Let’s not waste any more time. My last post was Ravens-specific, but this time I wanted to share my Top 50 Big Board and a full first round mock complete with trades. Let’s get after it!

My 2026 NFL Draft Top 50 Big Board

1. Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame
2. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State
3. Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
4. Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana
5. Sonny Styles, LB, LSU
6. Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami
7. Rueben Bain Jr, DE, Miami
8. David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech
9. Arvell Reese, LB, Ohio State
10. Peter Woods, DL, Clemson
11. Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State
12. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah
13. Jacob Rodriguez, LB, Texas Tech
14. KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M
15. Keonte Scott, DB, Miami
16. CJ Allen, LB, Georgia
17. Vega Ioane, G, Penn State
18. Jermod McCoy, DB, Tennessee
19. Kenyod Sadiq, TE, Oregon
20. Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
21. Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
22. Makai Lemon, WR, USC
23. Dilllon Thieneman, S, Oregon
24. Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
25. Keith Abney II, DB, Arizona State
26. Kedrick Faulk, EDGE, Auburn
27. Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State
28. Denzel Boston, WR, Washington
29. Avieon Terrell, DB, Clemson
30. Akheem Mesidor, DE, Miami
31. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
32. Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
33. Cashius Howell, DE, Texas A&M
34. Emmanuel Pregnon, G, Oregon
35. Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
36. D’Angelo Ponds, CB, Indiana
37. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee
38. Derrick Moore, DE, Michigan
39. Gennings Dunker, G, Iowa
40. Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
41. Caleb Banks, DT, Florida
42. Julian Neal, CB, Arkansas
43. Kamari Ramsey, S, USC
44. Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee
45. Zachariah Branch, WR, Georgia
46. Keylan Rutledge, G, Georgia Tech
47. Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame
48. Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
49. R. Mason Thomas, DE, FSU
50. Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

As you can see, this list is wide receiver, offensive line, and edge defender-heavy. Not great if you need a quarterback, but we knew that. I’ll also say the offensive line and safety positions are probably the deepest in my opinion, which is good news for teams like Baltimore, New York (Jets and Giants), Cleveland, San Francisco, and Miami.

Speaking of other teams, here is my final 2026 NFL Mock Draft:

1. (Raiders) Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2. TRADE (Browns from Jets) Jeremiah Love, RB, Notre Dame

· Cleveland sends Nos. 6, 24, and 39 overall to New York for Nos. 2 and 44 overall

3. (Cardinals) Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama

4. (Titans) Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

5. (Giants) Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

6. (Jets, from Browns) Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State

7. (Commanders) Arvell Reese, EDGE, Ohio State

8. (Saints) David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech

9. (Chiefs) Rueben Bain, Jr., IDL, Miami (FL)

10. (Bengals) Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

11. (Dolphins) Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

12. (Cowboys) Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami (FL)

13. (Rams) Makai Lemon, WR, Southern Cal

14. (Ravens) Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

15. (Buccaneers) Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State

16. (Jets) Peter Woods, IDL, Clemson

17. (Lions) Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

18. (Vikings) Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

19. (Panthers) KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

20. (Cowboys) Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Texas Tech

21. TRADE (Bears from Steelers) Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

· Chicago sends Nos. 25, 89, and 129 overall to Pittsburgh for Nos. 21 and 99 overall

22. (Chargers) Blake Miller, OT, Clemson

23. (Eagles) Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

24. (Jets from Browns via Jaguars) Keldric Faulk, EDGE, Auburn

25. (Steelers from Bears) Omar Cooper, Jr., WR, Indiana

26. (Bills) Chris Brazzell II, WR, Tennessee

27. (49ers) Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon

28. (Texans) Keylan Rutledge, OG, Georgia Tech

29. TRADE (Dolphins from Chiefs) Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

· Miami sends Nos. 29 and 148 overall to Kansas City for Nos. 30 and 130 overall

30. (Chiefs from Dolphins) Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

31. (Patriots) Max Iheanachor, OT, Arizona State

32. (Seahawks) Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

What are your thoughts? Let us know!

Can’t wait.

The post 2026 NFL Draft Top 50 Big Board and Final First Round Mock appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

Before getting into where the Ravens might be looking on draft day, which positions are deepest, and guessing who they will ultimately select, here are a few indicators from drafts past.

Baltimore’s last five 1st-round picks were safety Malaki Starks, cornerback Nate Wiggins, wide receiver Zay Flowers, safety Kyle Hamilton, and wide receiver Rashod Bateman.

Baltimore’s last five second picks (not necessarily 2nd rounders) have been edge defender Mike Green, offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten, linebacker Trenton Simpson, center Tyler Linderbaum, and edge defender Odafe Oweh.

In the last five drafts, Baltimore’s first pick was a defensive back or wide receiver, and 80 percent of their second picks have been an edge defender or offensive lineman.

It’s no surprise to see that, because when you look at the way the NFL is going in terms of game flow, it’s becoming more and more about passing and, of course, defending the pass.

Like I said it’s no surprise, but just because a pattern is out there doesn’t mean teams have discipline to stay consistent like the Ravens do. It’s also worth noting that just because a player is drafted early does not in any way mean he will be a productive player in the NFL.

In other words, knowing what to do and having the plan and ability to execute on what to do are two different things.

I can’t help but think of the Ravens making multiple picks at offensive line and one at every defensive position. Baltimore’s average sacks allowed over the past five seasons comes in at 41. For reference, league leaders generally allow sacks in the low-20s, and the worst teams allow sacks in the low 50s. There’s so much to that number, but it still screams draft offensive linemen, early and often!

In that same time span, the Ravens have allowed an average of 349 points per season. They also had three different defensive coordinators (Martindale 2021, Macdonald 2022-23, Orr 2024-25). In fact, Baltimore has never made the playoffs when they’ve allowed more than 361 points in a season. Last year (398 points allowed) was no exception.

Who can step in, then, and help the Ravens right away? I think Trey Hendrickson is going to be the Ravens’ version of Pete Alonso. Somehow, this all-star specialist came available—at a position of need, no less—and Baltimore got him. Still, the Ravens should draft another edge rusher given recent injury and turnover at the position.

Looking ahead to where the Ravens might go in this year’s draft, I wanted to present to you all my Top 5 list at the Top 5 most important positions for the Ravens. As we know, Baltimore rarely drafts based on need, but when Lamar Jackson is in his prime and the offensive line is in desperate need of rejuvenation, they might just be forced to bypass their customary wide receiver selection in favor of a stud offensive lineman.

