The Baltimore Ravens hosted potential NFC contenders in two of the last three weeks, and they put together two straight dominant performances. While the team needs to get through the AFC to make the Super Bowl, the Ravens going 4-0 in their last four games has shown that this is a team that could be Super Bowl favorites. Here is why.
4. The Baltimore Ravens have an elite defense
As the games continue to go by, it is getting harder and harder to ignore just how good the Ravens' defense was. There was the argument that they had not played tough opponents, but they blew out the Lions and Seahawks. The Lions were a bit banged up, but the Seahawks had their full arsenal of weapons. It did not matter.
This defense is elite and does not have many holes. Still, they make up for a lot of their issues with the combination of Roquan Smith and Mike MacDonald. Between MacDonald being one of the best defensive play callers in the NFL and Smith being the quarterback who can not only execute his defense but also take it to the next level, the Ravens have the tandem that any elite defense needs.
Roquan Smith is elite, and so is Marlon Humphrey. Justin Madubuike and Kyle Hamilton are taking the step into that status of player. They have elite players at all layers of their defense. With Jadeveon Clowney, Michael Pierce, Patrick Queen, Geno Stone, and Brandon Stephens all having either the best years of their career or their best year in some time, this is a unit that has to be taken seriously. Defense wins championships, and the Ravens have the best.
3. The Baltimore Ravens rushing offense is improving
The Baltimore Ravens have always had a great rushing attack, but that has almost always been led by Lamar Jackson. After losing J.K. Dobbins, it took the Ravens some searching to work out their run game. It is looking like they are figuring things out. Gus Edwards has 38 rushes for 196 yards and six touchdowns over the last three weeks. I would say that the run game is looking just fine with him right now.
More than that, it looks like the Ravens may have finally got their speed threat. The Ravens lost Dobbins and then went to Justice Hill and Kenyan Drake, but it looks like Keaton Mitchell may be the guy that they needed. Mitchell had nine rushes for 138 yards and one touchdown against the Seahawks. He came back against the Lions, tweaked his injury, left the game, and was not seen against the Cardinals. Needless to say, we need to see more to make sure this is a legitimate threat. Still, it is also fair to say that Sunday may have been his breakout.
When the Baltimore Ravens run game is at a championship-level quality, they have a power back a speed back, and Lamar Jackson being the third rusher who can make it all go. They have Gus Edwards established, they have Keaton Mitchell up-and-coming, and Lamar Jackson has been the man with the ball in his hands. This is a Super Bowl formula.
2. The Baltimore Ravens have depth
One of the biggest factors that a Super Bowl team needs is depth. They have to be able to withstand the injuries that come from the long NFL season. The Ravens have done that already. More injuries will come as the season drags on, but this team has the depth to survive this.
On the offensive line, Patrick Mekari plays so often that he is essentially viewed as a starter. Aside from struggles against Myles Garrett and TJ Watt, he has looked great. I think we can forgive him for that. More than that, we saw the Ravens offensive line look fine with center Sam Mustipher. Surviving a tackle or center injury is key and the Ravens can do it with ease.
At receiver, they are deeper than ever, and Isaiah Likely is behind Mark Andrews. On defense, the same can be said. They have survived issues at edge rusher, and with Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo potentially returning, they could be deep in that area soon.
At cornerback, Ronald Darby and Rock Ya-Sin do not play because of the depth, and the Ravens' defense has been the best in the NFL without Marcus Williams in the lineup. Roquan Smith and Lamar Jackson would be tough to replace, but this team can win a lot of games otherwise.
1. The Baltimore Ravens have Lamar Jackson
Defense wins championships, but at the same time, almost all of the all-time teams are remembered by the quarterback. Even Joe Flacco had arguably the best stretch of his career in what led to a Super Bowl. That brings us to Lamar Jackson. Any year that the Ravens have Lamar Jackson, they are going to be in the discussion for the Super Bowl. Yes, his history in the playoffs is not strong. However, it just takes one year in the dance. Players like Peyton Manning struggled for years before finally getting over the top. Jackson does not have to win in the playoffs every year to prove that he can when the time is right.
However, it is a quarterback like Jackson, who can turn the sack into a touchdown and move chains when disaster strikes, that can win these big games. When you have him, you are on the short list of teams who can actually make a run this year. When you combine the defense, the fact that he has some help in the running game, and the depth of this roster, the Ravens can make a serious run this year.
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