In Wide-Open AFC, Pundits Believe Ravens Can 'Make a Lot of Noise' in Playoffs
If the season ended today, the Denver Broncos, New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts, and Pittsburgh Steelers would be the top four seeds in the AFC.
The Buffalo Bills would hit the road as a wild-card team, while the Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs would be at home for the playoffs. Not their home stadiums; their actual homes.
Just what everyone predicted, right?
Of course, this all could change over the final seven weeks of the season. However, there's no denying that the AFC hierarchy of recent years has experienced a shakeup. The gap between the "Big Three" (Chiefs, Ravens, Bills) and everyone else no longer exists.
There's no clear favorite to win the conference championship, and that's why the Ravens, who were preseason Super Bowl favorites, remain in the Super Bowl conversation despite their 5-5 record.
"The Ravens may not look like a Super Bowl contender, but which other AFC teams have convinced you they are?" Baltimore Positive’s Luke Jones wrote. "The upstarts with the top records are unproven while established heavyweights are no sure thing to win their division or even qualify for the postseason. Just keep winning and improving."
The Ravens are favored to win the AFC North even though they are a game behind the first-place Steelers. CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco believes Baltimore will make the playoffs and be a tough out.
"If this team gets to the postseason, and I think they will, who's going to want to play them?" Prisco said. "If you look at them and you compare them to the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots, who would you rather play?"
Fox Sports' Mark Schlereth shares that opinion.
"I think the Ravens are going to get in the playoffs. I think the Ravens can make a lot of noise," Schlereth said on ESPN's "The Rich Eisen Show." "Offensively, with the way they do things, running the ball with Lamar Jackson as dynamic and as multiple as he is, they're one of those teams that in the playoffs I think are a scary team."
Jackson's Sack Rate Is Way Up This Season
It goes without saying that Jackson staying healthy is crucial to the Ravens making a deep playoff run.
Jackson, who was sidelined for three games last month due to a hamstring injury and sat out last Wednesday's practice because of knee soreness, has been under consistent pressure and hit more often this season than in years past.
"Jackson, when healthy, is one of the best players in the league and the least of the Ravens' concerns," The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec wrote. "The concerns come in with how much Jackson is getting hit and harassed, and whether he can be at his best behind Baltimore's current offensive line.
"Jackson was sacked five times against the Browns and pressured 23 times, according to Pro Football Focus. The Browns have Myles Garrett, arguably the best defensive player in the league, and a very good defense. Yet, it's not like they've been the only team this season able to limit Jackson's effectiveness with pressure and aggression."
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer noted that Jackson has been sacked 23 times in seven games this season, matching his total from last year, and his sack rate (11.8%) is on pace for a career high. Jackson running the ball far less than in previous years has been a contributing factor.
One of the reasons the Ravens have had difficulty in the red zone this season is the frequency with which Jackson has been under duress in those situations.
Per Shaffer, Jackson has a 21.9% sack rate (seven sacks) in the red zone. His previous high was 7.3% (four sacks) in 2021.
"Jackson's been pressured on a career-high 50% of his red-zone drop-backs this season — under Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken, his previous high was 40.5% — but it's almost unimaginable for a quarterback to be sacked on more than one of every five passing plays," Shaffer wrote. "Since 2019, the highest single-season red-zone sack rate for a qualifying quarterback is Bryce Young's 14.5% in 2023, his rookie season with the Carolina Panthers, according to SIS."
Ravens Select Texas Tech Edge Rusher in Mock Draft
ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Ravens selecting Texas Tech edge rusher David Bailey in the first round of his mock draft.
"Despite getting good value in adding Mike Green in the second round of the 2025 draft, the Ravens still lack impact pass rushers who can operate in space and have only 15 sacks this season (tied for 29th in the NFL)," Miller wrote. "Bailey, who leads the FBS in sacks (12.5) and ranks second in hurries (55), has been a nightmare for offenses since transferring from Stanford before the season.
"The 6-foot-3, 250-pound edge rusher wins with quickness off the snap, has enough pop in his bull rush to rock back tackles and shows a relentless motor that leads to second-chance sacks and QB hits. After starting the season as a Day 2 prospect, he has quickly played his way into the top 20.