Here are top prospects at each of the most critical positions:

Offensive Guard

• Vega Ioane, Penn State, 6’4”, 320 lbs., 32 3/4″ arm, 10 1/2” hand
• Emmanuel Pregnon, Oregon,  6’4”, 314 lbs., 33 5/8” arm, 11” hand, 1.82 second 10-yard split
• Gennings Dunker, Iowa, 6’5”, 319 lbs., 33 1/2″ arm, 10” hand, 1.83 second 10-yard split
• Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M, 6’5”, 315 lbs., 31 3/4″ arm, 9 3/4” hand, 1.76 second 10-yard split
• Keylan Rutledge, Georgia Tech, 6’4”, 316 lbs., 33 1/4″ arm, 10” hand, 1.81 second 10-yard split

Wide Receiver

• Makai Lemon, Southern Cal, 5’11”, 192 lbs., 30 1/2” arm, 8 3/4″ hand, 4.46 second 40-yard dash
• Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State, 6’2”, 203 lbs., 30 1/4″ arm, 9 1/8” hand
• Chris Brazzell II, Tennessee, 6’4”, 198 lbs., 32 3/8” arm, 9” hand, 4.37 second 40-yard dash
• KC Concepcion, Texas A&M, 6’0”, 196 lbs., 30 1/4″ arm, 9 1/4″ hand
• Omar Cooper, Indiana, 6’0”, 199 lbs., 30 1/4″ arm, 9 5/8” hand, 4.42 second 40-yard dash

Cornerback

• Mansoor Delane, LSU, 6’0”, 187 lbs., 30” arm, 8 7/8” hand, 4.35 second 40-yard dash
• Jermod McCoy, Tennessee, 6’1”, 188 lbs., 31 1/4″ arm, 9” hand, 4.37 second 40-yard dash
• Keith Abney II, Arizona State, 5’10”, 187 lbs., 30” arm, 9 3/4″ hand, 4.46 second 40-yard dash
• Keionte Scott, Miami (FL), 5’11”, 193 lbs., 31 3/8” arm, 9 5/8” hand, 4.33 second 40-yard dash
• Avieon Terrell*, Clemson, 5’11”, 186 lbs., 31” arm, 8 5/8” hand

*He was my No. 2 corner before his recent hamstring injury

Linebacker

• Sonny Styles, Ohio State, 6’5”, 244 lbs., 32 7/8” arm, 10” hand, 4.46 second 40-yard dash
• Jacob Rodriguez, Texas Tech, 6’1”, 231 lbs., 30 7/8” arm, 9 1/4″ hand, 4.57 second 40-yard dash
• Anthony Hill Jr, Texas, 6’2”, 238 lbs., 32 3/8” arm, 9 5/8” hand, 4.51 second 40-yard dash
• Josiah Trotter, Missouri, 6’2”, 237 lbs., 32 1/4″ arm, 10 1/4″ hand
• Deontae Lawson, Alabama, 6’3”, 226 lbs., 31 7/8” arm, 9 1/4″ hand

Defensive Line

• Rueben Bain, Miami (FL), 6’2”, 263 lbs., 30 7/8” arm, 9 1/8” hand
• Kayden McDonald, Ohio State, 6’2”, 326 lbs., 32 1/4″ arm, 9 3/4″ hand
• Peter Woods, Clemson, 6’2 1/2″, 298 lbs., 31 1/4″ arm, 9 1/8” hand
• LT Overton, Alabama, 6’3”, 274 lbs., 33 1/4″ arm, 10 5/8” hand
• Caleb Banks, Florida, 6’6”, 327 lbs., 35” arm, 10 7/8” hand

The good news is that the Ravens, though coming off of a losing season, are in good overall shape personnel-wise. That said, they need to “hit” on their first three picks if they want to maximize the totality of talent on their roster. Meaning, they don’t need a lot of depth, but they do have a few pressing needs at the top of their depth chart.

Given all of that, and without factoring any more free agent moves, here’s my best guess of what the Ravens should do come April 23-25, courtesy of Stick to the Model:

Round 1, Pick 18 (projected trade with Minnesota—14 overall for 18 and 49 overall) Jermod McCoy, Cornerback, Tennessee

Round 2, Pick 45 Gennings Dunker, Guard, Iowa

Round 2, Pick 49 (via Minnesota) Elijah Sarratt, Wide Receiver, Indiana

Round 3, Pick 80 Logan Jones, Center, Iowa

Round 4, Pick 115 Oscar Delp, Tight End, Georgia

Round 5, Pick 154 Bryce Boettcher, Inside Linebacker, Oregon

Round 5, Pick 162 Skyler Gill-Howard, Defensive Tackle, Texas Tech

Round 5, Pick 173 Louis Moore, Safety, Indiana

Round 5, Pick 174 Keagen Trost, Tackle, Missouri

Round 6, Pick 186 (projected trade with New York Giants—250, 253 overall, and a 2027 6th-round pick for 186 overall) Trey Moore, Outside Linebacker, Texas

Round 7, Pick 211 Luke Altmyer, Quarterback, Illinois

Bottom line: if Lamar Jackson stays healthy, Derrick Henry gets the ball inside the 10-yard line, Kyle Hamilton does his thing, and Mike Green takes the next step, Baltimore should be in great shape.

The post Ravens 2026 Draft Strategy & 7-Round Mock Draft appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened.

Inexplicably, after a swift, dominant opening drive of the game last night, Baltimore let its foot off the gas and allowed the Steelers back into the game. Aaron Rodgers was uncharacteristically inaccurate and flustered, yet the Ravens couldn’t adjust to simple pass concepts. Running backs into the flat and tight ends down the seam was about the extent of Arthur Smith’s wheelhouse last night. But hey, it worked just enough.

Think about this: Baltimore’s defense allowed 23 points in the 2nd half to an offense that only scored six points in an entire game last week against the Browns. Maybe that had something to do with key Ravens defenders missing routine tackles and getting walled off at the point of attack.

There are too many guys that make tens of millions of dollars per year that made rookie mistakes, while the actual rookies played like $20 million veterans. Bottom line: it’s embarrassing to lose that game to that team when so much was going your way, despite the stakes being as high as possible. How often do teams lose a lead on the road and then revert the entire flow of the game? Rarely, but the Ravens did that. They were right there. But it wasn’t enough.

When Baltimore did have the ball, Pittsburgh eventually forced the Ravens out of their run game and away from Derrick Henry. Actually, never mind, the Ravens did that themselves.

Henry by the half:

• 1st half: 15 for 112 yards, 7.5 ypc
• 2nd half: 5 for 14 yards, 2.8 ypc

Do you think that maybe a Hall of Fame running back is worth investing carries in? Do you think that maybe, though it may take a few carries to get him going, he’s your best offensive option? It’s almost as if Henry didn’t out-gain all other Ravens on the ground by 11.5x (126-11). In his last four games, Henry rushed for an average of 143 yards per game and scored six rushing touchdowns.

In what world, with your season on the line, do you watch that game unfold and say to yourself, “You know what we need? Less of Derrick Henry.”?

Truly, truly unbelievable.

Thank goodness for Jordan Stout and the coverage and return units, otherwise this game might have been a blowout. Give credit to Pittsburgh. They played poorly too, but they made less mistakes than Baltimore.

The Ravens had every chance to set themselves up for a lengthy playoff run this year, but overwhelmingly, they weren’t able to get the job done.

So, the question now is how does the team move forward?

Firing John Harbaugh is not the answer. So many people—self-proclaimed fans of the Ravens, mind you—want “their” team to fail because they equate the team losing to an increased chance of Harbaugh being fired. Okay, fine. You don’t like him? Fine, you don’t have to. But don’t call yourself a fan of the Ravens while at the same time rooting for their demise because Harbaugh made some decisions you didn’t agree with.

