The Baltimore Ravens are once again heading into the offseason with the same question looming over their heads: How do they finally break through and win another Super Bowl? It’s a frustrating reality for a team that consistently rocks the regular season, only to falter when it matters most. And if Sports Illustrated’s Conor Orr is right, that trend isn’t going anywhere next year.
Orr’s bold prediction for the Ravens? More heartbreak. He projects Baltimore will once again come up short in the playoffs, losing to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game. It’s deja vu from the Divisional Round loss this past season, and frankly, it’s the last thing Ravens fans want to hear.
“The Ravens will lose to the Bills in the AFC Championship Game. This offseason lacks the kind of available difference-makers Baltimore could sweep up en route to fielding a more competitive team à la Derrick Henry a year ago,” Orr wrote. What a bleak outlook for a team trying anything and everything to get over the hump and end their playoff woes.
Ravens predicted to lose to the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship Game
Orr’s prediction essentially paints the Ravens as a team that’s good enough to get close, but not good enough to finish the job. And let’s be honest, that’s been the narrative for a while now. Since Lamar Jackson took over as the starter, Baltimore has consistently been one of the best teams in football—only to stumble in the playoffs.
This notion that the Ravens can’t improve this offseason feels a bit premature, though. Sure, the free agency market isn’t overflowing with affordable superstar talent, but Baltimore doesn’t need an overhaul. They still have Jackson, Derrick Henry, Zay Flowers, and one of the best defenses in the league. The team will make moves, whether through trades or the draft, and there’s always the possibility that general manager Eric DeCosta pulls a rabbit out of his hat.
And speaking of improvements, if the Ravens do make a major move—say, trading for Myles Garrett or Cooper Kupp—that would completely shift the conversation. Adding an elite pass rusher or another top-tier weapon for Jackson would instantly make Baltimore more dangerous and potentially change the playoff landscape.
At the end of the day, predicting another heartbreaking finish for the Ravens is easy because it’s happened so many times before. But writing them off before they even have a chance to reload? That feels premature. This team isn’t built to be a stepping stone for Buffalo—it’s built to win a Super Bowl. If Orr’s prediction comes true, the Ravens will have to take a long, hard look at what’s holding them back. But something screams they’re not planning on letting history repeat itself.