The Baltimore Ravens are one of the youngest teams in the NFL, but they have already made the playoffs 15 times in their short history. They have also claimed the Vince Lombardi Trophy twice, in 2001 and 2013.
Last season was also close, but no cigar. The Ravens won the Divisional playoff but ran into the Kansas City Chiefs, who were on a mission to win consecutive titles. A 13-4 season would always raise expectations for another run, and that’s what the Ravens have done.
Their run to the playoffs is assured, barring ridiculous results in the coming weeks. There is even a remote possibility of getting past the Steelers to retake the AFC North, which would assist them on the grueling road to the Caesars Superdome in February. Super Bowl odds for their third crown are fluctuating.
Lamar Jackson Star Man for Ravens
Lamar Jackson has been at the forefront of the charge and has proven to be one of the best signal callers in the NFL. Jackson is in the top five of passing touchdowns and is the turbo boost for an offense that offloads. His blitzes early in the campaign meant that at one point, he had thrown 24 touchdowns against only two interceptions. Jackson is in line for a repeat MVP. It would be some feat to match Aaron Rodgers.
Derrick Henry is also the dominant rushing back that they need. He passed 1,000 yards in the ninth game of the season, breaking through a traditionally solid Denver Broncos as the team scored 40 points. “We have been good at running the ball for a long time, but this is different. Derrick Henry is different,” said head coach John Harbaugh.
Super Bowl 58: A Close Call for Ravens
At the beginning of January, Sports Illustrated boldly predicted that the Ravens could win Super Bowl 58. Their success had come mainly from its solid defense, ranking first in the NFL in opponent points per game during the regular season. They were blasting prominent opponents, but the question mark was whether they would come up short against an elite opponent. That they did against Kansas, who know how to squeak wins every time.
The potential problem is that the defense has been less secure in this campaign, meaning the Ravens will have to tighten up when the knockout scenario happens. By mid-November, Baltimore’s pass defense ranked last in the NFL, giving up close to 300 yards per game. There are many criteria for a successful run to the Super Bowl, but leaking 20-plus-yard plays through the air is not one of them.
There have been some signs that defense coordinator Zach Orr has grasped this as the Ravens look to negotiate some tough games at the end of the regular season.
Justin Tucker Kicking Off Key
One alarming negative is Justin Tucker’s form. It’s tricky when a future Hall of Famer and all-time great is now the worst in his position across the NFL. By Game 13, he had missed eight field goals and two extra points, bringing back memories of his previous worst campaign in 2015. In close games, kicks are everything, and Tucker will have to rediscover that elite touch, or the team will not progress.
Ravens Must Peak At Right Time
The hope is that the Raven’s peak for the real battles ahead. In some ways, their messier-looking record this season might be a blessing in disguise, as the weaknesses can be worked upon when losses come. It is all very well being hot from September to December, but the Chiefs are the masters of coming to the boil when it matters.
As star safety Kyle Hamilton said: “Although our record may show we have….losses, and I’m not going to make excuses, I still think we have a good chance to win the Super Bowl. That’s our goal. I feel like it’s a different vibe this year because we didn’t face too much adversity last year. We were rolling from the jump, so I think we’ll be better for that.”
To have a real shot at New Orleans, Baltimore must ultimately be bold and play to the strengths. If anything, they seize up a little when matches are to be won by a score. To pass the ball for the sake of passing rather than rushing shows a lack of clarity. This is further exacerbated by the fact that the Ravens are one of the most penalized teams in the league in both call and yards against.
Baltimore needs to tighten up with kicks, defense, and penalties but stay loose psychologically. It’s going to be a test of nerve in January.