By the way, firing a head coach and cutting a player are not one in the same. Those moves are massively different. Cutting a player is essentially a like for like switch, where you let one go in favor of a backup currently on your team or in favor of a veteran you’re about to sign or trade for. Firing a head coach is code for resetting the franchise. You’re not just firing him, you’re firing an entire staff, and you’re risking all the progress you’ve made with your core players.

Many people are salivating at this prospect without the slightest clue of who could tangibly replace him. It’s beyond dumb to complain about a problem and not offer a solution. Don’t forget, either, Harbaugh was there for Lamar when many others weren’t. He’s been in Lamar’s corner since Day 1, so if you get rid of Harbaugh, you risk losing Lamar.

All that said, I do think changes need to be made. For one, the team needs to heavily emphasize the lines of scrimmage in the offseason, as opposed to their traditional best player available approach. The Ravens were below average in sacks allowed (45, 20th) and sacks recorded (30, T-28th). The identity of Ravens football does not compute with numbers like that.

If I’m Eric DeCosta, I’m looking to draft one offensive lineman at each position (tackle, guard, center), and even explore the free agency market. Baltimore’s run blocking was excellent, but when…Henry “slows down” (i.e., doesn’t get the ball) and Baltimore migrates to a passing offense, their offensive line productivity plummeted.

Names to watch in the upcoming draft are: ·

• Ola Ioane, Guard, Penn State ·
• Emmanuel Pregnon, Guard, Oregon ·
• Chase Bisontis, Guard, Texas A&M ·
• Carter Smith, Tackle, Indiana ·
• Caleb Tiernan, Tackle, Northwestern ·
• Gennings Dunker, Tackle, Iowa ·
• Logan Jones, Center, Iowa *2025 Rimington Award winner (nation’s best center) ·
• Peter Woods, DT, Clemson ·
• Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State ·
• Caleb Banks, DT, Florida ·
• Domonique Orange, DT, Iowa State ·
• Zane Durant, DT, Penn State ·
• David Bailey, EDGE, Texas Tech ·
• Kenyatta Jackson Jr., EDGE, Ohio State ·
• Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee ·
• Anthony Lucas , EDGE, Southern Cal

On the free agency front, Baltimore’s best approach would be to retain their own. According to Over the Cap, Ravens starting linemen/edge defenders that are set to become unrestricted free agents in March are: Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Dre’Mont Jones, Kyle VanNoy, and Brent Urban. That’s 60 percent of your starters at those positions. Between the deep draft class and the lengthy free agent to be list, as well as the most basic fundamental part of football, refreshing the front lines on both sides of the ball should be priority one.

After that, the usual suspects come to mind: wide receiver and cornerback. And now, suddenly, inside linebacker is a worry. Teddye Buchanan was probably the best of the group this year, and Trenton Simpson really came on strong over the last month of the season. Roquan Smith had a pretty good season, until last night when he left plays on the field, and Jake Hummel is primarily a special teams contributor. One player to keep your eye on is Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, winner of the following major accolades:

• Lombardi Award (nation’s top player)
• Nagurski Award (defensive player of the year)
• Bednarik Award (defensive player of the year)
• Butkus Award (outstanding linebacker)
• 5th in Heisman voting · The highest-graded player in college football (Pro Football Focus)

All this without changing a single coach (which Eric DeCosta, Sashi Brown, and Steve Bisciotti will surely discuss doing).

This isn’t a stump speech for John Harbaugh. It’s an imploration for the Ravens organization to get back to basics, learn from last night, and remember how fruitful investing in the lines of scrimmage can be. Five of Baltimore’s nine losses were by one score. If they even turn two of those five losses into a win, they’re AFC North champions for the 3rd consecutive year and preparing for a home playoff game.

From 2023-24, the Ravens had a combined record of 25-9 and an average point differential of +10.6 points per game. This year, their record was 8-9 and they finished with an average point differential of +1.5 points per game.

What was the great, big change? Nothing really, except for Nnamdi Madubuike’s devastating injury. While he’s a tremendous talent, losing his production isn’t an excuse for such a precipitous drop in performance. In fact, everyone on the team should’ve been better, given one more year together and the collective resolve to avenge last season’s gutting playoff loss in Buffalo.

Instead, the 2025 Ravens were, in a word, mindboggling.

Make no mistake: what happened this year cannot happen again. The 2025 season is over and done with. It’s time to move on to draft season.

Remember, you win and lose football games up front. Period.

The post Back to Basics for Baltimore appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

For most of this season, the prevailing thought (from yours truly) was that despite hiccups, the Ravens had the ability to right the wrong before the wrong spiraled out of control. Their playoff hopes, until now, have been up to them.

After starting the season a shocking 1-5, Baltimore’s bye week came at the perfect time. The Ravens have won six of their last eight games, and almost as importantly, their defense has gone from allowing 32.3 points per game before the bye to allowing 15.8 points per game since.

Baltimore beat the Bears in Week 8 (the best team in the toughest division), followed by a 3-game sweep of consecutive road games. But as this season has shown us, the Ravens have left plenty of opportunities on the field.

This year, Baltimore has tied it’s worst-ever mark of five home losses. M&T Bank Stadium used to be a fortress of sorts. Even when the Ravens would struggle at times to remain above .500, they always seemed to get things right at home. Not this year.

Interesting timing, because this week the Ravens host the AFC’s current No. 2 seed, the New England Patriots. I’ve often said this year (mostly in frustration) that the Ravens play to their competition. Here’s to hoping that’s the case this Sunday night.

At 7-7 overall and 3-2 in the AFC North, Baltimore is not in great shape, but they’re absolutely in consideration to win the division. Even if the Steelers win tonight without T.J. Watt, the Ravens will be one game behind Pittsburgh with three to play, including a head-to-head matchup in the regular season finale at Pittsburgh.

In a way, we shouldn’t be surprised. This is who the Ravens are. For the most part, when push comes to shove, they get the job done down the stretch.

Speaking of which, here is a game-by-game snapshot of what the remainder of their regular season looks like and what to expect from each matchup.

Week 16

Patriots at Ravens

Sunday night, 12/21/25

Key matchup: Baltimore’s 3rd-ranked rush offense against New England’s 5th-ranked rush defense

Analysis: This is a copycat league. James Cook just rank 22 times for 107 yards and two touchdowns against this Patriots run defense. He’s an excellent back, but he’s not Derrick Henry. If I’m Todd Monken, I’m calling 40-plus run plays this week. Henry, Keaton Mitchell, Jackson, Zay Flowers, Pat Ricard…whatever and whoever it takes, run the rock. Establish dominance and force a young Drake Maye to beat a suddenly surging Ravens defense.

Prediction: Ravens 23, Patriots 21

Week 17

Ravens at Packers

Saturday night, 12/27/25

Key matchup: Baltimore’s offensive tackles against Green Bay’s edge rushers

Analysis: This is probably the trickiest game to prepare for. It’s an unknown opponent who, while very good, just lost their best player. Green Bay’s 2-Time All-Pro Micah Parsons’ season likely ended in Week 15 due to a suspected ACL tear. Baltimore’s rookie standout linebacker Teddye Buchanan suffered the same fate last week as well. Terrible injuries, but an opportunity for both teams to capitalize.

