Three Keys to the Ravens Super Bowl Quest as Playoff Journey Begins
Following another entertaining and thrilling NFL regular season, the playoffs have officially arrived. Super Wild Card Weekend kicks off this week with six games spread across three days. Teams will begin their journey toward becoming one of the two contenders for Super Bowl 59 in New Orleans. One team with their eyes set on this opportunity is the Baltimore Ravens. They've overcome significant adversity this season, including a 0-2 start and major defensive issues in the first half. The Ravens also faced a challenging schedule, playing all seven AFC playoff teams and achieving a 5-2 record against them. Despite these obstacles, Baltimore fought its way through all these different challenges to claim the AFC North Division for a second straight season. Now, head coach John Harbaugh and his team are aiming to reach the Super Bowl for the first time with Lamar Jackson as their starting quarterback, and for the first time in 12 years overall. There are several key factors that will determine whether Baltimore can finally overcome past hurdles and compete for the Lombardi Trophy on February 9th at the Caesars Superdome.
Lamar Jackson’s Playoff Redemption
In his sensational seven-year career, Jackson has been nothing short of spectacular in the regular season since entering the league, helping to lead Baltimore to two first-round byes, in 2019 and last season, while becoming arguably the best dual-threat quarterback in NFL history. He has made significant strides in his passing ability over the years and combined that with his lethal running skills. In 2024, Jackson's dominance has continued, as he passed Michael Vick’s NFL record for most career rushing yards by a quarterback on Christmas Day against Houston. Additionally, he had his best statistical passing season, setting career highs in passing yards with 4,172, touchdown passes with 41, surpassing his 2019 MVP season, a career-low in interceptions with only four, and a career-best passer rating of 119.6.
Despite these remarkable achievements, the last lingering question for the two-time MVP to answer is whether he can lead Baltimore to the promised land and overcome his past struggles in the playoffs. In six career playoff games, where he holds a 2-4 record, Jackson and the Ravens have struggled to maintain their regular-season success, often appearing unrecognizable in the postseason. Notably, Jackson has a 57.4 percent completion rate, six passing touchdowns, and six interceptions, and has been sacked 26 times in those games. This postseason, Jackson and the Ravens have the opportunity to silence critics and redeem themselves for past playoff disappointments. If they succeed, Jackson will be able to check off the final box in what is already shaping up to be a no-doubt Hall of Fame career.
Defense Continues Second-Half Resurgence
Heading into the playoffs, one of the biggest storylines discussed most often in the second half of the season has been the Ravens’ defensive resurgence following their early-season struggles. In the first year under defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s leadership, both Orr and the Ravens faced major criticism in the first half of the season, as Baltimore was among the league’s worst in pass defense. Inconsistent play and penalties made the typically stout Ravens defense a liability early on. However, with necessary player benchings due to poor performance and the hiring of former Ravens defensive coordinator Dean Pees in Week Six as a senior advisor to Orr, the defense has turned its season around.
Since Week 11, notably following the benching of their third-highest-paid player Marcus Williams, the Ravens’ defense has been peaking at the right time. Baltimore finished the season with the second-most sacks in the NFL, totaling 54, led by veteran Kyle Van Noy, and held opponents to under 20 points in their last four games. The Ravens also boasted the league's best run defense and significantly improved their pass defense, ranking near the top of the league during this stretch. With playmakers like Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey, and Nnamdi Madubuike leading the charge, continued dominant defensive performances will play a pivotal role in Baltimore’s quest to reach the Super Bowl.
Derrick Henry: The Playoff X-Factor
Following last season’s AFC Championship Game against the Chiefs, where the Ravens faced criticism for not sticking to their identity and running the ball, having rushed only 16 times against Kansas City, general manager Eric DeCosta went into the offseason looking to add another difference-maker at the running back position that they could rely on throughout the regular season and postseason. In his first season with the Ravens, veteran back Derrick Henry has showcased why they signed him to a two-year deal in free agency, demonstrating to the NFL that age isn’t a factor in his production. The 31-year-old finished the season with the second-most rushing yards in the league, totaling 1,921, tied for the most rushing touchdowns with 16, and recorded nine 100-plus-yard rushing games. Entering the postseason, Henry’s presence in the backfield brings another level of deception for defenders to account for with Baltimore’s potent run-pass option. His ability to control the game’s tempo and methodically wear down opposing defenses could be the difference-maker in tight playoff games, the kind of edge the Ravens have been searching for to get past some of the AFC’s top Super Bowl contenders, including the Chiefs and Bills.
