Ravens: From favorites to failure. What’s next after 1-3?

The Baltimore Ravens: From Super Bowl Favorites to a Complicated Season Start

The Baltimore Ravens, considered favorites to win the Super Bowl at the start of the season, are facing an unexpected situation. After the painful 37-20 defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs, the team has matched the worst start in its 30-year history, with a 1-3 record, putting their playoff aspirations at risk. The Ravens’ difficulties on both sides of the field are compounded by a long list of injuries to key players, including their quarterback, Lamar Jackson, who left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. Coach John Harbaugh faces the challenge of pulling his team out of a hole that few have managed to escape. In the Super Bowl era (since 1966), only 10.6% of teams that start 1-3 manage to recover and reach the playoffs.

I am concerned, but not overwhelmed by it.

John Harbaugh, Ravens coach

The Ravens’ losses have been concerning. They lost to the Buffalo Bills, and in week 3, they allowed the most rushing yards in eight years against the Detroit Lions. On Sunday, they suffered their biggest defeat in four seasons, with five starters injured.

We have problems that we are facing, and we have to deal with them in a really smart way.

John Harbaugh, Ravens coach

Since 1978, the Ravens are the third favorite team for the Super Bowl to start with a record of 1-3 or worse in the first four games. The other teams, the 1987 New York Giants and the 2002 Los Angeles Rams, failed to reach the postseason. Despite everything, the Ravens are not panicking, as the remaining schedule looks more favorable, starting with the game against the Houston Texans. The Ravens are still favorites to win the AFC North and have a 69.7% chance of making the playoffs. Running back Derrick Henry expressed an optimistic attitude: “I’m looking at it with a positive mindset. We’re 1-3. Nobody’s going to come do it for us. We have to get back to work.”

The key to the Ravens’ recovery will depend on Jackson’s health and his ability to protect him. Coach Harbaugh indicated that Jackson was not in a condition to return to the game after his hamstring injury. If Jackson cannot play, Cooper Rush could take his place. Without Jackson, the Ravens have struggled in the past. Since Jackson became the starting quarterback in the middle of the 2018 season, the Ravens have a 74-32 (.698) record with him, averaging 28.1 points per game. Without Jackson, Baltimore has a 4-10 record, averaging 16.6 points per game.

Losing Lamar is losing Lamar.

Kyle Hamilton, Ravens safety

In his seven seasons with Jackson, Baltimore has had six winning streaks of five or more consecutive games. Keeping Jackson healthy is crucial, as he has been sacked 15 times in four games this season. Before leaving Sunday’s game, Jackson faced pressure on 56% of his passes, the highest pressure rate he has faced in a game with at least 10 pass attempts. Harbaugh criticized the way offensive coordinator Todd Monken handled the Chiefs’ blitzes.

I don’t think we stuck to the plan we had.

John Harbaugh, Ravens coach

Safety Kyle Hamilton apologized to the fans after the game. “The product we are putting on the field right now is not up to what the Ravens have been in the past and in the recent past,” he said. The Ravens’ defense, which has not met expectations, has been a key factor in the poor start. They have conceded 37 or more points in the three defeats. The Ravens rank 31st in total yards allowed, 27th against the run, and 31st against the pass. Harbaugh backed defensive coordinator Zach Orr. “I trust all of our guys, including Zach, our players, our coaches, and I see our guys every day,” Harbaugh said. “I see how well they train. I’m in meetings, I see the meetings, I know the schemes we’re running. I know the strength of what we’re doing. I understand what we’re up against week after week and even in this game. This is a challenging game against a good offense.” Harbaugh added that he is confident that the defense will play very well this year. Of Baltimore’s 11 defensive starters, seven are dealing with injuries, including four Pro Bowl defenders. The most significant absence is defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who was ruled out for the season due to a neck injury. The Ravens also placed defensive end Broderick Washington Jr. (ankle) on injured reserve and had two other starters inactive on Sunday: outside linebacker Kyle Van Noy (hamstring) and nose tackle Travis Jones (knee). In addition, three other starters left Sunday’s game injured: middle linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) and cornerbacks Nate Wiggins (elbow) and Marlon Humphrey (calf).

Obviously, you’re losing several All-Pro players, and that’s not going to help a defense.

Kyle Hamilton, Ravens safety

At the start of training camp, the Ravens tried to downplay one of the toughest schedule starts in team history. In September, Baltimore had to face the Bills, Lions, and Chiefs, who combined for a 43-8 record last season.

It’s the nature of the beast.

Ronnie Stanley, Ravens offensive tackle

Despite being favorites in every game, Baltimore fell to 1-3 for the third time, matching the bad starts of 2005 and 2015.

The three losses are against probably three of the best teams in the league, for sure.

John Harbaugh, Ravens coach

The Ravens have home games against the Texans and Rams before their bye week. After the bye week, Baltimore does not play a team that currently has a winning record during a five-game stretch. Then, the Ravens enter the final stretch, where Jackson is usually at his best. Jackson has a 22-4 (.846) record in regular season games in December and January, which is the best among quarterbacks with at least 10 starts. Players are taking a more short-term approach to try to get their season on track. “I’m trying to focus on the here and now,” Hamilton said. “In Week 16, if we’re 12-4, we’d say, ‘Damn, we would have been 15-1 if we hadn’t lost those games.’ We can’t think like that. We have to think about the Texans this week and focus on getting that win, getting to 2-3. You can’t get to 3-3 without getting to 2-3. [We need to] focus on them. I don’t even want to worry about who we play after that. I don’t even worry about when our bye week is. Just focus on the Houston Texans coming to the Ravens and us beating them.”