In the high-stakes world of the NFL, the Baltimore Ravens find themselves at a crossroads. With a potent offense spearheaded by the electrifying Lamar Jackson and the bruising Derrick Henry, the Ravens have the firepower to light up scoreboards. However, their Achilles’ heel lies on the other side of the ball, as the once-vaunted Ravens defense has become a liability threatening to derail their championship aspirations.
From Dominance to Dysfunction
It wasn’t long ago that the Ravens defense was the gold standard in the NFL. In 2022, they made history by becoming the first unit to lead the league in points allowed, sacks, and takeaways in a single season. Fast forward to 2024, and the mighty have fallen. Through eight games, the Ravens rank dead last in pass defense, surrendering a staggering 291.4 yards per game through the air. Opposing quarterbacks have feasted on the Ravens secondary, tossing a league-high 17 touchdown passes.
We’re the Ravens. We pride ourselves on defense. Obviously, everybody is referring to how great we were last year and just comparing it to this year, it’s just not the same.
– Ravens defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike
Late-Game Collapses Haunt Ravens
The Ravens’ defensive woes are most glaring in crunch time. Since the start of the 2022 season, no team has suffered more losses when leading inside the final two minutes of the fourth quarter than Baltimore’s eight such defeats. Their latest heartbreaker came against the lowly Cleveland Browns, who entered the game with the NFL’s worst-ranked offense. With victory within grasp, Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton let a potential game-sealing interception slip through his hands. One play later, Browns receiver Cedric Tillman got behind the Ravens secondary for the winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining.
The devastating loss dropped the Ravens to 5-3 and raised serious questions about whether their defense can hold up against the league’s elite come playoff time. As one unnamed Ravens player bluntly put it, “If our defense was playing at a higher level, we’d probably be undefeated right now.”
Injuries, Coaching Changes Take Their Toll
Several factors have contributed to the Ravens’ defensive decline. The offseason saw the departures of key players like pass-rusher Jadeveon Clowney, linebacker Patrick Queen, and safety Geno Stone. Coaching turnover also left a mark, with defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald becoming the Seattle Seahawks’ head coach and two other assistants taking DC jobs elsewhere. Macdonald’s replacement, rookie coordinator Zach Orr, has struggled to replicate the unit’s past success.
Injuries have further depleted an already thin defense. The Ravens were without their top two cornerbacks in the loss to Cleveland, and they lost two more defensive linemen in the first half. While not an excuse, the mounting injuries have undoubtedly played a role in the defense’s struggles.
It’s impossible to really put a metric on [injuries]. It’s obviously a factor.
– Ravens head coach John Harbaugh
Searching for Solutions
As the season’s second half looms, the Ravens are desperately seeking answers on defense. Harbaugh made a bold move against the Browns, benching $70 million safety Marcus Williams, who has failed to live up to his hefty contract. Harbaugh expressed confidence that Williams will bounce back, calling it “an internal type of situation.”
The Ravens have the offensive star power to outscore most opponents, but they know that true championship contenders need to win on both sides of the ball. In a loaded AFC featuring the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Joe Burrow, a shaky defense could spell an early postseason exit.
We just have to come out there and make [plays]. Coach Orr is putting us in that position to make those plays. We just have to get out of this funk that we’re in.
– Ravens safety Eddie Jackson
The road ahead won’t get any easier for the Ravens defense. Upcoming matchups against the high-powered offenses of the Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, and Los Angeles Chargers will test their mettle. If the Ravens hope to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in February, they must find a way to recapture their defensive dominance of old. The clock is ticking, and the margin for error is razor-thin. For a team with championship-or-bust aspirations, failure is not an option.
