The Baltimore Ravens are reaching a critical point in their season in Week 11. They sit one game out of first place in the AFC North with a record of 4-5, and could pull even with the Pittsburgh Steelers with a win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday. They could reach the .500 mark, too, which seemed far out of the realm of possibilities after starting their 2025 campaign at 1-5.
With such an important stretch lying ahead, the Ravens have minimal margin for error. Any slip-up along the way could end their season, and one area that has continued to plague the team and could derail their season is the offensive line.
Guards Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele have been the main culprits of the blocking problems. For Vorhees, he is taking some steps forward in recent weeks, especially as a pass blocker, but still has the occasional blown assignment and troubles in the run blocking. Faalele, on the other hand, has been a large part of Baltimore’s ineffectiveness at times.
Whether it has been a lack of aggressiveness, inability to hold or hit blocks, falling to the ground, or being late to assignments, Faalele has struggled in nearly every way imaginable.
While the Ravens’ coaching staff has stuck with the 26-year-old all season, rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr.'s pending return could change those plans.
There is no telling how much longer of a leash he has, but if Jones proves ready for action in practice, Faalele could run out of time. That makes his performance on Sunday against Cleveland crucial.
Daniel Faalele must step up his game in Week 11
It is unlikely that a Faalele benching will come in the coming weeks. By all reports, it sounds like the team has not even contemplated making such a change, but as a 2025 third-round selection, Jones could force their hand into making a change.
Jones was a standout tackle at LSU. He showcased powerful hands, and his violent playstyle would benefit from a move inside to guard. He seems like the perfect fit, using his strength and athleticism to create lanes for the Ravens’ rushing attack.
Faalele, on the other hand, has below-average athleticism, and the strength you would expect from a 6-foot-8 lineman has yet to show up consistently. Jones certainly has a learning curve to adjust to, and a little extra time progressing back from injury should do him wonders. However, he was activated to the 53-man roster in late October, so he could be active on gamedays sooner rather than later.
Star quarterback Lamar Jackson has gotten banged up this year. He injured his hamstring in Baltimore’s Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, which held him out for three games. He also popped up on the injury report on Wednesday after he had knee soreness following a Week 10 win over the Minnesota Vikings. If he continues to get hit as much as he has, an interior offensive line change may have to happen.
Whether that ultimately is Jones, or even Ben Cleveland, swapping in for Vorhees or Faalele will be an interesting call if one is made. For now, though, the Ravens are riding a three-game winning streak, and they will likely move forward with the same lineups until their momentum is deflated.