Super Bowl Sunday feels like a national holiday, but it's most enjoyable when your favorite team is playing.
Can the Ravens get back to the Super Bowl next season? It's very possible, particularly in this age of parity.
Think back to the start of the 2025 season, when the Ravens, Buffalo Bills, and Philadelphia Eagles were the Super Bowl favorites entering Week 1, according to Las Vegas oddsmakers. None of those teams made it to the big dance.
Meanwhile, the Seahawks were given a 60-1 shot, while the Patriots were 80-1. Five months later, they're the last two teams standing.
So don't tell me the Ravens can't have a bounce back season in 2026 and make it to SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Ca. where Super Bowl XLI will be held.
Here are 10 reasons why they can, all in 50 words or less:
If the Ravens' defense gels under Jesse Minter, they're back to being Super Bowl contenders. Both head coaches in this year's Super Bowl have defensive backgrounds Mike Macdonald (Seahawks) and Mike Vrabel (Patriots). Bringing the best out of Baltimore's defense is a mission made for Minter.
Lamar Jackson should bounce back strong. In 2024, Jackson had his best season. The 2025 season was perhaps his most frustrating, due to injuries and Baltimore missing the playoffs. He's had time to get healthy and reflect. A vintage season from Jackson would mean plenty of victories for Baltimore.
Minter has a history of getting players to buy-in quickly. He did it as a coordinator at Michigan, and with the Chargers. Several first-year coaches across the league enjoyed success in 2025, like Ben Johnson (Bears) and Liam Coen (Jaguars). That’s the immediate buy-in that Minter hopes to replicate.
The new coaching staff looks impressive on paper. It's not just Minter. Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator is intriguing. Anthony Weaver will reportedly return as the defensive coordinator. I love that move. Some pundits think the Ravens have assembled the best new staff. I don't disagree.
Derrick Henry is giving Father Time the stiff arm. Henry told Kay Adams on "Up and Adams" that he's got plenty left to do. He looked great. He's rushed for more yards (3,516) than any running back over the past two seasons. With Jackson and Henry, Doyle has two dominant players to drive his offense.
Many young Ravens are still ascending. Zay Flowers is just 25 years old. Travis Jones is 26 - Kyle Hamilton, Keaton Mitchell, Devontez Walker and Trenton Simpson are 24 - Roger Rosengarten is 23, Mike Green, Nate Wiggins and Malaki Starks are 22. The best from them should be yet to come.
The Ravens have strong draft capital. They currently hold 10 picks including the 14th overall. Baltimore has some important pending free agents, but General Manager Eric DeCosta has ammo to address needs like strengthening the offensive line and pass rush.
DeCosta is going to be aggressive this offseason. He's always aggressive, but DeCosta talked specifically about going after some "big ticket" items at the season-ending press conference. The salary cap is going up, and working out an extension with Jackson would free up even more money.
I still see the Ravens winning the AFC North. I know Pittsburgh is the defending champ. But I still think Baltimore has fewer major questions to answer than Pittsburgh, Cleveland, or Cincinnati. A division title and starting the playoffs at home would be a good way to begin a Super Bowl run.
The Ravens will begin next season with plenty to prove. They won't hear as much Super Bowl talk from outsiders when training camp starts. That's probably good. Having doubters could help them focus and start faster. Will a fast start + strong finish = Lombardi Trophy? Sounds good. We'll see.
