The Baltimore Ravens are entering the most critical stretch of the season as they look to re-gain momentum heading into the playoffs.
For John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson, anything short of a trip to the Super Bowl will be viewed as a disappointment. The Ravens have been contenders in the AFC for the last few years — and Jackson is in the conversation to win his second-straight MVP — but Baltimore has to find a way to win when it matters the most.
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After falling to the Kansas City Chiefs in last year’s AFC Championship game, the Ravens made a few key offseason moves to help them get over the hump in 2024. The biggest addition was adding All-Pro RB Derrick Henry, who has already surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the sixth time in his NFL career (1,407) and is matching his career high in yards per rush (5.9) while finding the end zone 13 times so far this season.
There are still four games to go in the regular season, so despite wrapping up his ninth NFL season, Henry is putting together one of the best years of his NFL career.
The addition of Henry in the Ravens backfield has opened up the offense, forcing defenses to account for both him and Lamar Jackson in the run game, while opening up opportunities in the passing game.
Second-year WR Zay Flowers is building on his impressive rookie campaign with 863 yards and four touchdowns so far, while the tight end duo of Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely create nightmares for opposing defenses.
The Ravens enter Week 15 with the No. 1 offense in the NFL, averaging 422.5 yards per game with 47 touchdowns so far on the year. But even with the elite offensive success, Baltimore has an (8-5) record and if the Ravens are going to reach the Super Bowl, they will almost certainly have to get there by winning on the road with the Steelers leading the division at (10-3) and the favorites to win the AFC North.
Despite Baltimore’s No. 1 offense, the Ravens haven’t been complacent. They lost WR Rashod Bateman with an injury and made a move before the trade deadline to add former Panthers’ wideout Diontae Johnson.
But Johnson hasn’t been able to find a place in the Ravens offense so far — and after making the decision to not go into the game against the Eagles due to frustration about his role — the newly-acquired WR was suspended by the team for one game and his future in Baltimore is murky to say the least.
Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report believes the Baltimore Ravens will look to the NFC East to replace Johnson this offseason and add Noah Brown, who has shined as the No. 2 pass-catcher for the Washington Commanders.
“The Ravens admitted to needing help in the receiver room when they traded for Diontae Johnson. Unfortunately, that relationship hasn’t worked out. Johnson was suspended for a game for conduct detrimental to the team. Regardless, the need for another receiver to step up alongside Rahod Bateman and Zay Flowers isn’t going away.
They don’t really need a superstar. Tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely take some of the playmaking burden away from the receivers. Someone like Noah Brown could be a good answer. He is an underrated receiver who has helped the Commanders offense get off the ground this season. He’s another deep threat who could fit the Ravens’ vertical passing game.”
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