In the aftermath of their thrilling 35-34 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, the Baltimore Ravens find themselves grappling with a glaring Achilles’ heel: a pass defense that ranks dead last in the NFL. Despite their impressive 7-3 record, the Ravens are allowing a staggering 294.9 yards per game through the air, a stark contrast to their typically stingy defensive reputation.
A Shadow Over Success
While quarterback Lamar Jackson continues to dazzle with his electrifying play, the Ravens’ secondary has become a liability that threatens to undermine their Super Bowl aspirations. As cornerback Marlon Humphrey bluntly put it, “Wins are getting harder to enjoy based off what we’re doing in the pass defense.”
The frustration is palpable, with Humphrey lamenting the decline of a once-proud unit:
“In the pass defense, we’ve really lost that standard.”
– Marlon Humphrey, Ravens cornerback
Burrow’s Big Night
Thursday night’s matchup against the Bengals served as a glaring example of the Ravens’ defensive woes. Despite missing key weapons like wide receiver Tee Higgins and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr., Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow torched the Ravens for 428 yards and four touchdowns.
The low point came when Bengals star receiver Ja’Marr Chase scored touchdowns of 67 and 70 yards, both occurring while Ravens All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton was sidelined with an ankle injury. Though Hamilton’s absence isn’t expected to be prolonged, the big plays surrendered have become a recurring theme for Baltimore’s beleaguered secondary.
Pressure on the Offense
As the defense continues to flounder, the onus falls squarely on Lamar Jackson and the Ravens’ high-powered offense to carry the load. Baltimore’s record reflects this stark dichotomy: they’re a perfect 7-0 when scoring 25 or more points, but 0-3 when held under that threshold.
The imbalance is striking. Through Week 10, the Ravens boast the NFL’s top-ranked offense, averaging a robust 440.2 yards per game. Conversely, their defense ranks a dismal 27th, surrendering 367.9 yards per contest. It’s a precarious position that places immense pressure on Jackson to be near-flawless each week.
Seeking Solutions
So, what can the Ravens do to shore up their porous pass defense? Humphrey, for one, believes the answers lie within:
“Something has got to change. We’ve just got to play better. I’ve got to play better; we’ve all got to play better. We’ve got to play as a unit…”
– Marlon Humphrey
Despite the promotion of Zach Orr to defensive coordinator, the Ravens’ secondary has largely remained intact from last season, when they ranked a respectable sixth against the pass. The onus, then, falls on the players to elevate their performance and recapture their former standard of excellence.
The path forward won’t be easy, but for a team with championship aspirations, it’s a challenge they must embrace. As Humphrey succinctly put it, “We’ve got to get it fixed. It’s Week 10.”
The clock is ticking for the Ravens to fortify their pass defense. If they can’t find a way to plug the leaks, their Super Bowl dreams may ultimately sink under the weight of their own defensive shortcomings.
