Analysts Say This Is the Ravens' Year
Two analysts believe the Ravens won't have to hear about "getting over the hump" anymore after this season.
The Ravens have been on the short list of Super Bowl contenders during the Lamar Jackson era, and NBC Sports' Chris Simms and CBS Sports' Leger Douzable see Jackson and company finally getting their hands on the Lombardi Trophy this February.
"The Ravens – this is the year. That's the story," Simms said on "Pro Football Talk." "The Ravens are stacked. Their team is second only to the Eagles as far as the most well-built, talented team in the sport. And they have one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the game, who has yet to step on the field at the Super Bowl.
"So, I just look at them and go, 'This is the year.'"
Simms said the only thing he worries about with the Ravens is their wide receiver depth if Zay Flowers or Rashod Bateman suffers an injury.
Obviously, either of them missing significant time would be a tough blow, but the Ravens have depth at the position, including five-time Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins, veteran Tylan Wallace, and Year 2 breakout candidate Devontez Walker.
Douzable predicted the entire playoff field. He had the Ravens earning the No. 1 seed in the AFC and defeating the Buffalo Bills in the conference championship game and the Washington Commanders in the Super Bowl.
Douzable said the key will be protecting the ball in the playoffs, as uncharacteristic turnovers played a major role in the Ravens' loss to the Bills in the divisional round last season.
"I think it's finally the year," Douzable said. "Everybody was assuming two years ago when they had the No. 1 defense in football, and they were No. 1 in a lot of statistical categories that year, that they would get it done. They just could not get over the hump, as far as turnovers. I believe this is the year that Lamar Jackson, throughout the playoffs, takes care of the football."
Travis Jones May Have to Get Used to Receiving More Attention
Defensive tackle Travis Jones is not a household name like some other players on the Ravens defense, and that's just fine with him.
"I hate talking about myself and I don't enjoy the attention," Jones told The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
Jones may have to get used to receiving more acclaim. Several pundits have predicted this to be a breakout season for the 6-foot-4, 341-pounder.
Zrebiec noted that opposing quarterbacks and Jones' teammates are certainly aware of his hulking presence.
"Interior defensive linemen don't get a ton of glory unless they are prolific sack guys," Zrebiec wrote. "Jones is not that, at least not yet. He has 3 1/2 career sacks, but quarterbacks are aware of where he is on every play."
Center Tyler Linderbaum has said that Jones is the toughest player he's ever had to block.
"I don't remember anyone stronger than him that I've ever gone against," Linderbaum said. "The power that he plays with is crazy. If your technique is out of sorts just a little bit, he's going to make you pay. That's just how strong he is. We see it every single day in practice. Sometimes he's almost unblockable with the things that he's able to do."
Jones, a 2022 third-round pick, is entering the final year of his rookie deal and is among several contract extension candidates.
"The last thing on my mind right now," Jones said.
Roquan Smith Is No. 2 in Linebacker Rankings
Even though inside linebacker Roquan Smith was named a first-team All-Pro for the third year in a row last season, he feels that he didn’t play up to his high standard.
That said, Smith remains one of the elite players at his position, which was reflected in Fox Sports’ top 10 linebacker rankings. Smith was No. 2.
"Smith is on the shortlist for top middle linebacker of his era," Fox Sports' Ben Arthur wrote. "What he lacks in coverage ability he makes up for with his smarts, instincts and production in the run game. He's recorded 150 tackles in five straight seasons and has three consecutive first-team All-Pro nods."
The only player ranked ahead of Smith was four-time All-Pro Fred Warner of the San Francisco 49ers.
