For the Baltimore Ravens, they've spent the past two months rewriting what looked like a doomed season, climbing from 1–5 to 6–6 and into first place in the AFC North.
Now, they sit as the AFC’s fourth seed entering Week 14, holding a 66% chance to reach the postseason in a year that once felt lost. But that probability swings violently depending on what happens next: a divisional matchup with the Pittsburgh Steelers that could plunge their playoff odds to 34% with a loss, or launch them to 80% with a win.
And if Baltimore is going to not only secure a spot, but make a deep run into January, the formula won’t be unfamiliar -- it will start with their defense.
Ravens' defense set to play crucial role in final stretch
For all the headlines Lamar Jackson draws, and all the gravitational pull Derrick Henry brings to the backfield, the Ravens have never strayed far from their identity: Defense has, and always will, define the franchise.
It sets the tone, controls the rhythm, and lowers the burden on Jackson to play hero ball every week. The 2025 version is young, fast, and at times inconsistent, but the ceiling is undeniably high -- and that ceiling is what gives Baltimore real staying power if they reach the big dance.
The infusion of youth has reshaped the group -- rookie safety Malaki Starks has stepped in as a rangy, explosive playmaker who allows Baltimore to be aggressive on the back end. Nate Wiggins has flashed the speed and fluidity that made him one of the most coveted corner prospects in 2024. In the middle, rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan has quickly become a stabilizing presence, playing with the instincts and athletic range needed to thrive in a division built on physicality. Add in Mike Green’s development as a rotational force, and the Ravens have a core that’s maturing in real time.
But the star power that elevates everything comes from Kyle Hamilton, one of the premier defenders in football. His ability to erase passing lanes, close space downhill, and disrupt both run and pass concepts makes him the fulcrum of coordinator Zach Orr’s vision. The former Notre Dame standout in Hamilton allows Baltimore to disguise coverages, pressure creatively, and dictate matchups in ways most defenses can’t. He's a unique ballplayer, and Orr deploys him as such on every down.
Up front, the production hasn’t always matched the pressure totals, but the indicators matter.
Travis Jones leads the team with 25 pressures (two sacks) -- a number that suggests positive regression may be on the way. Pairing his interior push with the steady, savvy presence of veteran Kyle Van Noy (20 pressures in 10 games) gives Baltimore a baseline that could become far more impactful if they can finish in the backfield.
For Baltimore, if they're going to reach their ceiling, it won’t be because they ask Jackson to score 30 every Sunday. It will be because the defense carries the torch -- young talent peaking, Hamilton forcing adjustments, and a unit that can keep every contest inside striking distance.
Because in Baltimore, that’s always been the recipe for January.