Mink: Yes, I believe the Ravens have a roster capable of winning it all even though they didn't make any major splashes at the trade deadline.
The fact is, they have the best offense in the league, led by the best player in the league. The offense got even better at the trade deadline with the addition of wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who I expect to get more involved with more time learning the offense. The ground attack will also get better when Keaton Mitchell makes his 2024 debut, which seems to be nearing.
The Ravens have an offense that is certainly capable of beating the Chiefs. Kansas City has a good defense and prides itself on playing man-to-man coverage on the outside to put pressure on receivers and quarterbacks. Baltimore has stockpiled receivers that create separation to beat that kind of coverage. I believe the Ravens can get over the KC hump.
Defensively, I know a lot of fans were hoping for pass rush help that didn't come at the trade deadline. The pass rush needs to generate more consistent pressure, but the Ravens have the fifth-most sacks in the league (28). Pass rush and coverage go hand in hand. The Ravens improved their 32nd-ranked secondary with the addition of cornerback Tre'Davious White. I still believe they have the talent on defense to be very good and it just needs to click.
Overall, this Ravens squad is loaded. But the road ahead is still challenging, and they need to win a lot more games before we start thinking about a potential rematch with the Chiefs.
Brown: Yes, I see what you did, and Flowers deserves your kudos!
He enters Thursday night's game fifth in receiving yards (654), and if Flowers stays healthy, he's going to blow past 1,000 yards this season the way he blows by defensive backs.
Flowers could make his first Pro Bowl this season, even though it's only Year 2 for him. He's already starting to be recognized as one of the NFL's top receivers, and the Lamar Jackson-Flowers combination should be lethal for years to come.
I think there will be Pro Bowls in Flowers' future, but he's more concerned with reaching the Super Bowl.
Brown: The Ravens didn't trade for a pass rusher at Tuesday's deadline, so we'll see if they improve from within.
Baltimore is just seven sacks behind the New York Giants who lead the league with 35, however the Ravens' pass rush hasn't been as potent or consistent as 2023, when their 60 sacks led the NFL.
If the Ravens' pass coverage improves in the second half of the season, it will help the pass rush. Too often during the first nine games, opposing quarterbacks didn't need much time to find an open target. If Baltimore's linebackers and secondary tighten up in pass coverage, quarterbacks will hold the ball a longer and give rushers more time to get home.
Nnamdi Madubuike, who led the Ravens with 13 sacks last season, only has two so far and opponents have made double-teaming him even more of a priority. Kyle Van Noy is on pace for a career high in sacks, but six of his seven came in the first four games. Unless the Ravens start blitzing more, which could leave them vulnerable to giving up big plays, their pass defense needs to improve, and their pass rushers need to win more one-on-one battles.
Mink: We talked to St. Vice President of Marketing Brad Downs about the “Purple Rush” alternate helmet on “The Lounge” podcast several months ago. When we asked about the possibility of having multiple alternate helmets, he said, "We're not there yet."
Alternate helmets opened up to teams in 2022. Earlier this year, the league expanded its uniform policy to allow teams to have a third alternate helmet starting in 2025.
The Ravens are debuting their first ever alternate helmet two years after they were first allowed to do so. We love our traditional helmet here in Baltimore, and the Ravens switch up their uniform combinations a lot already. So while it's certainly possible for another alternate helmet to drop, I wouldn't say it's a definite.
