Storylines to Watch As Ravens Make Playoff Push
After a grueling 13 consecutive weeks of games, the Ravens have returned from their bye week rejuvenated and focused on playing their best football as they make their playoff push.
The Baltimore Banner's Jonas Shaffer identified the top Ravens storylines for the final month of the regular season. Here's a look at three:
Can Lamar Jackson shore up his accuracy?
"Over the season's first 10 weeks, Lamar Jackson threw one of the NFL's most receiver-friendly balls. According to Sports Info Solutions, among quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts, Jackson ranked first in the league in catchable-pass rate (89.6%). Harassed or unbothered, Jackson gave his teammates a good chance on almost every drop-back. … But over the past three games, his accuracy has suffered. Pass protection woes have been a factor in the Ravens' passing game, and so has Jackson's deeper target range, but even in clean pockets, he's been inconsistent.
"A break could do Jackson some good. He's dealt with minor back and knee injuries this season, and he was visibly frustrated after the Ravens' Week 13 loss to the Eagles. Despite going 23-for-36 for 237 yards and two touchdowns against Philadelphia, Jackson missed a couple of open receivers on drives that ended with punts."
Can the defense force more turnovers?
"The Ravens should have more than their seven interceptions this season. Quarterbacks have attempted 23 "turnover-worthy" passes against them this season, according to PFF, but less than a third (30.4%) have been turned into picks. The Minnesota Vikings, by comparison, have an NFL-high 20 interceptions on 30 turnover-worthy pass plays (66.7%). Overall, a year after leading the league in takeaways (31), the Ravens have slumped to the bottom third (11).
"Assistant Head Coach and Pass Game Coordinator Chris Hewitt said the Ravens have 'simplified' their schemes in recent weeks, which has helped their defense hold four of their past five opponents to 202 yards passing or fewer. But the Ravens' more conventional play calls might be a double-edged sword, limiting big plays for both teams. Since Week 9, the Ravens have just two interceptions and have forced just five turnover-worthy passes."
How committed are the Ravens to the run?
"Over his eight seasons with the Tennessee Titans, running back Derrick Henry was never an easy matchup. The best a defense could hope for was to get him early on its schedule, not late. In September, according to TruMedia, Henry averaged just 3.9 yards per carry and had a 38.2% success rate (the percentage of plays with positive expected points added); in December and January, 5.2 yards per carry and a 42.1% success rate.
"Henry's production derived in part from his heavy usage; Tennessee deployed him as a battering ram, and was rarely content with a handful of knocks. In each of his three most productive seasons with the Titans (2019, 2020 and 2022), Henry finished first in the NFL in second-half carries. Entering Week 14 this season, Henry is third in the NFL in carries (240) and third in second-half carries (131). But running backs coach Willie Taggart said last week that the 30-year-old hasn't had "a lot of wear and tear on him this year."
Marlon Humphrey, Ronnie Stanley Are Having Bounce-Back Seasons
There were questions about cornerback Marlon Humphrey and left tackle Ronnie Stanley entering the season, but two of the Ravens' longest tenured players have proved that they can still play at a high level.
Humphrey has been a beacon of consistency for the secondary, and Stanley has provided a steadying presence on an offensive line that welcomed three new starters.
"Many were doubting the future of Marlon Humphrey after his injury-plagued 2023, but the 28-year-old has responded with arguably the best season of his career with Pro Football Focus grading him third out of 118 qualified cornerbacks," Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones wrote. "His five interceptions are already a career high.
"Speaking of players who've dealt with injuries, Ronnie Stanley has played 99% of the offensive snaps with PFF grading him 32nd out of 80 qualified offensive tackles. … Stanley, 30, has remained dependable, making his pending free agency interesting."
Two First-Round Prospects Ravens Could Consider
Looking ahead to the draft, PFF’s Bradley Locker named two prospects each team could consider in the first round.
For the Ravens, selecting 24th, Locker chose Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos and Louisville edge rusher Ashton Gillotte.
"Even though Baltimore drafted Nate Wiggins in the first round last year, adding another cornerback will be on [General Manager] Eric DeCosta's agenda," Locker wrote. "Trey Amos recorded a career-best 82.0 PFF coverage grade on a career-high 783 snaps this season.
"Kyle Van Noy (42 pressures) and Odafe Oweh (14% pass-rush win rate) have formed a solid tandem, but the Ravens would be wise to add another reliable edge defender — especially with Van Noy being 34 years old. Ashton Gillotte doesn't currently hold a ton of first-round buzz but has been a monster with Louisville over the past two years, totaling 117 pressures, 14 sacks and 51 stops."
