The Baltimore Ravens aren’t built the same way they have in past seasons — and while they have improved in some areas — they have taken a significant step back in others.
Sitting at (9-5) with three games remaining in the regular season, the Ravens are one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers to tie the lead atop of the AFC North. While there’s a chance Baltimore could steal the division crown, the more likely path to a Super Bowl this season would come by earning an AFC Wildcard spot, which would mean getting to New Orleans by winning on the road in January.
Offensively, the Ravens have been nearly unstoppable. They currently own the No. 1 offense in the NFL, averaging 424 yards per game and scoring 52 touchdowns on their opponents so far this season. The addition of Derrick Henry can’t be overstated. The 4-time Pro Bowl RB has added a new dimension to the Ravens offense, forcing defenses to account for both him and Lamar Jackson as running threats. And naturally, the passing game has opened up with so many defensive coordinators focusing on stopping the dynamic running duo.
Henry’s addition has helped propel Lamar Jackson to yet another MVP-caliber season. The Ravens QB is putting together one of his best NFL seasons, with 3,580 passing yards, 34 touchdowns and just three interceptions so far. He’s added another 743 yards and three touchdowns with his legs. The Ravens offense hasn’t been a problem at all.
But over the years, NFL fans have become accustomed to a bruising defense when it comes to Baltimore. From Ray Lewis and Ed Reed to Patrick Queen and Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens have always had one of the top defenses in the league.
While the Ravens are middle of the pack in total defense this season, their passing defense is ranked 31st of the 32 NFL teams. They are giving up 258.9 yards through the air per game to their opponents and have allowed 25 passing touchdowns so far in 2024.
While there have been various reasons for the secondary struggles, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes the Baltimore Ravens have to bench CB Brandon Stephens, who shined as a starting CB for them last season.
It's been a rough year for Brandon Stephens. After putting together a respectable 2023 season as a starter, he has been torched by opposing receivers this season. He's giving up a 109.8 passer rating when targeted this year and racked up a few penalties against the Giants on Sunday.
The Ravens might be better off giving Tre'Davious White more run while making Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey the two starters on the outside. At the very least they should go with that lineup for a few games ahead of the playoffs.
