Fangio: Ravens' decision to chase rushing record was 'bullshit'
Denver Broncos head coach Vic Fangio wasn't impressed by the Baltimore Ravens' decision to run a live play on the final down of Sunday's game.
Leading 23-7 with only three seconds left, the Ravens had quarterback Lamar Jackson run the ball to keep the team's 100-yard rushing streak alive instead of taking a knee.
"I thought it was kind of bullshit, but I expected it from them," Fangio said Monday. "Thirty-seven years in pro ball, I've never seen anything like that. But it was to be expected ... I just know how (the Ravens) operate. That's just their mode of operation there: Player safety is secondary."
Jackson gained 5 yards on the final play of regulation, giving Baltimore 102 rushing yards on the day and tying the Pittsburgh Steelers with an NFL-record 43 consecutive games with at least 100 yards on the ground.
The play left Broncos players "livid" on their walk to the locker room after the game, according to Mike Klis of 9News, and Fangio was visibly furious:
WATCH: The Broncos sideline was enraged as the Ravens decided to run the ball on the final play of the game rather than take a knee. #9sports #BroncosCountry pic.twitter.com/QshWgAbkpX
- 9NEWS Sports Denver (@9NEWSSports) October 4, 2021
But Ravens head coach John Harbaugh took full responsibility for the play postgame and stood by his decision.
"One hundred percent my call," Harbaugh said Sunday, according to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. "That's one of those things that's meaningful. It's one of those things that, as a head coach, you've got to be mindful of your team and your players and your coaches and what it means to them.
"It's a very, very tough record to accomplish, and it's a long-term record. I'm not going to say it's more important than winning the game, for sure. It's certainly not. But as a head coach, I think you do that for your players, and you do that for your coaches, and that's something they'll have for the rest of their lives."
Jackson, meanwhile, said the record didn't mean anything to him.
"I'm happy we got the (win)," the 24-year-old said. "I'm not going to lie. I didn't even care about the record."
The Ravens dominated the Broncos on both sides of the ball for most of the game, handing Denver its first loss this season. Both teams are now 3-1 four weeks into the 2021 campaign.
Baltimore has a chance to break the 100-yard rushing record against the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football in Week 5.
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