One thing that has been apparent throughout this NFL season is that the Baltimore Ravens aren’t the same team that they were in 2019. Yes, the Ravens have a good record and are one of the top teams but the offensive production is not the same as it was last season.
Quarterback Lamar Jackson captivated the league last season as he led the Ravens to a 14-2 record and winning the MVP award, but this season he’s struggled to follow-up his record setting season from a year ago. The Ravens have had to rely on the defense to balance out the poor offensive play that is clouding the team.
As a Ravens fan for over a decade, I’ve seen the ups and downs of this franchise and have continued to support them throughout the years, but last season is when I really felt that the team could win it all. After a disappointing playoff performance at home against the Titans, I had hoped that the team would continue their dominance going into this season.
As far as I’ve seen the team has looked good but only on one front, the defense. The defense has been just as dominant as it was a season ago. With many defensive starters returning to play, and the addition of some new guys, the Ravens have proved that their defense is still one of the best in the league.
After adding Pro Bowl defensive players Calais Campbell and Yannick Ngakoue along with the other pass rushers on the team, the defense remains on the top. Defensive backs Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters continue to provide ideal pass coverage along with forcing turnovers. The defensive effort by the team has been the factor that has led to their success as they have prevented most teams from scoring points.
Although against top ranked teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, the Ravens’ offensive struggles have been the factor in the losses in those games. In order to be considered a legitimate Super Bowl contender, they will need to improve on the offensive side of the ball. This means that the Ravens’ offense will have to have fewer turnovers, prevent Jackson from getting sacked as much and making better use of their offensive possessions.
I can only see the team continuing to do better if the offense improves, and Jackson returns to the same level of ability that he showed last season. It’s still early in the season but serious improvements on offense will need to be made if the Ravens want to make a serious playoff push.
Armin Mesinovic can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @arminmesinovic.