For 12 seasons, the Lombardi Trophy has eluded the grasp of the Baltimore Ravens. Since their win in Super Bowl 47, it has felt like heartbreak after heartbreak for Baltimore. The Lamar Jackson era has been extraordinary, but the team has failed to reach a Super Bowl in the seven years with Jackson under center. In 2025, that could all change.
Sports Illustrated recently ranked the top 32 trios on the offensive and defensive sides of the game. The trios must include three of the best players from each position group. The offense included a quarterback, running back, and pass catcher. On the defense, the lists included a defensive lineman, linebacker, and defensive back. Both lists included the Ravens in the top two.
In Matt Verderame's offensive rankings, the Ravens group of Jackson, Derrick Henry, and Zay Flowers took the top spot, just above the Philadelphia Eagles at number two. Gilberto Manzano wrote the defensive rankings and listed the Ravens trio of Nnamdi Madubuike, Roquan Smith, and Kyle Hamilton as second, one spot behind the Eagles.
These rankings show that the Ravens have as much talent as the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles and might hint at a potential Super Bowl 60 matchup.
The Ravens are poised for a 2025 Super Bowl run
The Ravens have Pro Bowlers and All-Pros scattered around the depth chart. With that talent, the praise on both sides of the ball makes sense. Each of the six players listed by Sports Illustrated made the Pro Bowl in 2024, and some enjoyed the best seasons of their careers.
On offense, the trio is one of the most dangerous in football. Jackson is a perennial MVP candidate, coming off the strongest year of his career. Henry nearly ran for 2,000 yards for the second time in his career, and Flowers reached the 1,000 mark for the first time. The three helped propel the offense to the league leader in yardage, which included a top-10 passing season and number-one rushing season.
The defensive side was a different story in 2024. The team struggled to stop offenses for most of the year, but the uber-talented unit finally broke through and played the final seven games like one of the best defenses in football. Madubuike, Smith, and Hamilton are among the best players at their respective positions, and the defense has loads of other talent roaming around.
In 2025, that group should put together a 17-game season of elite defensive play. On the offensive side, there is no reason Baltimore should not be back at the top of the ranks. The talent always seems to shine through down the stretch in the regular season, and if they can finally put it together in the playoffs, they could challenge for the Lombardi Trophy in 2024.
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