Many Questions, Few Answers

In trying to come up with the proper adjective to describe what happened at M&T Bank Stadium in Week 5 of the 2025 season, the word “putrid” came to mind.

While perusing synonyms of putrid, I came across one that really struck me. It was “decaying”.

We all saw the inactive list on Sunday. We all saw roughly 160 million dollars’ worth of cap space in street clothes on the sidelines. Several of those players sidelined have gone through varying degrees injury, inefficacy or both over the last few seasons. We all saw the “effort” (and I use that term loosely) from the Baltimore Ravens vs the Houston Texans.

Are we witnessing the decay of a once fruitful and talented core that had the Ravens firmly entrenched amongst the contenders of the AFC over the last 7 seasons?

Head Coach John Harbaugh followed up his team’s performance with an equally morose press conference and tacitly stood up for embattled Defensive Coordinator, whose unit is on pace to allow an unprecedented 600 points for the season.

Where do the preseason, odds on, Super Bowl favorite Baltimore Ravens go from here?

In the wake of what we’ve all seen on the field the last 2 weeks; listless, gutless, rudderless and soft. It’s fair to question the leadership. Both amongst the players themselves and from the coaching staff.

If you want to get granular, why does Zach Orr continue to have his corners giving up 5 plus yards of cushion to opposing receivers? How is it that the defense continues to drop 7 into coverage and still give up easy pitch and catch type throws on drop back after drop back? How many times do we see the defense looking confused and throwing their hands up? Where is the adjustment in defensive strategy?

I would be remiss if I didn’t reiterate the amount of talent on the sidelines in Week 5 and how that absolutely had an impact on the Week 5 game. However, I would be further remiss if I didn’t point out that there was nothing from Zach Orr’s unit prior to the spate of injuries that was remotely worthy of the proud tradition of Baltimore Ravens defense.

The only thing this year’s defense has been able to hang their collective hat on was stifling 40 year old Joe Flacco and the pedestrian Cleveland Browns offense.

While the utter and abject failure of the Ravens defense through 5 weeks is rightfully grabbing most of the attention, the offense has not been without its own struggles.

The overall statistics, particularly prior to Lamar Jackson’s injury, looked ok enough but there’s certainly been things to be concerned about:

· Scattershot offensive line play, both in pass protection and run blocking.

· Indecisiveness from Lamar Jackson, which has compounded the questionable protection and lead to Number 8 being sacked 15 times in just 3 ½ games.

· Questionable play calling from Todd Monken, particularly in the red zone and goal to go situations. The Ravens are currently 23rd in the NFL in red zone TD conversion rate at 53.33%. Down from their 2024 rate of 73.97%, which was good for number 1 in the league.

· Third down conversion rate is 40.38% thus far (13th overall), which is down from last year’s 50.46% rate, 2nd in the league. (Not coincidentally, the inability to sustain drives, combined with the defense’s inability to get off the field {in 2025 opposing offenses 3rd down conversion rate is at a 44.59% and 4th down conversions are at a staggering 83.33%} has led to the offense being out snapped 352 to 250)

In spite of points scored and rushing yards/attempt looking good in totality, there’s been a Jekyll and Hyde nature to the offense this year, which has seen the unit break down in key situations. Specifically, the 4th quarter performances in Buffalo (3 and out, Derrick Henry fumble, 3 and out) and vs Detroit (Derrick Henry fumble, followed by a 3 and out). Had the offense risen to the challenge in these key spots, the current conversation about the Ravens’ various inadequacies would be coming from a far different perspective and be far less unsettling.

In light of the lackluster play thus far, support for John Harbaugh has fallen to an all time low amongst Ravens fans. Even national media outlets are taking the temperature of Harbaugh’s seat and opining as to whether or not he’s lost the team in his 18th season at the helm.

We know that Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti abhors change but it’s fair to ask if a season that has gone off the rails this quickly and dramatically is enough to get the owner to consider moving on from the only head coach he’s ever hired.

In Week 6, the embattled Ravens are a 7.5 point home underdog against the Los Angeles Rams. With seemingly the entire organization’s back against the wall, how will they respond? Will we see another subpar effort reminiscent of the last 2 weeks? Or, will we this beleaguered group respond with the kind of pride and fight that has come to identify this franchise for the better part of 30 years?

Many questions plague the 1-4 Ravens; are they capable of finding some answers?

Article courtesy of The Womb Room – “The Womb Room supports growing families in person and online with expert doulas, therapists, yoga, groups, and classes for every stage of parenthood.”