It's difficult to watch another Super Bowl held in New Orleans – a sort of second home for Ravens fans after Super Bowl XLVII – without being in it.

The Ravens were good enough to get there this year, but they weren't good enough in their divisional playoff loss in Buffalo.

"There's always next year" is a common refrain among sports fans of every team, but there's reason to believe that Ravens fans can say it with confidence this offseason. Here are 10 reasons why, all in 50 words or less:

• I recall even some of the most ardent Ravens fans claiming that 2024 was a "rebuild" year given the loss of several defensive coaches (including coordinator) and the turnover of three offensive line starters. Yet the Ravens were still one of the league's strongest teams by year's end.

• Lamar Jackson. There really aren't more words needed. The MVP vote doesn't change my view that the Ravens have the best player on the planet at the most important position. As long as Jackson is under center, the Ravens can win any game they're in and go all the way.

• Derrick Henry isn't slowing down. He turned 31 years old in January, but those who thought he might slow down in his 30s were proven dead wrong and those who doubt he can repeat will be as well. Henry is a one-of-a-kind athlete who is already training and highly motivated.

• The continuity of the coaching staff will pay major dividends this season. Year 2 of Todd Monken's system flourished and it can add even more polish and twists in Year 3. The Ravens are building off the league's top scheme. Zach Orr has a valuable year under his belt.

• I believe in the defensive coaching changes, which are directly aimed at last year's weaknesses. Chuck Pagano's expertise will help the secondary and hopefully add some more playmaking opportunities. Highly regarded new Linebackers Coach Tyler Santucci will help take Trenton Simpson and the middle of the defense to another level.

• Baltimore's defense made great strides over the second half of the season. It will have to continue to evolve, but if that momentum carries over into Year 2 with Orr (like it did under Year 2 with Monken) this team could play a brand of unstoppable complimentary football.

• The Ravens don't stand to lose many key free agents, and they have the cap space to make meaningful additions. Baltimore was extremely tight against the cap last year and still managed to add Derrick Henry to the backfield. Eric DeCosta has a track record of making shrewd cost-effective moves.

• Even if Baltimore doesn't retain Ronnie Stanley, it has a solid potential in-house replacement with Roger Rosengarten. The experience gained by guards Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees sets them up for tremendous growth in 2025. Phase 1 of the rebuild was a success, and Phase 2 could complete the job.

• By virtue of its build-through-the-draft approach, Baltimore always has young talent prepared to step into bigger roles. That will be the case again next year as the strong 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 draft classes continue to rise. Plus, the Ravens are projected to have 11 draft picks this April.

• Only six teams had fewer defensive takeaways than the Ravens last season. In 2023, no team had more. With some element of luck to turnovers, I expect the scales to balance. Turnovers are a clear focus, both on generating more takeaways and avoiding them in the postseason.