The Baltimore Ravens entered the 2021 season with Super Bowl aspirations. And although hardly everything has gone to plan, the team does still sit at 8-4 with a little over a month to go.
This Ravens team, despite their numerous crushing injuries, is hanging around atop the AFC. How long will they last? How far can they actually go with this banged-up shell of a roster? That much remains to be seen.
But what we do know is that nothing is certain in the NFL. A week ago, the Ravens were the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Now, another loss could drop them to the brink of being on the outside of the playoff race looking in.
We’ve seen countless stunning upsets around the league in 2021 — enough to establish that any team can win on any given week. For that reason alone, the Ravens are still Super Bowl contenders.
Yes, they need to figure out what’s wrong with their offense. Yes, Lamar Jackson needs to snap out of this funk and play smarter football. And yes, the defense needs to somehow overcome yet another significant injury.
But this Ravens team has proven that they could hang with any NFL team. They can still win the Super Bowl. The season is far from over.
Of course, it won’t be an easy path to success. Despite a lack of truly dominant teams this year, a number of foes could stand in the Ravens’ way of reaching their ultimate goal.
Let’s take a look at the five biggest obstacles the Ravens need to overcome if they’re to reach the Super Bowl.