DeAndre Hopkins revisits Ravens’ season-ending loss to Steelers

Time may pass, but some losses take time to fade fully, if they ever do. For DeAndre Hopkins, the Baltimore Ravens' season-ending defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers still lingers. It's understandable why it would. The agony isn't simply fueled by the game's result or Tyler Loop's field goal attempt sailing wide of its target. It's triggered by a wide range of emotions, most of which are related to how the loss unfolded.

It wasn't just any defeat. It was the kind of moment that leaves a locker room searching for answers. Emotions certainly ran high. Frustration had to have boiled over, and the reality of the situation didn't feel immediate, but now everyone has had about two months to get their thoughts together.

Here are a few of DeAndre Hopkins's comments as he recently opened up about the game for the first time since its conclusion:

"That was probably the hottest I have seen the locker room. Derrick (Henry) and I were just looking at each other like, 'Did that really just happen?' I didn't think it was real for a second. I thought I was still dreaming like, 'There ain't no way he missed it,' but you know he human. It was hot, though. It shouldn't even have gotten down to depending on him to make a 40-yarder. We failed as an offense. We should have ran the ball with Derrick like as offensive players. I ain't going to say it was the offense, but as players, we felt like we should have just kept handing off the ball to Derrick and let him try to go score."

Breaking down DeAndre Hopkins' thoughts about the final loss of the Ravens' season.

Hopkins laments that the offense believed the game plan should have revolved around a more skillful approach and giving Henry the ball to salt the game away. But, hold on for a second. A late touchdown drive by Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers had given Pittsburgh a lead with minimal time remaining. Baltimore had to air the ball out to get into field-goal range to give Loop an opportunity.

No one wants to make assumptions here, but it seems there was some angst directed towards Tyler Loop; as Hopkins stated, the game should never have come down to the rookie in the first place.

That's the professional way to look at this, seemingly. For a team that had clawed its way back into contention after a difficult start, the ending felt abrupt and unfinished. The Steelers lost the following week during the Wild Card Round, but that's only minor satisfaction for a Ravens team that had goals of qualifying for the postseason.

Hopkins' perspective offers a glimpse into that raw aftermath. Rather than placing blame on one moment or one player (possibly), his reflection points to something deeper. He understands that opportunities were missed long before the final whistle.

It's a mindset shared by veterans who understand how thin the margin for error is in the NFL. Games rarely come down to a single play, even if that's what the final score suggests. For Baltimore, that loss became more than just a disappointing finish. It served as a turning point. A season that began with promise and resilience ultimately exposed cracks that couldn't be ignored. Changes followed, including a shift in leadership, as the organization looked to reset and refocus.

Here's a silver lining. Teams often grow the most from their lowest moments, using them as fuel rather than allowing them to linger as regret. With Lamar Jackson still leading the way and expectations once again rising, the Ravens now find themselves at a crossroads between what was and what can be with a new beginning.

This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: DeAndre Hopkins revisits Ravens’ season-ending loss to Steelers