The Baltimore Ravens have experienced considerable success on offense early in the 2025 NFL season, but struggles remain. Their league-worst defense is the most obvious problem, but despite having a top-three scoring offense, their stagnant rushing attack might be one of the leading factors contributing to their 1-3 start.
After a dominant Week 1 showing that saw running back Derrick Henry rush for 169 yards and two touchdowns, Henry’s 2025 campaign has been relatively silent. He has accounted for just 115 yards on the ground in the past three weeks and has only seen 31 carries. He tends to get phased out on third downs, and this year, the Ravens have failed to keep the running game going for all four quarters.
Former NFL defensive end and current ESPN analyst Marcus Spears took notice of this, and he put Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken on full blast for the questionable playcalling early in the season.
“I don’t know what Todd Monken is doing. There is a tremendous amount of evidence that if you let Derrick Henry dictate games, the offense works better,” Spears said. “You did not sign this man to be tied for 24th in carries five weeks into the season. If his career wasn’t made on volume, we wouldn’t have this argument. He gets better the more touches he has.”
Todd Monken must use Derrick Henry more
The Ravens extended Henry this offseason after a 1,921-yard, 16-touchdown campaign. Yet, he is almost becoming an afterthought in the offense. He was a huge reason why Baltimore was able to control the pace of the game last year, and they are quickly letting that offensive strategy get away from them in 2025.
While the defense has largely been the issue holding the Ravens back thus far, they faced similar issues in 2024. Their defense ranked near the bottom in several categories in the first half, but the team was able to weather the early storm. That was due to them running the football, controlling the pace of the game, and winning the time of possession battle. Without Henry contributing to those long drives that give the defense a breather and run the clock, the Ravens have no chance of holding their own in disastrous defensive performances.
They are also keeping Henry from reaching his best form. As Spears mentioned, the two-time rushing champion gets better the more carries he has. He wears the defense down. Everyone saw it in the season opener against the Buffalo Bills, but we have yet to see Monken unleash Henry like that since.
Sure, the lack of fullback Patrick Ricard has had an effect on the team’s efficiency running the ball, but Henry remains one of the most unstoppable backs in the league, and Monken is holding him back.