Mink: It would be asking a lot for the Ravens to go undefeated the rest of the way and finish 12-5. Don't get me wrong. That would be epic. But let's not get too ahead of ourselves after one win that broke a four-game losing skid.
The Ravens are significantly better now than they were several weeks ago. It starts with the return of Lamar Jackson, and we'll get to see how big a difference that makes this Thursday night in Miami. It extends to the return of other injured star players such as Roquan Smith, Ronnie Stanley, Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Hamilton, and others who missed time.
When the Ravens have their full arsenal, which it appears they will against the Dolphins tomorrow, Baltimore is very hard to contend with. With that said, expecting the Ravens to stay totally healthy the rest of the season is probably also wishful thinking.
The Ravens' schedule also is more favorable the rest of the way, and particularly over the next seven weeks. But four of those games will be against division rivals, which are always grind-it-out games. Even though the Ravens are better, they'll be in more dogfights.
The Ravens have shown they are a team that can get hot and really roll when the pieces come together. Baltimore won 10 of 11 games down the stretch in 2023. After a 2-2 start, the 2019 Ravens won 12 straight games.
That history is nice, but it doesn't help this year's squad. The Ravens have the tools to go on a run, but going on a 10-game run is extremely difficult for any team to pull off. First things first, however, is dispatching of the Dolphins, and that's all they're looking forward to.
Brown: Count on Mitchell being part of the game plan moving forward, based on Head Coach John Harbaugh's comments following the Ravens' win over the Bears.
"We have got to tag plays for Keaton Mitchell and make sure we get him the ball," Harbaugh said.
The coaching staff discussed during the bye week getting Mitchell more involved, and it paid dividends against Chicago. He gained 43 yards on four carries after getting just three total carries in the previous six games.
Mitchell has a career average of 6.9 yards per carry. As you pointed out, he can make a significant impact without getting many touches. His first carry against Chicago didn't come until the third quarter, and he immediately scampered for 25 yards on a drive that resulted in a field goal. His big-play potential is a valuable asset despite the Ravens being loaded at running back with Derrick Henry and Justice Hill.
Mitchell deserves credit for the work he put in to recover from the serious knee injury he suffered during his rookie season in 2023. He's a playmaker and fan favorite, and you can look forward to him getting opportunities in the second half of the season.
Mink: I think the Ravens are more likely to address the defensive line than the offensive line at the trade deadline. Plugging a new piece into an established offensive line is a difficult proposition for a group that relies so much on chemistry.
Left guard Andrew Vorhees had his best game of the season two weeks ago against the Rams. Right guard Daniel Faalele was one of the Ravens' highest-graded offensive players versus the Bears. There will be some bumps along the way, but the Ravens have shown a great deal of faith in their young blockers' growth.
The defensive line may need more help after the loss of Nnamdi Madubuike to a season-ending neck injury. Now, fellow defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr. will get surgery, putting him on the shelf for longer. Tavius Robinson's broken foot also impacts the defensive line. It wouldn't surprise me if Baltimore gets a deal done to help on that side of the trenches.
Brown: Both Newsome and General Manager Eric DeCosta shun the spotlight, so you rarely hear them talk publicly about Newsome's current role.
However, Newsome is in the war room on draft night, he regularly attends practice, he attends the NFL Combine and watches tape, and his current title is executive vice president. He's a legendary figure, a Hall of Fame player who then became one of the most successful general managers in league history, and the NFL's first Black general manager. He still has relationships that transcend every level of football, from owners and the commissioner's office, to scouts, agents, players, and the media.
All those things, and more, make Newsome a trusted person whom DeCosta and others in the organization can turn to at any time. Having Newsome has always given the Ravens an edge, and that continues to this day.
