The Purple and Black bandwagon is getting crowded, and for good reason. After dismantling the Pittsburgh Steelers 34-17, the Baltimore Ravens look like a team no one wants to face in January. From Lamar Jackson’s MVP-level play to Derrick Henry bulldozing defenses, Baltimore is heating up at the perfect time.
The Ravens’ recent surge has caught the attention of Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe, who didn’t mince words about their Super Bowl potential. “There are not three teams in the NFL better than the Baltimore Ravens when Lamar Jackson is on his game,” Sharpe said on First Take. “No other team in the AFC—not Kansas City, not Buffalo—has the firepower the Baltimore Ravens have.”
Sharpe didn’t stop there, pointing to Baltimore’s ability to dictate games on their terms. “If they take care of the football, they can beat anybody,” he added. “They have a good enough defense, and they have an outstanding offense.”
The Baltimore Ravens could do something special this year
If there’s one team the Ravens have had trouble overcoming in recent years, it’s the Kansas City Chiefs. But this Baltimore squad feels different. They’re no longer relying on one dimension to win games; this team is built to adapt and control the tempo.
Lamar Jackson is playing some of the best football of his career. His 37 passing touchdowns are a new franchise record, and his improved accuracy under pressure has been a game-changer. Add in Derrick Henry’s bruising 162-yard performance against Pittsburgh, and you have a formula that can frustrate a high-flying offense like Kansas City’s.
Sharpe isn’t the only one who sees it. Good Morning Football’s Peter Schrager also pegged Baltimore as the AFC team most capable of knocking off the Chiefs. “The Ravens, even as a Wild Card, really could give the Chiefs fits because they can score and then late in the game they will keep the ball out of Patrick Mahomes' hands because they've got behind them,” Schrager said.
Baltimore’s defense has quietly found its footing at just the right time. Marlon Humphrey’s game-sealing pick-six against the Steelers and Kyle Van Noy’s relentless pressure are just the latest examples of a unit that is starting to live up to its potential.
The Ravens are rolling, and it’s not just Sharpe or Schrager noticing. With two games left to solidify their playoff seeding, Baltimore is poised to make a serious run—and they look more than ready to finally knock Kansas City off their throne.