Rashod Bateman's Breakout Season Should Be Getting More Attention
From two-time MVP Lamar Jackson, to All-Pros Derrick Henry and Mark Andrews, to potential first-time Pro Bowler Zay Flowers, the Ravens have no shortage of big-name stars on offense.
Rashod Bateman might be flying under the radar outside of Baltimore, but the fourth-year wide receiver's impact on the NFL's No. 1-ranked offense is undeniable.
FanDuel TV's Kay Adams said Bateman's breakout season isn't being talked about enough.
"He's a consistent vertical threat," Adams said on her "Up & Adams" show. "He's been a big play waiting to happen all year."
Bateman, who entered the season fully healthy for the first time in his career, has already set career-highs in receiving yards (654) and touchdown catches (seven).
He leads the league in separation percentage (75.1%), per Pro Football Focus, and his 17.2 yards-per-catch average is among the league leaders. Bateman's four touchdowns on deep targets (20+ yards) are tied for second most in the NFL.
Adams credited General Manager Eric DeCosta for his decision to sign the 2021 first-round pick to a two-year contract extension this past offseason.
"GM Eric DeCosta surprised some people when he extended Rashod back in April. There were some injuries, there was some 'oh what has he proven in his first three years in the league?' DeCosta knew," Adams said. "The organization saw this coming and were rewarded from the confidence in him by him. He's crushing it. Very smart move by the Ravens front office."
ESPN Insider Doesn't Think Anyone Wants to Face Ravens in Playoffs
The buzz around the league is that the Ravens could be a dangerous team in the playoffs, according to ESPN insider Dan Graziano.
"I think folks are concerned about the Ravens, especially if they win Saturday against the Steelers and can chase them down for the division title," Graziano wrote. "He might be trailing Josh Allen in the MVP race, but Lamar Jackson is playing the best football of his career this season, and some of the people I talk to think the Baltimore defense has the ability to play better than it has shown. If they're right – and if Derrick Henry is still fresh and running hard once the postseason begins – I don't think anyone's going to want to play Baltimore, even if they don't look as dominant as they did this time last year."
Regarding Graziano's point about the defense, the unit has significantly improved over the past month, especially in limiting explosive plays.
On a side note, Fox Sports' Jimmy Johnson, Michael Vick, and Jay Glazer were asked if the Ravens, Steelers, Texans, Vikings, and Packers are "true Super Bowl contenders." The Ravens and Packers were the only teams to receive a thumbs up from all three analysts.
Ravens and Bills Meet in AFC Championship Game in ESPN Simulation
ESPN used its Football Power Index to simulate how the rest of the season and playoffs will play out. Of the 10,000 simulations, ESPN Analytics' Seth Walder focused on one that yielded the chalk playoff field.
The model projected the Ravens to finish with a 10-7 record and go into the postseason as the fifth seed in the AFC. The scenario had Baltimore losing to the Steelers, 30-24, in Week 16 and losing to the Texans, 34-14, in Week 17 before routing the Browns, 36-10, in the regular-season finale.
The Ravens went on to avenge their loss to the Texans with a 27-24 win in the wild-card round. In the divisional round, Baltimore ended the Chiefs' hopes of a three-peat with a 27-7 win in Kansas City, setting up a showdown between the Ravens and Bills in Buffalo for the AFC Championship.
"The AFC Championship Game was a tight, back-and-forth affair between the two MVP leaders, but Josh Allen and the Bills prevailed 24-23 to head to the Super Bowl for the first time in 31 years," Walder wrote.
This is all just a simulation and shouldn't be taken too seriously, although Walder noted that last year's simulation correctly identified the participants and result for both conference championship games and the Super Bowl.
Calais Campbell Says He Could Be Released if Dolphins Are Eliminated From Playoff Contention
The Ravens reportedly came close to trading for Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Calais Campbel last month, and now there's a chance the former Raven could soon be available.
Campbell told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel's David Furones that there's a possibility the Dolphins could release him if they are eliminated from playoff contention. Miami currently has a 7% chance of making the playoffs, per Next Gen Stats.
"I don't know if we're there just yet, but it's definitely something you think about," Campbell said.
If Campbell does get released, he would be subject to waivers. This late in the season, it's likely that only contending teams would have interest in the 38-year-old Campbell.
Dolphins Head Coach Mike McDaniel reportedly nixed a deal to send Campbell to the Ravens before the Nov. 5 trade deadline.
Jackson Named 'Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Year'
Writing about Jackson being named Press Box's Mo Gaba Sportsperson of the Year, Glenn Clark said the quarterback "has entered the pantheon of all-time Baltimore athletes."
"His place in our city's sports lore is secure," Clark wrote. "He's in the Johnny Unitas-Brooks Robinson-Ray Lewis-Cal Ripken category. Spare the 'not just yet' or 'you're being hyperbolic' sentiments you feel like you're supposed to have. His legacy on the field is already secure.
"We are so freaking lucky to get to spend our Sundays watching Lamar Jackson."
Press Box’s Bo Smolka said Jackson will always be the "it" for this generation of Baltimore sports fans.
"Forty years from now, in a barbershop along Druid Hill Avenue or Harford Road, they will say, 'Oh, you never saw one like Lamar Jackson,'" Smolka wrote "They will speak of the runs, the throws, and certainly of the spin-cycle touchdown at Cincinnati in 2019 that [John] Harbaugh said will be on NFL highlight reels 'for decades and decades.'"
