The Baltimore Ravens' offense has been building momentum throughout the offseason. Coordinator Declan Doyle's arrival, along with a retooling of the interior offensive line, has the unit looking dangerous entering training camp.
Analysts are already buying into a return to top-ten production for the Ravens' offense after the unit regressed last season. But former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky believes that the transformation will take time.
Orlovsky compared Baltimore's current situation to that of the 2025 Chicago Bears. In an appearance on ESPN's "Get Up," he said:
“Waiting to see what this unit looks like in November is going to be a much more reliable declaration of how they are, rather than judging them by the first month of the season.”
Baltimore Ravens' new-look offense could be months away from taking off
Doyle worked under Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson last season, leading to a natural comparison. In Johnson's detailed offense, Chicago took some time to come into its own. As Orlovsky mentioned, the Bears weren't an elite offense in the first half of the season.
But Caleb Williams and company took off in the back half of the season. The Bears finished the year ranking seventh in the NFL in EPA per play, ninth in points per game, and sixth in yards per game. They're expected to build on their success in 2026.
It's fair to expect a similar trajectory for the Ravens. As talented as Lamar Jackson is, this system is new to him. It may take some time to adjust to Doyle's scheme, especially after losing two of the unit's top players in Tyler Linderbaum and Isaiah Likely.
Baltimore doesn't exactly have the flexibility to allow a slow start. After missing out on the playoffs in 2025, another down year is unacceptable. The team's current leaders aren't getting any younger, and the championship window could be closing quickly. Doyle's offense needs to be at least competent early in the season.
Jackson is a more dynamic quarterback than Williams is, giving the Ravens' offense a higher ceiling than the Bears. A cohesive scheme could give Baltimore the league's best offense.
If Jesse Minter and the defense can help get the Ravens off to a strong start, and the Doyle-led offense comes into its own late in the year, Baltimore could have its most balanced team in years. A Bears-like rise for the offense would make this team an unquestioned contender in the AFC.
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