Pundit Says Ravens May Have Better Path to Super Bowl This Year Than Last Year
Even though the Ravens were the No. 1 seed in the AFC last year, NFL Network's Bucky Brooks believes they might be in better position to reach the Super Bowl this season.
Baltimore is currently the No. 5 seed and trails the first-place Pittsburgh Steelers by two games in the AFC North with four games left. If the season ended today, the Ravens would start the playoffs on the road against the Houston Texans.
"They may have a better path to the Super Bowl this year because last year they entered the tournament with all the pressure as the top seed," Brooks said on the “Move the Sticks” podcast. "This year, it won't be the same, and you can make the case that maybe it's a better team this year than last year. They just have to find their way. Hopefully, John Harbaugh can push the right buttons and get this team going because they certainly are good enough to be there in the end."
Brooks contended that the Ravens' 8-5 record belies the team's abundance of talent.
"The Baltimore Ravens drive me a bit crazy," Brooks said. "When you look at them, the way that they're constructed, you're like, 'Man, that team has Super Bowl written all over them.' They're so good on offense with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. … Defensively, they still have enough goons and enforcers to impose their will on opponents. But then you look up and a game that they should win, they drop. And games that they're not supposed to win, they dominate. It's the craziest Jekyll and Hyde act that I've seen of an NFL team."
Jamal Lewis Says Mark Andrews Exemplifies 'Play Like a Raven'
Mark Andrews' next touchdown will be the 48th of his career, which will break a tie with Jamal Lewis for the most touchdowns in Ravens history.
The former Ravens running back said on “Glenn Clark Radio” that he relishes having the record, but he has no problem relinquishing it to Andrews because of what the tight end has meant to the Ravens on and off the field.
"He's a prime example of 'play like a Raven,'" said Lewis, who played in Baltimore from 2000-06. "He's just the prime definition of what a Raven is and how you should be in the community, how you should play on the field, and everything else."
Lewis said he's happy to see Andrews come back strong after suffering a serious ankle injury in Week 11 last year that kept him out of action until the AFC Championship Game. Andrews got off to a slow start this season but has scored seven touchdowns over the past eight games.
"It's good to see him bouncing back," Lewis said. "He's all around just a great guy and it's just great to see him flourishing."
Jackson Ranks No. 1 in Wide-Open Throws
A testament to Jackson's scrambling ability and his receivers being adept at getting separation is that 35.9% of his passes are wide-open throws, which leads the league, according to Next Gen Stats.
"That means over one-third of his attempts have come when the average separation between the target and nearest defender is 5 or more yards at the arrival of the pass," ESPN’s Jamison Hensley wrote. "This is the result of Jackson's ability as well as the improved elusiveness of Baltimore's wide receivers and tight ends. There have been many instances when he doesn't see anyone open and scrambles to buy time for one of his targets to free up."
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman is one of the best in the league at getting open. He ranks third in separation percentage (73.9), according to Pro Football Focus.
Ravens Select Marshall Edge Rusher in ESPN Insider's Mock Draft
ESPN insider Field Yates predicted all 32 first-round picks in his early mock draft. He has the Ravens selecting Marshall edge rusher Mike Green.
"Sure, the Ravens are once again near the top of the NFL in sacks (41, third), but they can always use more youth in the pass-rushing group," Yates wrote. "Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh are signed only through next season.
"Green broke out this season with an FBS-leading 17 sacks (up from 4.5 the previous season) and 51 pressures. He didn't play a schedule full of NFL-level offensive tackles in Conference USA, but he sure looked the part of a first-round pick against Ohio State early in the season, displaying power and explosiveness."