With Parsons, the Packers were 15th in the league in sacks through Week 15. The Ravens rank 25th in sacks allowed. Obviously, much of those breakdowns can be mitigated by a consistent dose of Derrick Henry and company.

This game will be Lamar Jackson’s first ever against the Packers, and obviously, his first ever at Lambeau Field. Massive playoff stakes for both teams at Lambeau under the lights in primetime sounds like just the stage Jackson and the Ravens thrive on. Let’s hope that comes to fruition.

As good as Jackson, Henry, and company are and can/have to be, this game will likely come down to Baltimore’s defensive (man) coverage. When the Ravens started in zone defense against the Bengals yesterday, they struggled. But when they played more man coverage, they seemed to settle in and buckle down. That’s notable, because while team records are quite different, the offensive personnel of Cincinnati and Green Bay are quite similar.

Prediction: Ravens 30, Packers 21

Week 18

Ravens at Steelers

Date & time TBD

Key matchup: Lamar vs. down and distance

Analysis: When these two teams played just two weeks ago, the Ravens seemed to be the better team. Baltimore had markedly more time of possession, total yards, was 3-for-4 on 4th downs, and out-scored Pittsburgh in the second half. However, Baltimore also turned the ball over once (Pittsburgh did not). Especially in this rivalry, that can be all it takes to lose.

While Lamar Jackson wasn’t totally to blame for that loss, his inexcusable interception in his own territory led to a touchdown for the Steelers midway through the second quarter. That swing of momentum is awfully hard to overcome, no matter how talented a team is.

While he was sacked “just” twice in that game, Jackson and the Ravens did well in terms of staying on schedule. Just three times did the Ravens face a situation where they needed more than 10 yards to gain for a first down (compared to five times for Pittsburgh). That may seem like an inconsequential distinction, but if just one of those plays results in a turnover or punt, that can be the difference—in the case of Week 18’s stakes—in winning a division or your season ending.

Jackson didn’t win the MVP last year when many thought he should’ve. He won’t win it this year, either. However, a stellar performance in Pittsburgh in the regular season finale is just the kind of performance that would smooth over every bump in the road Baltimore has endured thus far.

Prediction: Ravens 24, Steelers 21

Overall

The bottom line is that Baltimore’s best shot at a playoff berth this season is to win out and take the AFC North. The secondary and less likely option is for the Ravens to win one of their next two games and for the Steelers to lose two of their next three games with Baltimore beating Pittsburgh in Week 18.

All the tiebreakers favor Pittsburgh at the moment, which is why it is so critically important for the Ravens to look forward. Yes, their collective performance thus far has exhausted almost all their lifelines, but there actually is still a lot of football to play.

Hope the Lions beat the Steelers this Sunday afternoon, beat the Patriots and Packers, and then it’s winner-take-all in Week 18 in Pittsburgh.

As it should be.

The post Baltimore’s Best Shot at a Playoff Berth appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

So much strife has occurred within the Ravens fanbase, even in just 10 games. The defense, which was thought to be elite, gave up 32.3 points per game before the bye week. Lamar Jackson got hurt. The offensive line—which had been a strength—was uncharacteristically unstable. Baltimore’s men up front rank 24th in sacks allowed, yet have helped its running game rank 2nd in the league in yards per carry.

It’s almost as if the Ravens don’t know who they are, but they’re starting to figure it out.

Early losses to Super Bowl contenders are one thing, but losing three straight home games for the first time in 18 years is something much different.

Before this season, the Ravens had never lost three consecutive homes games under John Harbaugh. That said, the Ravens are one game behind the Steelers in the AFC North, with both games against Pittsburgh yet to play. Just about everything they wanted at the beginning of the season is still there for the taking.

The combined win percentage of the opponents Baltimore has played so far is 49.5 percent (51-52). The combined win percentage of Baltimore’s opponents going forward is 50.0 percent (35-35-1). In other words, the Ravens will face virtually the same difficulty going forward as they have thus far.

Although they figure to face the same kind of teams, they’re actually in a better position now, as they’ve worked out a lot of kinks in their play calling and gameday operation. That said, the conversation about a successful Ravens season focuses on one man: Jackson.

The 2-time NFL MVP has missed two Wednesday practices in successive weeks. It’s not a big deal now, but would be worth noting if it continues. Even if it’s more or less a veteran day off, he’s the quarterback—the integral player on the team. He shouldn’t miss practice if he’s healthy, period. Three months ago, we talked about Lamar’s win percentage by month. September was always a shaky month for him, as was proved again this year. The flip side was that once the calendar turned to October, he and the Ravens are off to the races.

In his career, Jackson has won 55.0 percent of games he’s played in September while winning 78.4 percent of games after that. Combine that with his 73.3 percent regular season win percentage when starting, and suddenly the uncertainty that clouded this team in the beginning of the season starts to dissipate.

If those numbers bear out accordingly, the Ravens should be looking at a 2025 record of 10-7 or 11-6. That should be enough to get them into the playoffs, if not win the AFC North. From Week 11 onward last year, the Ravens went 5-2 and finished with a regular season record of 12-5 (4-2).

Can they continue such late season success? If that question is based mostly on Jackson’s health, the very next criteria to look at would be pass protection. It doesn’t matter if Myles Garrett is on a historic run. That is not an excuse to just let another man dominate you at will. If the Ravens don’t clean up their pass protection quick—like, this week—they will slowly and surely run out of gas on their quest for playoff football, as the Jets rank 4th in the NFL in sacks.

There is absolutely no way this game should even be close. But if the Ravens mess around and don’t put teams away (like they’ve been known to do this year), they will lose. The Jets might not be a good team, but they’re an NFL team. Way too often do the Ravens play to their competition.

This is a statement game. Dominate, and dominate early, to show you’re back as a playoff threat. But more importantly, stack an early lead to get key players some valuable time off as the following game will take place just four days later.

Speaking of future games, let’s take a brief look at how the playoff picture looks now and how it could look at the end of this season.

AFC/NFC current playoff seedings

1) Denver (9-2)/Philadelphia (8-2) – BYE

2) New England (9-2)/Los Angeles Rams (8-2)

3) Indianapolis (8-2)/Chicago (7-3)

4) Pittsburgh (6-4)/Tampa Bay (6-4) – Division Champs

5) Los Angeles Chargers (7-4)/Seattle (7-3)

6) Buffalo (7-4)/Green Bay (6-3-1)

7) Jacksonville (6-4)/San Francisco (7-4) – Wildcard Teams

AFC/NFC projected playoff seedings

1) Broncos/Eagles – BYE

2) Patriots/Rams

3) Colts/Buccaneers

4) Ravens/Bears – Division Champs

5) Texans/Seahawks

6) Bills/49ers

7) Chargers/Lions – Wildcard Teams

Could it be that the Ravens host an AFC South team in the Wildcard round, then go on the road in the Divisional round to face Denver, and then on the road again to play the AFC Championship in New England? I think we’ve seen this movie before. As JP in Angels in the Outfield would say, “It could happen!”

