Now that the Baltimore Ravens are in the post-season we can talk about how the team can run the table and win the Super Bowl. Here’s a blueprint for a run.
Continue to run the football:
If there’s one thing the Baltimore Ravens know how to do it’s run the football. The Ravens finished 2020 with the league’s best rushing offense, averaging 191.9 YPG with Lamar Jackson totaling 1,000-yards and becoming the first quarterback in league history to record multiple (and consecutive) 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Rookie J.K. Dobbins also came on hot down the stretch to end the year with 805-yards and a league-best 6.0 YPC by a running back. Gus Edwards, meanwhile, continued his steady dominance with his third-straight 700-yard rushing season.
These three combine to form a historically good rushing unit that Baltimore can use to win games every week. It’s a pass-happy league and yet the Ravens are winning games with the league’s worst passing offense in YPG. It’s truly remarkable.
Because of this, Baltimore needs to continue to lean on its run game. The best teams, when it comes to post-season football, can run the ball and control the clock. The Ravens clearly have a knack for that and will need to lean on that now more than ever.
The Tennessee Titans provide a good matchup to start this playoff run out, as Derrick Henry will look for another strong outing against Baltimore. The Ravens run game will need to be at its best, but if it is they can upstage the Titans run game. The better run game will likely win this game.
While Baltimore will still need to be able to throw the ball better than they did this year, running the ball is the team’s biggest strength. With three unique styles of running, it will be easy to keep defenses off balance and control the game. With teams like the Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, and Tennessee Titans lurking, it’ll be pivotal to keep those offenses sidelined. To do this, you just need to trust your run game.