What’s subsequent for Ravens? Large questions for Lamar Jackson, John Harbaugh

The Baltimore Ravens‘ season fittingly got here to an finish on a missed alternative. Tyler Loop’s miss extensive proper from 44 yards agonizingly drove one remaining dagger into essentially the most disappointing season within the NFL. Pittsburgh Steelers 26, Baltimore Ravens 24. The AFC North’s playoff bid belonged to Baltimore’s hated rival.

The truth that the Ravens even obtained the possibility was a minor miracle. Two weeks earlier, a Week 16 loss to the New England Patriots that epitomized your complete season in simply 60 minutes.

In the midst of the 28-24 prime time loss…

Their season may have (maybe mercifully) ended there. As a substitute, they beat the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 17, and the Steelers fell to the Cleveland Browns, organising the Week 18 conflict.

Then got here deja vu over again, however someway totally different In the midst of the 26-24 prime time loss …

• Jackson seemed like his MVP self, making not one however two go-ahead landing throws to Flowers;
• however Jackson additionally threw an interception that deflected off a defender and his personal lineman;
• Kyle Hamilton suffered a concussion;
• Chidobe Awuzie slipped on a double transfer on Aaron Rodgers‘ game-winning landing to Calvin Austin III;
• Rodgers, taking part in with out DK Metcalf, was 11-for-14 for 133 yards and a landing within the fourth quarter;
• and Baltimore blew a 10-point first-quarter lead.

That encompasses how a crew that entered the season as Tremendous Bowl favorites did not even make the playoffs, how an offense that returned 10 of 11 starters took an enormous step again and the way a protection that made important additions this offseason did not dwell as much as the expectations that accompanied the status of the massive names and the robust 2024 efficiency.

Every NFL crew that fails to make the postseason is, like every sad household in accordance with Leo Tolstoy, “sad in its personal means.” The Ravens can level to the elements distinctive to them — the essential faults, the dangerous luck, the breaks that did not go their means — however the largest query may merely be why these Ravens had been so un-Ravens-like: Why Baltimore missed the playoffs for simply the second time in Jackson’s profession and, most crucially now, what stage of change is important this offseason?

What went improper for the Ravens?

The Ravens seemed just like the rightful Tremendous Bowl favorites for about the primary three-and-a-half quarters of the season opener after which primarily by no means once more. Baltimore led the Buffalo Payments 40-25 with below 4 minutes left in Week 1, with the offense operating roughshod and the protection doing sufficient towards an elite opponent.

Then the protection allowed a landing, Henry misplaced a fumble, the protection allowed one other landing, the offense went three-and-out, and the protection allowed a area objective.

That was, primarily, what the crew seemed like for the following 5 weeks. Baltimore began 1-5, with Jackson struggling a hamstring damage in Week 4 towards the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. The protection was one of many NFL’s worst, gashed on the bottom and thru the air and producing few disruptive performs — sacks, turnovers, and so on. — to stem the bleeding. A 44-10 loss to the Texans meant the Ravens had allowed 177 factors by means of 5 video games, Eleventh-most in NFL historical past and the franchise’s most ever in any five-game span.

Harbaugh promised modifications and delivered, sending edge defender Odafe Oweh to the Chargers for security Alohi Gilman. The protection, ready to make use of three-safety seems, obtained again on monitor. Getting more healthy definitely helped, too. From Weeks 6-16, Baltimore’s protection ranked sixth in success charge and fourth in defensive anticipated factors added per play.

It was notable enchancment, however points continued. Solely the Cincinnati Bengals allowed extra performs of 20-plus yards this season, and solely two groups had fewer sacks. These level to important systematic and personnel points, however at the least the protection was semi-viable for a lot of the 12 months.

The offense by no means obtained on monitor. Jackson missed three video games with the hamstring damage and was by no means himself after returning. A bevy of nagging accidents — ankle, toe, knee, again — ailed him. Even throughout Baltimore’s five-game successful streak popping out of the bye, the offense underwhelmed.

“We have to execute higher,” Jackson mentioned after a 23-10 win over the lowly New York Jets. “We simply must put factors on the board. Our protection has performed lights out for the previous few weeks. [We] began to play properly in Miami, however the previous few weeks, I really feel like we have to put factors on the board and execute drives.”

We’ll by no means really understand how Jackson was impacted by his illnesses, however the numbers point out a participant robbed of the traits that make him so particular.

Then there was Henry and the operating sport. Although the hulking operating again produced one other monstrous statistical season, some underlying numbers painted a dramatic decline from the historic 2024 assault. Notably, Henry misplaced three fumbles, two of which got here in video games the Ravens had been successful and ended up shedding (Week 1 towards the Payments, Week 16 towards the Patriots). Henry’s sort out avoidance charge went from one of many league’s greatest (23.9%) to one of many league’s worst and a profession worst (14.0%).

