Slap To The Helmet.’
The rules are simple: pick two players on defense, two players on offense, and one “wild card” (an offensive player, defensive player, special teamer or coach) who stuck out from the pack.
As you all are surely aware, the Ravens found yet another incredible new way to lose a football game after dropping game 1 of the 2025 season to the Bills up in Buffalo in a rematch of the last season’s AFC Divisional Round matchup. As a result, we have some Helmet Slaps to hand out.
They will count down in sequential order before we name the ultimate prize — Two Slaps to the Helmet. That one player who one single Slap just wouldn’t sit right.
Without further adieu:
Glenn Clark’s Week 1 Slaps:
5. RB Derrick Henry
He obviously has to be on the list because we all saw what happened. He also can’t be any higher on the list because we all saw what happened.
4. CB Chidobe Awuzie
Both he and Malachi Starks had interceptions but couldn’t hold on. This team cannot continue to have “almost” big plays. Since Starks is a rookie, he’ll avoid the wrath this time.
3. OL Daniel Faalele
This of course could be Roger Rosengarten too. Neither had good nights and Ed Oliver feasted.
2. CB Jaire Alexander
The penalty, the decision to tackle Keon Coleman, just an awful night all around.
1. HC John Harbaugh
He owns all of it.
Griffin Bass’s Week 1 Slaps:
5. RT Roger Rosengarten
Roger’s mistakes were more quantifiable for me than Faalele, the false start early on and almost every big Ed Oliver play came on a matchup with #70, including the Derrick Henry fumble.
4. EDGE Odafe Oweh
Did he have any pressures? According to PFF, he had two. TWO! To go along with a whopping zero tackles. Allen was able to do whatever he wanted, particularly in the second half. I’m throwing up the bat signal here.
3. CB Jaire Alexander
Leaving him on an island with Keon Coleman seems irresponsible but that’s where he was and he was beat twice on the final drive, so the least he could’ve done was have the where-with-all to let the guy score inside two minutes
2. RB Derrick Henry
Unfathomable. My word of the week. Unfathomable that he fumbled in that spot. Unfathomable that he can be this high on the list after 170 yds and 2 TDs, because you just cannot have that.
1. HC John Harbaugh
There’s so much we don’t know, was Lamar cramping? Who called that horrendous jet sweep on 2nd down before the 4th and 3? What happened to the 2019 Lamar/Harbaugh going for it on 4th down in Seattle for the win, or vs KC in 2021? Do we have to actually credit Harbaugh for listening to Lamar and his cramps? Ultimately, he’s the only right answer regardless.
You can listen as the boys go back and forth about where the blame lies by clicking play below, plus you can check out the standings of the GCR Picks Contest following Week 1 of the NFL season:
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox
