Three Ravens Poised for Strong Finish After Battling Adversity
As the Ravens head into the final four weeks of the season with all of their goals still attainable, The Baltimore Banner staff looked at which players are most likely to finish strong after battling adversity during the season.
Giana Han and Paul Mancano chose Roquan Smith.
"He hasn't been bad — he was third in the NFL in tackles entering Week 14 — but he hasn't been the amazing Pro Bowl player he was last year," Han wrote. "Hopefully, as coordinator Zach Orr steadies this defense, he can unlock Smith — or Smith can find something within himself to take his game to another level. His chances of doing so are high. Smith has consistently been a good player over his career, and his return to 'force multiplier' status is critical to this team's success."
Mancano wrote: "The inside linebacker's stock has been ticking up ever so slightly with each passing game. Smith has been asked to cover more ground than he ever has while holding the hand of first-year starter Trenton Simpson. The two-time All-Pro may not find himself on any honors lists after the season, but he can at least inspire more confidence in this linebacking tandem before the playoffs start."
Kyle Goon and Jonas Shaffer went with defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and cornerback Brandon Stephens, respectively.
"The boom-or-bust performances of Nnamdi Madubuike have surprised me," Goon wrote. "It doesn't feel like anything is wrong with him, but the fluctuating health of his fellow defensive linemen has allowed opponents to double-team him. We saw he still has breakout potential when he crunched Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow for three sacks in Week 10. But Madubuike can be better, and I suspect that, as Travis Jones returns to full strength, the Ravens could see the dominant version of him that showed up last season."
Regarding Stephens, Shaffer wrote: "Tre'Davious White has cut into his playing time at outside cornerback in recent weeks but, over the past two games, Stephens allowed just three completions for 34 yards on five targets, according to PFF. Some of the deep-ball misfortune that afflicted him early in the season has started to even out. Ravens Pass Game Coordinator Chris Hewitt on Tuesday called Stephens 'sticky' and said 'he's always right there at the catch point, and it's a quarterback throwing a perfect ball' to beat him deep. There aren't a lot of quarterbacks remaining on the Ravens' schedule who can do that regularly."
Pundits Say Lamar Jackson Is More Ready Than Ever to Lead Ravens Into Postseason
Lamar Jackson is having another outstanding season, but he has made it clear that he's focused on winning the Super Bowl, not his third MVP award.
Members of The Baltimore Sun staff are in agreement that Jackson is more ready than he's ever been to lead the Ravens into the postseason.
"He has greater command of the offense," Childs Walker wrote. "He's processing more efficiently, making fewer errors and connecting on more big-time throws than in any previous season. His running will become a greater weapon in the postseason. He's seemingly healthy and energized for what's to come. His teammates look to him as a north star. The Ravens might not break through this year, but Jackson appears as ready to lead them as he could possibly be."
Sam Cohn noted that Jackson has grown into more of a cerebral quarterback and vocal leader.
"Last week, we talked to Quarterbacks Coach Tee Martin, maybe the third-most qualified person to speak on the inner workings of Jackson's mind, behind the reigning NFL Most Valuable Player himself and his mom," Cohn wrote. "Martin corroborated what we've all seen. Jackson took leaps and bounds in the passing game after making it a priority in the offseason. And his mind is 'on another level.'
"Last year, Jackson was a bit timid in voicing how he wanted to attack defenses. Jackson has been much more direct in putting his foot down — in the best way possible. That's exactly what the Ravens need from Jackson if they're going to make a postseason run."
C.J. Doon added: "There are few, if any, playmakers more dangerous than Jackson, and this season might be the best version of him. He's ready."
Jackson and Zay Flowers Ranked Among Top Five QB-WR Duos
Jackson's connection with Zay Flowers has reached another level this season, as they have become one of the best quarterback-wide receiver duos in the league.
ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky placed Jackson and Flowers at No. 5 in his top 20 quarterback-wide receiver rankings.
"Flowers has really exploded this season, and when he is in man-to-man coverage, this pairing destroys defenses," Orlovsky wrote. "Their 863 yards rank eighth among all duos, and 303 of that came against man looks."
Flowers has already surpassed his receiving yardage from last season (858), and he has four 100-yard games this season after having one during the 2023 regular season. He also had 115 yards in the AFC Championship Game.