Baltimore has avoided a truly terrible season because of a favorable schedule, honestly, and because of grit and perseverance. How far they go from here really depends on just that—grit and perseverance. The Ravens have such a rare opportunity ahead of them. They’re one of five teams in this league (Chiefs, Eagles, Lions, and Bills) that have the capacity to go from a 2-touchdown loss to a 4-touchdown win. Their potential is almost endless. So, where do the Ravens go from here? As I wrote last month: “Honestly, that’s completely up to them.”

The post Assessing Lamar Jackson and the 2025 Baltimore Ravens appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

From the offensive failures in short yardage situations to the incessant lack of pressure on the opposing quarterback to routinely giving the ball to the other team, the 2025 Baltimore Ravens are running out of time, support, and answers.

There’s nothing the team can do about their horrendous 1-5 start. Those six games are over and done with. The team can, however, take a look at the film and personnel usage to calibrate their approach going forward.

Regarding personnel, any conversation about the Ravens season starts with Lamar Jackson, who won’t be back until after the bye week. If the team had a different bye week, would Jackson be available? We don’t know.

However, with Lamar Jackson as their starting quarterback, the Ravens are 71-27. Furthermore, Jackson has thrown seven touchdowns, no interceptions, and has rushed for seven yards per carry this season at home. That’s the kind of effectiveness the Ravens are without.

Would the Ravens have won Sunday if Jackson was active? I think so. But even if they won yesterday, they’d be 2-4. Not good. In other words, their problems wouldn’t have been solved just by beating the Rams.

Baltimore’s biggest issue is that they’re not feared right now. For so long, whether Ray Lewis or Lamar Jackson was the leader, opposing teams knew they’d be in for a long day when they drew the Ravens on their schedule. Now, it seems like teams are looking forward to playing the Ravens, as Baltimore is one game better than being winless. Wildly, even with a healthy Derrick Henry, Kyle Hamilton, and Isaiah Likely—three dynamic difference-makers, it seems like teams expect to roll over the Ravens and rest their starters in the 4th quarter. As one fan told me yesterday, “It’s embarrassing [to be a fan].”

Not only that, but don’t forget the tens of millions of dollars the Ravens recently invested into stadium renovations. Let’s just say that a return on investment isn’t coming in the foreseeable future. If fans are calling for the firing of the head coach and coordinators, they’re not in the mood to keep spending money.

So, the Ravens have a performance problem and, potentially, a revenue problem. But the problem most-plaguing Baltimore at the moment is a lack of confidence. Players and coaches seem defeated. As sports often shows us, once your confidence goes, a loss is soon to follow.

What’s the next step? Where does the team go from here? How do you fix a lack of confidence (if that is the case in the Ravens’ locker room)?

The first step is to, as Nick Saban once said, “Get the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus.” Scheme changes are pointless if you don’t self-scout with complete honesty and elevate the people making plays and scale back the players who are making mistakes—regardless of prior achievement.

From there, it’s usually a sound decision to pair down verbiage and trim the playbook. Simplify. Dominate the details and drill down on what you do well. Back to basics. Normally that may seem like you’re giving up, but with the talent this team has, it’s actually a wise move.

All members of the Ravens organization have to resolve that their next play, call, article, field setup, equipment cleaning will be their best of the season. Make up your mind that you will succeed. Don’t think about the past or the future. Be in the now.

What do the Ravens do well? Generally, they’re very good at running the ball and pressuring the quarterback. Problem: the team is without Lamar Jackson, Patrick Ricard, Roquan Smith, and Nnamdi Madubuike. Those are four impactful players that are all vital cogs in the operation of the team’s success.

In 2024, the Ravens ranked 1st in rushing yards and rushing yards/attempt. Now, in those same categories, Baltimore ranks 9th and 2nd. Last year, defensively, the Ravens ranked 2nd in sacks (54, 3.2 per game). Now, they rank 28th (8, 1.3 per game).

Baltimore’s offense has been unrecognizable as of late. Through six weeks, the Ravens have turned the ball over 10 times—2nd most in the league. That said, most of the onus here is on the defense. Getting bullied up front, bad pursuit angles, poor coverage technique, and just an overall lack of focus—that’s the absolute antithesis of the ferocious defense Baltimore made popular.

The Ravens are on pace to give up 550 points this season. Think about that! In their previous three seasons, they finished 9th, 1st, and 3rd respectively in points allowed. Now, they’re on pace to break the all-time record for most points allowed in a single season.

While offense is mostly about scheme, defense is mostly about mindset. These Ravens defenders have tremendous talent, which is why their season to date has been so aggravating. We’re at the point where this Bears game is a make-or-break game. Say what you want about Chicago, but they’re an NFL team and they will, absolutely, embarrass Baltimore if it doesn’t get its act together.

Now is the time. If Harbaugh is going to make coaching changes, now is the time. If Eric DeCosta is going to make a splash in the trade market, now is the year to do it. If these players don’t want to keep losing, they should make up their mind to win their 1-on-1 assignment, every play, and do so for the team.

Overhauling a team midseason doesn’t usually work, in any sport. For the most part, this collection of Ravens are the ones who will be there at the end of the year. While you can adjust the roster in certain ways, a mass change isn’t feasible. Same with coaches. One or two changes can be made, but the best time to make any kind of change is in the offseason.

Yes, the 2012 Ravens changed offensive coordinators midseason and won the Super Bowl. That was an exception, not the rule.

Where do the Ravens go from here? Honestly, that’s completely up to them.

This article is 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.”

The post Where Do the Ravens Go from Here? appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

In their two losses, the Ravens have given up 28 and 24 points, respectively, in the fourth quarter. Conversely, in its Week 2 win, Baltimore held Cleveland to only seven points in the fourth quarter. Somehow, Baltimore’s fourth quarter point differential so far this season is actually +1, though it seems like that mark should be way worse.

When you are not just a Super Bowl favorite, but the Super Bowl favorite, you cannot fail to meet the moment as often as these Ravens have. It’s just unacceptable.

Baltimore has so much talent, experience, and ability, which makes fans all the more frustrated that the team has a losing record. No trades have happened, no major injuries have occurred, and the opposition hasn’t called plays the Ravens weren’t expecting. In other words, why aren’t they 3-0?

That’s a valid question. One explanation is that in their two losses the Ravens rush defense—the longstanding identity of the team—has been absolutely woeful. Against the Bills and Lions, the Ravens allowed 69 rushes for 332 yards and 7 touchdowns. First of all, teams don’t run that much in today’s NFL unless they know they can bully you up front. Secondly, giving up 4.8 yards per carry across multiple games is unheard of for a Ravens defense. Thirdly, giving up seven scores on the ground is an embarrassment through two games, especially considering Baltimore gave up six rushing touchdowns total during the entire 2023 season. Something is seriously wrong on the defensive side of the ball in Baltimore, and it needs to get fixed immediately or else.

Monday night was the first time in a long time that I saw a Ravens line—on both sides—get punked and manhandled. What’s worse is they had to of known what to expect. If you think for a second the Chiefs are going to depart from what the Lions did scheme-wise, you’re mistaken. Andy Reid may have different iterations of what the Lions did in store, but when NFL teams smell blood in the water, they have no problems going after you at your most vulnerable. Side note: rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan had as many tackles (8) as Roquan Smith and Trenton Simpson had combined. How does that happen?

