Comedy of errors for Ravens

SEATTLE — In the Baltimore Ravens’ stunning 22-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field Sunday, the special teams put forth a comedy of errors that left no one on the Ravens in much of a mood to laugh.

The Ravens’ third loss of the season — each following significant wins — was punctuated by lapses on special teams. From kick returner David Reed’s costly fumbles to kicker Billy Cundiff’s continued difficulties from beyond 50 yards to punter Sam Koch’s unexpected short punt, the unit contributed heavily to Sunday’s setback.

That was perhaps the most disappointing and frustrating part about the special teams’ showing, according to several players.

“We think we can make the difference in the game, especially if things get tight,” Cundiff said. “For that to happen to us today — the turnovers, some penalties, things of that nature — that’s just not the way we do things. We win as a unit and we win as a team and we lose as a team and we lose as a unit.”

Perhaps the most prominent scapegoat was Reed, who lost two fumbles on kick returns in the first half.

Reed lost the ball on his first return in the first quarter when he ran into the back of fullback Vonta Leach, who tried to lay down a block for Reed. The Seahawks’ Ben Obomanu recovered the loose ball at the Ravens’ 19-yard line, and Seattle converted the turnover into a Steve Hauschka 22-yard field goal.

Late in the second quarter, Reed was stripped by linebacker Malcolm Smith during a return, and the Seahawks turned that into a Hauschka 35-yarder to put the Ravens in a 19-7 hole at halftime.

“I feel like I let down the team big-time,” said a morose Reed, who has fumbled three times in the last two games and was benched for the remainder of the game in favor of Chris Carr and rookie Torrey Smith. “My teammates have got my back and have been trying to get me through this hump. It was bad, but I got to get through it. It’s part of the game.”

Coach John Harbaugh emphasized ball security in his post-game comments, but also felt strongly that Reed’s fumbles could be fixed.

“Fumbles, I think, are easily correctable,” Harbaugh said. “I think we can block better, too. We can hit the holes a little better. We missed some holes in there. We didn’t run to the right spot all the time. Those things are correctable.”

Reed also had a hand in Hauschka’s third field goal of the contest when he was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct after a return. So instead of the offense beginning at the 20, the unit had to start at the 10.

A three-and-out later, Koch uncharacteristically shanked a 28-yard punt to put the Seahawks at the Ravens’ 42, which led to Hauschka’s third field goal.

“It felt pretty good coming off my foot, and since I knew there was a left-to-right wind, I was trying to fight the wind,” Koch said. “But once it went up, it got really high in the air, and it just pushed it down.”

Wind also was blamed as the culprit on Cundiff’s misses from 50 yards in the first quarter and then from 52 yards in the waning seconds of the second.

For the season, Cundiff is just 1-of-6 from 50 yards or beyond. He is 20-of-21 from 49 yards or fewer.

“I know I have to start making kicks from 50-plus,” Cundiff said. “That’s my job. I’ve kicked the ball well in practice. When I get into a game, it has been frustrating, especially when you think about how I have found numerous ways to miss a 50-yard field goal — all of which have not really been the same.”

Still, several players on special teams said they think they can turn things around. Cundiff said that process will begin during this week of practice leading up to Sunday’s home game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“When we look back at the film, there’s a lot of things that we can do differently, a lot of ways we can improve,” he said. “But I have a feeling that with the things we’re going through now, we’re being tested for a reason. I think if we’re going to be where we want to be at the end of the season, I think these are lessons that will serve us well if we learn from them.”