The Baltimore Ravens were on the brink of something special in 2024. After starting the season 0-2, they stormed back with a 12-3 finish, looking like one of the most dominant teams in football. Lamar Jackson played at an MVP level, Derrick Henry ran over the entire league, and the defense found its stride late in the season.
But just when it looked like Baltimore was going to march to the Super Bowl, it all came crashing down in the AFC Divisional Round. A sloppy first half, a near miracle comeback, and a dropped two-point conversion later, and the Ravens were sent packing by the Buffalo Bills. It was another crushing postseason exit, leaving fans wondering: What’s next?
Well, if Kyle Soppe of Pro Football & Sports Network is right, next season could be even bigger for the Ravens. And not just “win the division” big. We’re talking history-making big.
Bold Ravens prediction has them entering historical territory
Soppe dropped one of the boldest predictions of the offseason, claiming that Baltimore will go undefeated into December and be the NFL’s top overall seed. Here's his analysis:
"At this point, we know what the offense brings to the table. Lamar Jackson is in the conversation for the most impactful player in the sport, and Derrick Henry is going to be a tough tackle until the end of time. But what if the defense flirts with elite status? Only two defenses held an 83.9 Defense+ grade for the entire season, one of which was the Super Bowl champion Eagles.
The bold claim might not be as bold as it sounds; if you include the playoffs, the Jaguars and Bears were the only teams in 2024 with more losses in games decided by five points or less (Baltimore had five), and that doesn’t include a seven-point loss at Arrowhead where they were an Isaiah Likely toenail away from sending things to overtime."
For reference, only two teams in NFL history have ever completed a perfect regular season: the 1972 Miami Dolphins and the 2007 New England Patriots. If Soppe’s prediction holds true, Baltimore would be walking into January in that same historic category with a chance at history.
Look, no one is saying this is an easy path. The Ravens have a brutal schedule, including nine games against 2024 playoff teams. The AFC North is always a bloodbath, and the NFC North matchups won’t be any easier. But is it impossible? Not at all.
Soppe makes a great point about how close Baltimore already was to something historic. The Ravens lost five games by five points or fewer (including the playoffs), not including their seven-point loss to the Chiefs, which came down to an Isaiah Likely toenail from forcing overtime. Flip a couple of those moments, and suddenly, Baltimore is knocking on the door of something legendary.
Of course, there’s the age-old question of resting starters late in the year if Baltimore is in that position. But that’s a problem you’d love to have. The reality is this team is built to win right now, and if the defense continues its upward trajectory, there’s no telling how high they can go. They've brought in new coaches to address some of their underlying issues, so it's not unreasonable to think year two under defensive coordinator Zach Orr is going to be anything less than stellar.
An undefeated Ravens team rolling into January? Yeah, we’d take that. Pretty solid prediction.