The Baltimore Ravens have looked like one of the best teams in the NFL over the last few weeks. They have bounced back after a disappointing performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 5, reeling off four straight wins and cementing their place atop the AFC.
At 7-2, the Ravens are rolling as they have been excellent on both sides of the ball. They have the No. 1 ranked defense in terms of points allowed and are second in yardage allowed as they make things very difficult for their opponents when it comes to moving the ball.
Offensively, things haven’t quite clicked yet, but they have still produced some big numbers. Baltimore is sixth in points and yardage gained, an impressive feat as the team still irons out some of the nuances of Todd Monken’s system.
What has stood out the most in the Ravens’ dominant first half of the 2023 season? In the opinion of Jamison Hensley of ESPN, it’s their ability to get off to strong starts. They have a chance to make history if they can keep that up in the second half of the season.
“The Ravens have been so dominant that they’ve held the lead entering the fourth quarter of every game this season. This is tied for the fifth-longest streak to begin a season in the Super Bowl era, according to ESPN Stats & Information. Of the previous five teams to do so, three went on to reach the Super Bowl, including the 1998 Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos,” Hensley wrote.
That is how close the Ravens are to being 9-0 on the season. They held Pittsburgh to three points in the first three quarters of the game before stumbling in the fourth and losing for the second time. Their first loss was in overtime to the Indianapolis Colts on the road.
With Lamar Jackson playing at an MVP level, this is as dangerous of a Ravens team as we have seen in recent years. Keeping him healthy will be key to this team reaching the levels they are capable of.
With him in the lineup, the Ravens are legitimate Super Bowl contenders. Without him, we have seen how quickly things can derail. The last two seasons went off the track when Jackson got hurt, making his health priority No. 1 for the franchise.
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