Continuing to Dig Out of 1-5 Hole, Ravens 'Might Be the Scariest Team in the NFL Moving Forward'
Even when the Ravens were 1-5, pundits refused to write them off as a threat to win the AFC North, citing their talented roster, better health going forward, a favorable schedule, and a seemingly vulnerable division leader in the Pittsburgh Steelers.
It all made perfect sense, but stacking victories in the NFL – especially on the road – is easier said than done. For the third week in a row, the Ravens got it done.
Sunday's 27-19 win over the Minnesota Vikings was Baltimore's second victory on the road during its three-game winning streak. With the Steelers losing 25-10 to the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday night, the Ravens (4-5) moved to within one game of first place.
Baltimore concludes its three-game stretch of away games this coming Sunday in Cleveland before playing three consecutive home games (against the New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, and Steelers).
"When the Ravens were 1-5, they talked about staying the course and taking it one game at a time," The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec wrote. "They still have some digging to do, but they are almost all the way out of the hole they created."
Not only are the surging Ravens favored to win the division, they're also being tabbed as a potentially dangerous team in the playoffs.
"After everything they have been through, they have a healthy Lamar Jackson, a motivated team. This might be the scariest team in the NFL moving forward," CBS Sports' Nate Burleson said.
CBS Sports' Damien Harris said: "Let's be honest: A healthy Ravens team? Nobody wants to see them in the playoffs."
One of the Main Takeaways From the Victory: Ravens Get Three Takeaways Again
After getting just three takeaways in their first six games, the Ravens had three takeaways (two on defense, one on special teams) for the second game in a row and have eight over their past four games. The Ravens turned the Vikings' turnovers into 13 points.
"It's a tale as old as time in the NFL: Create turnovers and you win games," Press Box’s Bo Smolka wrote. "The Ravens, who have talked for months about making it happen, finally are doing that, and it's a big reason they have reeled off three straight wins."
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley said the defense, which got interceptions from rookie safety Malaki Starks and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (and nearly another by inside linebacker Roquan Smith), was the main reason the Ravens won Sunday.
"On a day when Lamar Jackson and the Ravens struggled in the red zone (2-of-5), the Baltimore defense picked off J.J. McCarthy twice and hit him 12 times," Hensley wrote. "This has been one of the biggest turnarounds in the league this season. The Ravens allowed an NFL-high 177 points in the first five games, the most over a five-game span in franchise history. With do-it-all safety Kyle Hamilton blowing up plays, Baltimore has held its past four opponents to 19 points or fewer, which is the longest current streak in the NFL."
NFL.com’s Jeffri Chadiha praised Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr for the unit's remarkable turnaround.
"As was the case in 2024, he's trending in the right direction at the right time," Chadiha wrote. "Remember how bad the Ravens defense was at the start of the year, when it allowed an average of 32.3 points through its first six games? That unit is now a huge asset for a team that is riding a three-game win streak after a 1-5 start."
Mina Kimes Says Hamilton Should Be in Defensive Player of the Year Conversation
Hamilton continues to show week in and week out why he is one of the NFL's best and most versatile defenders.
ESPN's Mina Kimes believes the All-Pro safety should be getting Defensive Player of the Year consideration.
"I voted for him last year. He was in my top five last year because he saved the defense, and he's doing it again," Kimes said on the “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast. "It was like, 'Last year, you saved us by playing the post. How about you save us this year by playing closer to the line of scrimmage?' I don't think people understand what a crazy sentence that is."
Long also praised Hamilton, saying, "He just jumps off the screen."
Winning Ugly Is Still a Win
The Ravens' offensive performance wasn't spectacular, but they did what they needed to do to win, and that's all that matters in the end.
"A win's a win, no matter how ugly," The Baltimore Sun’s C.J. Doon wrote. "It's strange to be evaluating the Ravens on those terms considering how exceptional they've looked in the regular season when Lamar Jackson has been healthy, but this year has been a grind, and [Sunday] certainly exemplified that struggle. Neither the offense nor the defense brought its 'A' game, but both units got the job done."
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer wrote: "Sunday's win over a talented, if inconsistent, Vikings team did not mark some kind of breakthrough. The Ravens were outgained 365-321. They didn't score a touchdown until the third quarter. They had to hold their breath as Minnesota quarterback J.J. McCarthy (20-for-42 for 248 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions) wheeled around on a fourth-and-4 scramble in the game's final minute, finally exhaling as his last pass fell incomplete near midfield.
"But a third straight win did cement a blueprint for the foreseeable future. The Ravens do not have to be elite, as they were in so many blowouts last season. They'll settle for doing the simple things well enough: blocking, tackling, communicating, avoiding penalties."
Todd Monken Gets Creative in Short-Yardage Situations
As noted earlier, the Ravens offense had issues in the red zone and also in short-yardage situations, including having to settle for a field goal after having first-and-goal at the 4-yard line.
However, thanks to creativity from Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken, the Ravens did find some success in short yardage.
"After the Ravens recovered a Vikings' fumble, they faced third-and-1 from the Vikings' 14," Smolka wrote. "They lined up in their 'tush push' formation with Mark Andrews under center. Surely the Vikings have seen the play on tape. But instead of surging forward, Andrews took the snap and tossed a pitch to Lamar Jackson, who ran around right end for 3 yards and [a] first down. Three plays later, Justice Hill scored a touchdown for a 19-10 lead.
"Later, the Ravens faced third-and-2 from the 9-yard line. Rather than give to Derrick Henry, Jackson kept the ball and ran left, with Henry, Patrick Ricard, Ronnie Stanley and pulling center Tyler Linderbaum all forming a rolling wall in front of him. Jackson gained 7 yards and a first down. On the next play, Jackson threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Andrews and a 27-13 lead."
Another surprise saw Ricard getting his number called on third-and-1 instead of Henry, who lined up behind the fullback. Ricard took the handoff and gained 3 yards.
Rashod Bateman Reportedly Suffers High-Ankle Sprain
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman was in a walking boot after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the game, according to ESPN's Kimberley A. Martin, who said the injury occurred midway through the third quarter when Bateman was tackled at the 1-yard line on a 10-yard catch.
Martin said Bateman told her he doesn't expect to miss much time.
Isaiah Rodgers appeared to make a hip-drop tackle on the play, but a flag wasn't thrown, reportedly to Bateman's surprise.