The good news: despite costly fumbles by Derrick Henry and busted coverages by the secondary, the Ravens are still even in turnover margin. They lead the league in scoring offense, scoring an average of 37.0 points per game, while ranking 14th in offensive

yardage. That’s actually a great thing, because it shows the Ravens’ ability to score more points than any other team without having to gain nearly as much yardage.

Of course, Lamar Jackson should be going for 4th league MVP award this year. Jackson has completed 72 percent of his passes this year for a total of 722 yards, with a TD/INT ratio of 9:0. Jackson is on pace to throw for over 4,000 yards for the 2nd-straight year.

Baltimore’s special teams are, once again, shining as well. Tyler Loop and Jordan Stout have proven to be a potent combination. The Ravens are the only team in football who’ve converted 100 percent of their field goal attempts (minimum five), 90 percent of their extra point attempts (minimum 10), and rank in the Top 5 in net punt yardage. As a matter of fact, the only teams who haven’t yet allowed a punt return are the Colts and Ravens. That’s huge. When the weather turns and games get close, the value of field position will only increase.

As far as the return game goes, how great was it to see T.J. Tampa flying down the field to make tackles? Rasheen Ali almost took one to the house, when he returned a 3rd-quarter Detroit kickoff for 43 yards, on his way to an average return of 26.3 yards. Special Teams Coordinator Chris Horton ought to be very proud.

If I had to assign grades to all three phases, here would be their report card:

SPECIAL TEAMS: A+

OFFENSE: A-

DEFENSE: D-

Lamar can be superman, but he shouldn’t have to be. Tyler Loop can make big kicks, but a rookie shouldn’t have to be called upon for more impact than multi-time Pro Bowlers on defense. There’s a lot of good and a lot of bad in this Ravens squad. The elements of a championship team are there, they just need to be re-organized, and fast.

So where do we go from here? Thankfully, the Ravens have a big challenge ahead of them, which is just what you want after a deflating loss. You want a big challenge because it forces you to re-focus due to increased urgency.

Starting with the Chiefs game, and then hosting the Rams two weeks later, Baltimore’s defense will face two tremendously diverse offenses in the coming weeks. Considering formations and tendencies, it’ll be hard for the Ravens to rely on scheme alone. They ought to focus more on personnel. If I’m Zach Orr, I don’t worry so much about calling the right plays as I do about getting the right players on the field. Whether they’re a rookie or not, whoever is executing at the highest level has to play. Period. If you’re a veteran whose been

beaten on a double move or hasn’t gotten to the appropriate depth on a zone drop, you’re coming off the field. We simply don’t have time to waste.

To get a handle on how the rest of this season could play out, let’s take a look at how recent Ravens teams have fared at certain points of the season:

First five games Overall (Division) record Playoff seed/result

2022 3-2 9-8 (3-3) 6th / 24-17 L in WC round

2023 3-2 13-4 (3-3) 1st / 17-10 L in CC round

2024 3-2 12-5 (4-2) 3rd / 27-25 L in DIV round

This is the bottom line: recent history has proven the Ravens are on the short list of Super Bowl contenders, despite starting slow. Ideally, they win the next three games (in which they will be favorites to do so) and get to a 4-2 record in time for their bye week.

By this time next month, we will know markedly more about the destiny of the 2025 Ravens. I honestly think they beat the Chiefs and Texans, then lose to the Rams to go into the bye at 3-3, with two weeks of worry inundating the sports talk airwaves (a Baltimore fan’s past time). I also honestly think the Ravens win the AFC North head back to Buffalo for the AFC title game on January 25, 2026.

Translation: it’s business as usual for the Ravens.

This 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.”

The post The 2025 Ravens: What We Know So Far appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

Baltimore is coming off of their 3rd-straight double-digit win season. On the previous two occasions they won 10+ in three straight years, they won just eight games and missed the playoffs in the following season.

It’s safe to say that as long as Lamar Jackson stays healthy, the Ravens will buck that trend and win more than eight games in 2025.

A major reason why Baltimore is so confident in its team (and why the Ravens are the favorite to win Super Bowl LX) is because of their running game. Astoundingly, the Ravens—a historically great running offense—acquired Derrick Henry—a historically great running back—in 2024 (for $11 million, no less).

Since 2019, when Lamar Jackson became Baltimore’s regular starting quarterback, the Ravens have absolutely run roughshod over the competition. In that span, Baltimore has led the league in rushing four times, and has finished 2nd (2022) and 3rd (2021) in the other two years. Since Week 1 of 2019, the Ravens have averaged 174.6 rushing yards per game and have posted a rushing touchdown/lost fumble ratio of 5.6:1 (124:22).

Despite changing coordinators, coaches, and personnel on the offensive line, the Ravens franchise has sustained this dominance for six years. That’s noteworthy because the inevitable and premature criticism that Henry is getting old (a clueless argument) is combatted by Baltimore’s elite, sustained rushing success.

If you’re skeptical of Henry being able to repeat his amazing 2024 campaign, recent history suggests his support system will insulate him from any marked decline in performance.

Established are the facts that Henry and the Ravens are great rushing entities on their own, and legendary as a pairing. How great, though, can Henry be? Should he expect an invite to Canton one day?

100 percent.

Not only is Henry on track to be a Pro Football Hall of Famer, but he’s heading towards achieving that distinct honor on the first ballot. He has a lot of work to do to summit that mountaintop, but there are three distinct criteria that should give you confidence he will reach that destination.

What has he done already?

As of today, Henry has rushed for 11,423 yards and 106 touchdowns in his 9-year NFL career. If he stopped playing today, he’d have an excellent case for Canton. As things go, what gets you into the Hall isn’t just your play on the field, but how you compare with others who’ve played your position.

With the exception of Frank Gore (eligible in 2026) and Adrian Peterson (eligible in 2027), every running back that has eclipsed 12,000 rushing yards is a Hall of Famer. By this standard, Henry needs 577 rushing yards to join that “club.” The only time he rushed for less than that amount was in his rookie season when he ran for 490 yards, but that year, he only got 110 carries. Something would need to go seriously wrong for him to not reach 12,000 career rushing yards. As a matter of fact, if you extrapolate out his “worst” season average of 4.2 yards per carry, you get a season total of 1,239 rushing yards. Enough said.

How does that compare to current Hall of Famers at his position?

Henry is one of only 13 players ever to rank in the Top 20 in career rushing yards and career rushing touchdowns. The other 12 players: Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, *Adrian Peterson, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson, Jerome Bettis, Eric Dickerson, Jim Brown, Marshall Faulk, Marcus Allen, and Franco Harris (*Peterson is not in yet).

To drill down even further, Henry has accumulated such an impressive resume while playing 89 percent of his career without the benefit of Baltimore’s historic running attack. He’s done so well having played eight of his nine seasons in Tennessee—a team that, while they weren’t terrible when he was there, offered nowhere near the potency that the Ravens do now. In a scary way, Henry may not have reached his best football yet.

Many people consider Jim Brown to be the best football player of all-time. Henry needs 890 rushing yards to pass Brown on the all-time list. Henry has crushed that mark in every one of his past seven seasons.

