Kansas City Chiefs at Baltimore Ravens, January 28, 2024
TEAM
- Producing the NFL's best regular season record (13-4), the 2023 AFC North Champion Ravens earned a No. 1 playoff seed. After beating Houston, 34-10, in last Saturday's Divisional Round, the Ravens will host the AFC Championship for the first time in franchise history, when they face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday (3 p.m. kickoff).
- With its Divisional win over the Texans, Baltimore improved to 12-9 in postseason play under head coach John Harbaugh. This Sunday's conference title game marks the Ravens' fourth AFC Championship appearance (also 2008 & 2011-12) with Coach Harbaugh at the helm and their fifth (also 2000) in team history.
- In 2023, the Ravens clinched the AFC's top postseason spot for the second time (also 2019) in franchise history. Additionally, the campaign marked Baltimore's first division title since 2019 and the fifth (also 2011-12, 2018-19) under Coach Harbaugh.
- In the 2023 regular season, the Ravens tallied an NFL-record 10 victories vs. teams that finished with a winning record, and they posted six wins over playoff teams.
- The 2023 Ravens also ranked No. 1 in the NFL in both point differential (+203) and turnover margin (+12, tied w/ NYG).
DEFENSE
- Baltimore became the first team in league history to finish a season ranking No. 1 in each of the following categories: points allowed (16.5 ppg), sacks (60) and takeaways (31, tied w/ NYG).
- Led by All-Pros S Kyle Hamilton, DT Justin Madubuike, ILB Patrick Queen and ILB Roquan Smith, the Ravens allowed the league's sixth-fewest yards (301.4 ypg).
- Madubuike posted a team-high 13 sacks (most among NFL interior linemen), while impactful veteran free agent additions OLB Jadeveon Clowney (9.5) and OLB Kyle Van Noy (9) ranked second and third, respectively, contributing to Baltimore's single-season franchise-tying (2006) 60 QB drops.
- S Geno Stone posted the NFL's second-most INTs (7), helping Baltimore limit foes to a league-low 74.6 passer rating.
OFFENSE
- Baltimore ranked No. 4 in scoring (28.4 ppg) and No. 6 in total yards (370.4), averaging a NFL-high 156.5 rushing yards per game.
- First-team All-Pro QB Lamar Jackson produced the NFL's fourth-best rating (102.7), throwing for 3,678 yards (career high), 24 TDs and just 7 INTs. He added 821 rushing yards and 5 TDs to become the only QB in NFL history with multiple seasons (also 2019 MVP campaign) reaching the incredible 3,000/800 milestone.
- The electrifying WR Zay Flowers set rookie franchise marks in catches (77) and receiving yards (858), adding 6 total TDs (5 receiving & 1 rushing). RB Gus Edwards tallied 810 rushing yards and 13 TDs (second most in Ravens single-season history).
- Standout TE Mark Andrews recorded 45 catches for 544 yards and 6 TDs before being injured (ankle) in Week 11, however, TE Isaiah Likely stepped up admirably in Andrews' absence, finishing with 30 catches for 411 yards and 5 TDs.