“It is simply actually embarrassing,” Henry mentioned about his fumble towards New England. “Form of like this complete 12 months, you type of work laborious to be one of the best participant you may, be constant and have essentially the most success, and generally it would not go that means, which is upsetting.”

Nonetheless, the Ravens had an opportunity. They’d received 5 straight coming into Thanksgiving. Then they dedicated 5 turnovers in a loss to the woeful Bengals and missed alternative after alternative in a loss to the Steelers in a battle for first place within the AFC North.

“Via the roof,” Jackson mentioned of his stage of frustration after the Steelers loss. “I felt like Thanksgiving sport, we should not have misplaced that sport — turnovers, sadly. This one right here, I do not know what occurred.”

But it surely occurred over and over. Within the finale, the Ravens led 10-0 after their first three offensive possessions however stalled out. When the offense got here up clutch, the protection fell aside, unable to make the one or two huge performs to get a win. The Ravens had their first season with a damaging turnover differential since 2021, additionally the final time they missed the playoffs. They did not come by means of in key eventualities — 2-5 in one-score video games — and so they had been, on the entire, shockingly common on either side of the ball.

Just a few dangerous breaks and dangerous performs right here or there, and a crew with little margin for error made too many errors. What’s subsequent?

Why there must be no Lamar Jackson query

This must be an open-and-shut case. Jackson was terrific early within the season after which by no means the identical after the hamstring damage (and taking part in by means of a number of different illnesses).

The missed video games are worrisome. Jackson, who turns 29 subsequent month, could have missed 14 video games as a result of damage for the reason that begin of 2021 assuming he would not play subsequent weekend. There’s been quite a lot of lower-body accidents, an indication of damage and tear for a cellular quarterback who has taken a variety of hits.

However there isn’t a means the Ravens, as presently constructed, can transfer on from Jackson. He was a first-team All Professional in 2024 and the MVP the 12 months earlier than that. He makes the offense go. He’s a celebrity; for all of the struggles this season, he’s sixth in passer score. He has improved vastly as a passer all through his profession. In 4 wholesome seasons as a starter, he has three first-team All Professional picks, two MVPs and a second-place MVP end. He is just too good and, when wholesome, nice, to maneuver on from. Have a look at his fourth quarter within the finale as all of the proof needed.

Jackson additionally strengthened his need to be with Baltimore forward of the season finale. The Ravens must work out an extension for him, although: He carries a $74.5 million cap hit in 2026.

Why there must be a John Harbaugh query

Even earlier than the Ravens had been eradicated, greater questions arose. Harbaugh addressed his future after the Patriots loss.

“One factor I at all times have believed is that, to start with, teaching at any stage is a day-to-day job, and your job is to do one of the best job you may at this time, and to do all the things you may to assist your gamers and your coaches — if you happen to’re a head coach — be one of the best they are often each single day. And it is by no means been about preserving a job, and there is no such factor as ‘your’ job or ‘my’ job.”

Just a few days later, a column in The Baltimore Solar acknowledged that Jackson falls asleep in conferences, stays up late taking part in video video games which explains the Ravens apply in afternoons, not mornings. It additionally known as Jackson an “overgrown child,” one whom Harbaugh had grown uninterested in.

“We do not take an excessive amount of credence in anonymous-type sources,” Harbaugh mentioned. “So, I do not know the place that is coming from. I’ve by no means seen that ever. That is not one thing that I’ve ever witnessed, and I am in each assembly. And to invest on how I really feel about it — I am going to inform you how I really feel; I am fairly clear. I feel all the blokes within the constructing will inform you if I’ve one thing that I need to speak to them about, I am proper upfront. So, that will be improper to say that. That is not true. I had an excellent dialog with Lamar this morning about a number of issues and soccer and the way he is feeling, issues like that. So, our relationship is ‘A+.’ I really like him. I at all times have, at all times will.”

Whether or not Harbaugh at all times can be Jackson’s coach is below the microscope. Harbaugh mentioned he is had conversations with proprietor Steve Bisciotti, whom he described as “implausible.” Harbaugh hasn’t been fairly nearly as good this season. 

Within the loss to the Patriots, Harbaugh admitted he wished he had Henry on the sphere extra late. (The next week, Henry had 36 carries, 11 greater than in another sport this season.) The Ravens had too many situations of undisciplined play. There wasn’t at all times a transparent id. When Jackson was out, Cooper Rush obtained the primary name, and it took too lengthy for Baltimore to change to Tyler Huntley.

