Can the Ravens Soar to New Heights? An Inside Look at Baltimore’s 2024 Super Bowl Quest
The Baltimore Ravens, who finished last season one game short of the Super Bowl at the hands of the back-to-back Super Bowl Champion Kansas City Chiefs, are hoping to right their wrongs as they head into the 2024–25 regular season. They are coming off an impressive 13–4 record, taking home the top seed in the AFC for the second time under Lamar Jackson, and making it to the AFC Championship Game for the first time since their 2012–13 Super Bowl run. After this past weekend's official end to the preseason and Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline for the 53-man roster, head coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens are focusing on and getting ready for the highly anticipated rematch against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, which is scheduled to begin the 2024 regular season on Thursday, September 5th. Let's discuss what the Ravens fan base can expect from their team this season, which is once again laced with hopes for a Super Bowl title.
The Ravens start the season off after a busy offseason and free agency that saw the departure of numerous important depth players. However, general manager Eric DeCosta was able to make up for some of those losses by signing big free agents and selecting players in the 2024 NFL Draft back in April. The most significant free agency signing made by DeCosta was the signing of two-time NFL rushing yards leader and former Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry, who agreed to a two-year contract. Following the offseason departures of running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins to the Los Angeles Chargers, the Ravens' already formidable running attack, headed by quarterback Lamar Jackson, who ran for 821 yards and five touchdowns last season, is strengthened with the addition of Henry to the backfield.
The Ravens lost a number of important defensive pieces from last season in free agency, including safety Geno Stone, edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, and linebacker Patrick Queen, to other teams. The Ravens and first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr are certain they have the players to offset the offseason departures. At the linebacker position, Trenton Simpson, a 2023 NFL Draft selection out of Clemson, has proven through a strong 2024 preseason and on-field performance last season that he possesses the talent to take over Queen's former position. Last season, Queen and Roquan Smith led the team in tackles and established themselves as a formidable middle-of-the-field tandem.
Meanwhile, the Ravens selected former Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with their first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, at 30th overall, for a massive steal. At Clemson, Wiggins became a premier tackler and pass-breakup cornerback. In the Tigers' 2022 ACC Championship Game victory, he ran the longest pick-six in ACC Championship history, a 98-yarder to the house. After selecting Wiggins, the Ravens have gained a quick-thinking and agile player who is well-known for his ability to quickly catch up and make a play on the ball if a wide receiver manages to go by him. With Wiggins joining an already excellent secondary that features Brandon Stephens, Marcus Williams, Marlon Humphrey, and Kyle Hamilton, the Ravens have high expectations for Wiggins this season and beyond.
The Ravens need to overcome a formidable and physical AFC North division that features the Bengals' healthy Joe Burrow, Pittsburgh's newly formed quarterback room, and Cleveland's skilled defense if they want to make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in 12 years. At 46%, ESPN Analytics currently projects that the Ravens have the best chance to win the AFC North, with the Bengals coming in second at 37%. In spite of the Ravens' favorable projections, some experts have predicted a potential regression and Wild Card berth instead due to significant changes on the offensive line, which now features three new starters, including tackles Roger Rosengarten, Daniel Faalele, and guard Andrew Vorhees, along with veteran tackle Ronnie Stanley and 2023 Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum returning as well. The offensive line also saw the departure of veteran Kevin Zeitler, who signed with the Lions, and Morgan Moses, who was traded to the Jets.
A talent-rich Ravens roster on both sides of the ball has a lot of promise for the 2024–25 season. The Ravens have a formidable offense headed by Jackson, Henry, wide receiver Zay Flowers, and tight ends Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely, as well as a consistently excellent defense, which makes them serious favorites to win the AFC North and go far in the postseason. Nonetheless, the Ravens will have an uphill battle to navigate the AFC and ultimately win the Lombardi Trophy in New Orleans, the site of their most recent Super Bowl victory, as there are many talented teams in the conference, including the Chiefs, Bengals, Texans, Dolphins, Jaguars, Jets, and more. The Ravens' success this season will thus be greatly influenced by their ability to stay healthy and depend on their best players to show up when it matters most.