What can we expect from the duration of his career?

This is the part where I think the case of his candidacy shifts from “Should he be elected to the Hall of Fame” to “Should he be elected to the Hall of Fame on the first ballot?”

As of today, if I had to quantify Henry’s chances of making the Hall of Fame on his first try, I’d say he has a 75 percent chance. The overwhelming thought is that while he may not reach 1,900-plus yards like last year, he will do very, very well. Think about the facts that, by and large, his coaches haven’t changed, Lamar looks as good as ever, Mark Andrews is on a mission, and DeAndre Hopkins is now in the fold. This offense is a defensive coordinator’s worst nightmare.

A fair forecast of the duration of Henry’s contract in Baltimore would be to use his last three seasons as a template. Since he has three years left on his current deal, and most of Baltimore’s supporting cast will be with the team through that 2027 season, it’s fair to extrapolate Henry’s performance as follows:

•  From 2022-24, Henry averaged 1,542 rushing yards on 318 carries per season.
• · To maintain those marks, he would only need to increase his +career averages by 6.7 yards and 1.4 carries per game (+based on a 17-game average).
• · If he does maintain those marks, Henry would end the 2027 season with 16,049 career rushing yards, which would rank him 3rd on the all-time list.
• · At an average season output of 1,542 yards per year, Henry would become the NFL’s all-time leading rusher during the 9th game of the 2029 season, at which time he would only be 35 years of age.

The simple fact that we can realistically pose that question is all you need to know about Henry’s chances to be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

If Henry was going to slow down, he would’ve done so by now. You can only rightly predict a player’s performance based on recent history. Well, recent history suggests another all-time great season from No. 22.

The acquisitions of Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry were Eric DeCosta’s version of Ozzie Newsome drafting Jonathan Ogden and Ray Lewis in the same round. Those league-altering moves by DeCosta were every bit as impactful as those made by Newsome in 1996.

It really, truly feels like we’re watching history unfold before our eyes.

The post Derrick Henry’s Case For Canton appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

Anticipation is already high, but will increase anyway because this season of Ravens football has all the makings of being special.

When forecasting a team’s fate, there’s a significant portion of injuries and luck you must acknowledge but can’t control. Players, coaches, and systems that have been hyped up don’t always perform in kind. Though these men are lavishly compensated, their lives aren’t devoid of distractions. Things happen that can derail a team’s season. As a matter of fact, many things happen behind closed doors that media and fans never know about which affect team chemistry, and ultimately, team performance.

The best safeguard against uncertainty is stability and known expectations. That’s why teams that do the best the most—Baltimore, Philadelphia, Kansas City, San Francisco—have established head coaches, a clearly-defined team identity, proven star players, “plus” depth, and cutting-edge front office personnel to sustain franchise growth.

Often times in interviews, someone may ask, “What do you do better than anyone else?” If I were to answer that question on behalf of the Ravens, I’d say: “We scout, acquire, develop, and retain the best people.”

Here are core elements of Super Bowl-caliber teams. Let’s see how many the Ravens have:

• Star quarterback: check
• Veteran head coach: check
• Really good offensive line: check
• Stud pass rushers/pass rush unit: check
• Lockdown corners: check
• Fierce leader/captain on defense: check
• Dominant run game: check
• Excellent special teams: check
• Good mix of experience, youth, and depth: check

The Ravens have no excuse this year. Even before the signing of cornerback Jaire Alexander, Baltimore was in great position. Now, according to FanDuel, the Ravens are tied for 2nd-favorites to win Super Bowl LX (+700), behind the Eagles (+650).

To get there, they’ll need to successfully navigate a tricky schedule. Baltimore’s first six games are no joke. Besides the Browns, the Ravens will have to play the Bills, Lions, Chiefs,

Texans, and Rams before their Week 7 bye. Those five teams combined for a record of 63-22 last season, which would roughly equate to an average season record of 13-4. That’s the quality of opponents the Ravens face right out of the gate.

Then, after the bye week, the Ravens host the Bears, followed by three straight road games, three straight home games, and three of their last four on the road. This season figures to be a roller coaster, so consistency and a firm foundation is paramount.

While everything mentioned above is important, the most important part of this season is the most important part of this team: Lamar Jackson. He’s the best football player in the world, and therefore, has the most expectations on his shoulders.

Speaking of expectations, here’s how the Ravens have fared each month with Jackson as their starting quarterback:

•  September: 11-9 (55.0%)
•  October: 19-5 (79.2%)
• November: 17-7 (70.8%)
• December: 20-4 (83.3%)
• January (regular season): 2-0 (100.0%)
• Postseason: 3-5 (37.5%)

Given those numbers and Baltimore’s early schedule, it’s not inconceivable that they will have a sub-par first quarter of the season. However, we’ve seen this many times before in Baltimore. The Ravens start slow but ramp up as December nears. Their program is geared toward best performance in the latter stages of the season.

Here is the Ravens’ 2025 schedule, along with predictions for each game, and predictions for team award winners, the NFL postseason, and Baltimore’s Week 1 roster projection.

Week 1 at Bills (Sunday Night Football)

WIN, Ravens 31-Bills 29

Season record: 1-0 (0-0)

Week 2 vs. Browns

WIN, Ravens 23-Browns 14

Season record: 2-0 (1-0)

Week 3 vs. Lions (Monday Night Football)

WIN, Ravens 28-Lions 24

Season record: 3-0 (1-0)

Week 4 at Chiefs

LOSS, Chiefs 29-Ravens 17

Season record: 3-1 (1-0)

Week 5 vs. Texans

LOSS, Texans 33-Ravens 30

Season record: 3-2 (1-0)

Week 6 vs. Rams

LOSS, Rams 17-Ravens 16

Season record: 3-3 (1-0)

Week 7 BYE WEEK

Week 8 vs. Bears

WIN, Ravens 45-Bears 14

Season record: 4-3 (1-0)

Week 9 at Dolphins (Thursday Night Football)

WIN, Ravens 27-Dolphins 16

Season record: 5-3 (1-0)

Week 10 at Vikings

WIN, Ravens 35-Vikings 21

Season record: 6-3 (1-0)

Week 11 at Browns

WIN, Ravens 33-Browns 6

Season record: 7-3 (2-0)

Week 12 vs. Jets

WIN, Ravens 16-Jets 7

Season record: 8-3 (2-0)

Week 13 vs. Bengals (Thursday Night Football—Thanksgiving Night)

LOSS, Bengals 29-Ravens 28

Season record: 8-4 (2-1)

Week 14 vs. Steelers

WIN, Ravens 27-Steelers 14

Season record: 9-4 (3-1)

Week 15 at Bengals

WIN, Ravens 31-Bengals 21

Season record: 10-4 (4-1)

Week 16 vs. Patriots

WIN, Ravens 34-Patriots 20

Season record: 11-4 (4-1)

Week 17 at Packers

WIN, Ravens 27-Packers 19

Season record: 12-4 (4-1)

Week 18 at Steelers

LOSS, Steelers 23-Ravens 21

Season record: 12-5 (4-2)