Whether or not or not Harbaugh’s teaching or message has gone stale is difficult to guage. The numbers present a crew that has persistently failed to complete: 16 fourth-quarter leads blown over the past 5 years, tied for many within the league. In fact, the Ravens must be adequate to construct these leads within the first place — their 51 wins over that span are tied for fifth-most — however they’ve additionally made far too many errors which have price them by tiny margins. That was particularly obvious this 12 months.

Shifting on from Harbaugh or normal supervisor Eric DeCosta could be a seismic shift. The Ravens have 179 wins since 2008, when Harbaugh took over. Solely three groups have extra. DeCosta has been with the crew since its 1996 inception and has been GM since 2018.

Bisciotti has huge calls to make, maybe the most important he is needed to make as proprietor. This was not only a disappointing season due to Jackson’s damage. This was a disappointing season on all ranges. The roster is ageing, and youthful gamers have not emerged in a number of key spots. Baltimore, per regular, has a gold mine of picks. It should even have some sources in free company, particularly assuming a Jackson extension brings his cap hit down.

There’s nonetheless a gifted core. However there are many holes to fill, irrespective of who’s in cost.

Questions across the offense: Inside linemen, playmakers wants

Baltimore has important areas to deal with round Jackson, beginning along with his offensive line. Heart Tyler Linderbaum and guard Daniel Faalele are free brokers; Linderbaum must be a precedence.

However Faalele and the left guard spot — occupied by Andrew Vorhees — are up within the air. Coming into the Ravens’ Week 18 sport, they ranked thirty third and thirty fourth, respectively, in PFF’s grades out of 40 guards who had performed at the least 800 snaps. They had been thirty third and thirty sixth, respectively, in cross blocking.

Baltimore may see what it has in Emery Jones Jr., a third-round decide in 2025 who missed a lot of the season as a result of damage. It may pursue solutions in free company and/or the draft. However it can want solutions at doubtlessly each guard spots.

The Ravens additionally want upgrades at cross catcher. Isaiah Doubtless can be a free agent and, after extending Mark Andrews, the Ravens won’t need to shell out for one more tight finish. After a breakout 2024, Rashod Bateman has struggled.

Baltimore wants extra downfield manufacturing. It wants extra separation from its exterior receivers. It wants somebody aside from Flowers who can actually stretch — and stress — a protection.

Henry confirmed he can nonetheless be the fulcrum of a bodily operating sport, however he might need taken a step or two again from his dominating, devastating 2024. In flip, Baltimore must be extra dynamic in different aspects of the offense and higher up entrance, regardless.

Large query on protection: Can the cross rush be revitalized?

The Ravens felt the absence of Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) keenly, not simply as a run defender however as an inside cross rusher; he had 19.5 sacks throughout 2023 and 2024. He had two extra in simply two video games this season.

The sting rush is in dangerous want of a lift.

That is a obtrusive situation. The Ravens’ 4.6% sack charge was the second-lowest in franchise historical past.

That is the place current draft misses present up. Adisa Isaac (third spherical, 2024), Robinson (fourth spherical, 2023), David Ojabo (second spherical, 2022) have not produced. Accidents have performed a giant position. Baltimore traded Oweh, a 2021 first-rounder, to Los Angeles. It isn’t as if the Ravens have not invested. They simply have not gotten outcomes.

The crew additionally invested closely within the secondary, the place Awuzie, Jaire Alexander, first-round decide Malaki Starks and finally Gilman, joined the All-Professional Hamilton and Marlon Humphrey. However Alexander hardly performed earlier than being shipped off once more, and the Gilman addition got here after the Ravens had already dug themselves right into a gap.

Gilman, Awuzie and Ar’Darius Washington are free brokers after this season. Maybe two keep. Both means, Baltimore can be on the lookout for reinforcements.

Closing ideas

No matter occurs with Harbaugh, there needs to be — and can be — change. That is the straightforward fact after a season that falls properly in need of expectations. 

If Harbaugh stays, he’ll have huge calls to make on offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who has helped Jackson develop as a passer however did not have his most interesting season leaning on Henry, and defensive coordinator Zach Orr, whose unit improved however did not grow to be the lockdown unit of the previous few years. It is laborious to check a state of affairs through which Harbaugh, Monken and Orr all keep, and it is laborious to check a state of affairs through which the Ravens do not make important upgrades at key spots.

That is the general takeaway right here. The Ravens have constructed a sturdy roster with some stars however some holes round a celebrity (however imperfect, oft-injured) quarterback. We are saying the numbers do not lie, and for all of the damaging numbers of 2025, there are many constructive numbers which have stood the take a look at of time. This season was greater than a blip. It confirmed important cracks in what had been a stable basis for years. 

There are questions, undoubtedly. However the Ravens aren’t very removed from discovering solutions.