Mink: Every team benefits from the bye because it gives them a chance to get healthier. The Ravens' Week 14 bye (the latest one you can get) especially helps them for three primary reasons as I see it.
First, it's a chance to recharge before a grueling stretch of three games in 11 days. That kind of physical toll on players' bodies would have been even more daunting had the Ravens not had extra rest on the front end. Baltimore needs to play its best football in December and into the playoffs. This was a good time to get stronger.
Second, it's a chance for the Ravens' defensive line to get back to full strength. At the beginning of the season, Baltimore was causing havoc up front in the trenches. Travis Jones has been dealing with an ankle injury for weeks that he finally got to rest, and Michael Pierce (calf) looks like he could be coming off injured reserve soon. The Ravens' defense is about to get stronger.
Third, I think it was a good time for Justin Tucker to hit the reset button, mentally. Some time off was perhaps a good thing for getting the Ravens' kicker back on the right track following his three misses against the Eagles.
Brown: I understand why you ask. The Ravens' five losses have come against teams that have superb defensive linemen – Chris Jones (Chiefs), Maxx Crosby (Raiders), Myles Garrett (Browns), Cam Heyward (Steelers), and Jalen Carter (Eagles). I don't think that's a coincidence.
Those studs helped their teams pressure Lamar Jackson consistently without relying on the blitz. Not only did those opponents harass Jackson and limit Baltimore's big plays, but Derrick Henry was held under 100 yards in each of those games.
In the rematch against the Steelers in Week 16, I think the Ravens may use more run-heavy formations featuring fullback Patrick Ricard, a superb blocker who can be moved around. They may try to wear down the Steelers' defensive line by increasing the workload for Henry, who had just 13 carries in Pittsburgh.
It's not like the Ravens haven't enjoyed any success against top defensive fronts. They ran for 212 yards against the Chargers, who have given up the fewest points in the league and have Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa on their line. They dominated the Bills, 35-10, in Week 4, when Henry ran for three touchdowns and opened the game by going 87 yards untouched. However, if the Ravens are going to win a Super Bowl, they'll have to handle top defensive fronts better than they faired against Philadelphia in Week 13.
Mink: I'm in the locker room every day and I don't sense anything different from previous seasons. I think this is a tight-knit group.
The difference from last year is the Ravens have faced more adversity this season. Last year, they were cruising to the No. 1-overall seed, which of course brings plenty of good vibes. The Ravens have had some frustrating losses this season and they've faced a really challenging schedule – the second toughest in the AFC so far. They've had to overcome a slow start defensively and make tough decisions shuffling the lineup, which paid off.
Diontae Johnson's one-game suspension is the latest adversity, but I believe Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman, who said this week that they won’t let it be a distraction. The rest of the guys will lock in and focus on football.
After the Ravens were bounced from the AFC Championship last season, a bunch of people wondered if they weren't battle-tested enough to handle that game. This year, the Ravens have faced more adversity. Does that make them more calloused for a stretch run that will test their mettle? We'll find out.
Brown: Walker has played just six offensive snaps this season. I'm not surprised he's had to wait his turn as a rookie in the Ravens' talented wide receiver rotation.
For Walker to assume a larger role at this point would be asking a lot, considering how much the Ravens have at stake down the stretch. Flowers appears on his way to a 1,000-yard season, Bateman is having his best year, and Nelson Agholor and Tylan Wallace have made key plays.
Flowers and Bateman are young starters who can help groom Walker, and he can also soak up knowledge from a vet like Agholor. This has been like a redshirt year for Walker – one that could benefit him in the future. However, I think we'll have to wait until next season to find out if he's ready to contribute regularly to the offense.