Home: 6-3

Away: 6-2

Primetime: 2-1

Points scored: 469 (27.6 ppg)

Points allowed: 336 (19.8 ppg)

Playoff prediction

AFC

1. Chiefs

2. Ravens

3. Texans

4. Bills

5. Chargers

6. Bengals

7. Broncos

NFC

1. Eagles

2. Packers

3. 49ers

4. Buccaneers

5. Lions

6. Commanders

7. Rams

WILD CARD

Broncos at Ravens Ravens 30, Broncos 17

Bengals at Texans Bengals 31, Texans 30

Chargers at Bills Chargers 23, Bills 20

Rams at Packers Packers 27, Rams 22

Commanders at 49ers 49ers 33, Commanders 20

Lions at Buccaneers Lions 35, Buccaneers 21

DIVISIONAL

Bengals at Chiefs Chiefs 33, Bengals 27

Chargers at Ravens Ravens 24, Chargers 19

Lions at Eagles Lions 28, Eagles 20

49ers at Packers Packers 19, 49ers 16

AFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Ravens at Chiefs Ravens 28, Chiefs 16

NFC CHAMPIONSHIP

Lions at Packers Lions 24, Packers 23

SUPER BOWL XL, February 8, 2026 Santa Clara, California

Ravens vs. Lions (Week 3 in Baltimore: Ravens won, 28-24)

Ravens 31, Lions 27

MVP: Lamar Jackson

Ravens award winners

NFL MVP: Lamar Jackson

Defensive Player of the Year: Kyle Hamilton

Assistant Coach of the Year: Tee Martin

Ravens 53-man roster prediction (as of Week 1)

OFFENSE (26)

QB: Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush

RB: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali

FB: Patrick Ricard

TE: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar

WR: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Deandre Hopkins, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, LaJohntay Wester

OL: Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Joseph Noteboom, Carson Vinson, Ben Cleveland, Nick Samac, Emery Jones

DEFENSE (24)

DL: Broderick Washington, Travis Jones, Nnamdi Madubuike, John Jenkins, Aeneas Peebles

EDGE: Kyle Van Noy, Odafe Oweh, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Adisa Isaac, Malik Hamm

ILB: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jake Hummel

CB: Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa

S: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade

SPECIAL TEAMS (3*)

K: Tyler Loop

P: Jordan Stout

LS: Nick Moore

KR: Keaton Mitchell

PR: LaJohntay Wester

Just 59 more days. We’ve got this.

The post Predicting the 30th Season of Ravens Football appeared first on Baltimore Sports and Life.

From the front office on down, everyone is where they are for a reason. Millions of dollars are being spent in facility upgrades, promotions have been given to scouts, and young players are stepping into feature roles, as are young coaches. Everyone is under pressure.

The current Vegas odds even favor the Ravens. Baltimore is currently the joint 2nd-favorite to win the big game (+700) with Buffalo, just behind the favorite Philadelphia (+650). Lamar Jackson is the joint favorite to win league MVP (+550) along with Josh Allen.

Expectation is one thing. Teams that win it all, usually, have some kind of recent adversity they’re using as fuel as well. For the Ravens, they ought not look any further than last year’s crushing, season-ending loss at Buffalo.

After expectations and resilience, the third major piece of a championship puzzle is health. That, no one can ultimately control. The fourth part is depth.

Baltimore has exceptional talent, particularly among their starters. But to reach their ultimate goal, youth is no excuse. In other words, to win a world championship, you can’t give young players a pass because of their inexperience. The standard is the standard for everyone.

Heading into 2025, there are three players who have tremendous potential for impact—three players who, while all on their rookie contracts, have incredible opportunity to greatly increase their own value while playing a prominent role in the team’s success. Besides guys like Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Kyle Hamilton, there are players who, while known commodities, aren’t likely the top priority for opposing players and coaches.

Some may call them x-factors. I’d agree, as these players possess game-changing ability, but will need to display that on a consistent basis, not only for the good of their team, but for the good of their next contract. Besides Lamar, I believe these three players are the core of Baltimore’s immediate offensive future.

Tyler Linderbaum

This is a huge year for Tyler Linderbaum. I believe he’s the best player on the offensive line. With high acclaim comes high expectation. Linderbaum will have to sustain his high level of play during his first-ever “contract year,” in which his current cap figure of $4.2 million could easily quadruple. Kansas City center Creed Humphrey recently signed a massive extension worth $18 million in average annual value (AAV). Linderbaum, with a strong season, should be asking for every bit as much.

Ideally, I would think contract negotiations between the two parties should conclude before training camp. Helping Linderbaum’s leverage is the lack of interior offensive line depth around him, which in turn gives him increased opportunity to showcase his value to the team.

A third Pro Bowl selection is expected from him, given the talent around him and cohesion among the offensive coaching staff. Prior to the 2024 season, Pro Football Focus ranked Linderbaum as the league’s 3rd-best center. Last year, he showed no signs of regression.

Given the Ravens’ overhaul geared toward enhancing and protecting Lamar Jackson, I have to think a sizeable extension for Linderbaum is imminent.

Isaiah Likely

If there is one player on the Ravens who’s an x-factor, it’s Isaiah Likely. An x-factor is a player who possesses top talent, can matchup with opponents in multiple ways, and has shown the ability to impact big games, while also not being a regular starter.

I’m telling you now, the way he’s performing and the way the league is moving, the Ravens better sign Likely soon, or he will get big, big money somewhere else. The league knows full well what he can do.

Both Likely and Andrews are set to be unrestricted free agents in 2026, as are Pat Ricard, Daniel Faalele, and Ben Cleveland. Some really tough decisions will need to be made, but Likely cannot be a cap casualty. He’s too important to this offense, both now and in the future, considering he’s just now entering his prime.

At the end of the day, I think the decision comes down to ball security. The Buffalo game notwithstanding; here are some key career stats for both Likely and Andrews that will determine their future value:

Likely: 13.9 yards per reception, 70.9 percent catch rate, 1 fumble

Andrews: 11.8 yards per reception, 61.9 percent catch rate, 8 fumbles

Zay Flowers

The 2024 season was an interesting one for Zay Flowers. He made his 1st-career Pro Bowl and increased his season yardage total by 201 yards, year over year. However, his catch rate dropped (receptions/targets) by 7.5 percent. That’s not a sizeable difference, especially considering his yards per target increased from 7.9 in 2023 to 9.1 in 2024. With a higher yards per target rate comes an increased difficulty to sustain your catch rate.

Flowers is the No. 1 receiving option for the Ravens. He will make impact plays and defenders miss in the open field. We’ve seen that plenty of times, even though he’s only played two seasons. The next step for him would be to continue progress as a blocker.

The Ravens have often emphasized and kept impact blockers at the receiver position because of how important the running game is to team success. In 2024, Baltimore ran the ball on 53 of its offensive snaps. While not exclusively tied into blocking success, Flowers’ next contract numbers will be determined in part by how he plays without the football.

If there is concern about this group, it’s not based on their talent or performance, it’s based on Baltimore’s ability to keep them all, among a big pending free agent group in 2026.

Beware of winning, because that’ll only increase the price. The time to do a deal is now.

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