It’s been an up-and-down season for the Ravens so far. Last year’s No. 1 seed is currently struggling to replicate the dominant form that made them last season’s Super Bowl favorites. Despite Lamar Jackson putting up MVP numbers, the Ravens have continued to struggle on defense and will need to fix this side of the ball if they aim to play in the Super Bowl next year.
The Ravens still rank among the favorites to win the Super Bowl, and rightly so. It’s hard to rule out a team that has players like two-time MVP Jackson and off-season signing Derrick Henry on offense. Despite the three losses so far in this campaign, the Ravens Super Bowl odds have gotten better since the preseason. As it stands, they have third-best odds of winning the Super Bowl, sporting a 12.5% chance of winning their third title in February. Bettors seeking to take their chances with the Ravens can find expert guidance on how to place bets on this website.
The Ravens boast a 5-3 record as of Week 8 and hold the second-best result in the AFC North following a devastating loss to the Cleveland Browns and with the Pittsburgh Steelers securing a comfortable win against the lowly New York Giants. As we approach the second half of the season, here’s an overview of the Ravens’ season so far and their playoff chances.
Big Wins, Painful Losses for the Ravens
Massive wins and close losses have been the theme of the season for the Ravens in their three losses so far. Baltimore started the season with a loss to AFC Championship rivals Kansas City Chiefs in Week 1. The Ravens had the chance to win the game or send it to overtime potentially but Isaiah Likely stepped out of bounds in the final seconds.
The opening-day defeat was followed by a surprise loss to the struggling Las Vegas Raiders in Week 2. Baltimore appeared to be heading to their first win of the season but Gardener Minshew had other plans, leading the underdogs to three scoring drives in the fourth quarter before kicker Daniel Carlson sealed the deal with a field goal in the final seconds of the game. It was Baltimore’s first 0-2 start since Lamar Jackson became the franchise’s starting quarterback, and there were concerns heading into Week 3.
However, the Ravens gave an emphatic response, registering five straight wins, beginning with a victory at home against the Dallas Cowboys. Baltimore led by as many as 22 points but Dak Prescott and the Cowboys cut the deficit to three. With another comeback looming, Jackson came up clutch in the fourth quarter to ensure the Ravens got their first win.
There were no doubts in Week 4 as the Ravens secured a statement win against the previously unbeaten Buffalo Bills on the road. Derrick Henry was the star of the show, finishing the night with 199 yards and 24 carries. Jackson and Justice Hill were also pivotal to the win. The former passed for 156 yards and two touchdowns and 56 yards rushing, while Hill led the team in receiving yards (78) and also registered a touchdown to put the Ravens 21-3 in the second quarter.
The Cincinnati Bengals proved to be a much tougher test than the Bills in Week 5, with a Justin Tucker field goal in overtime helping the Ravens past their conference rivals. Baltimore was down by double digits multiple times in the game but completed an incredible comeback. It all started with a fourth-quarter stunner by Jackson with the Ravens down 10. The league MVP produced possibly the top highlight of his already illustrious career, swinging a dime to Isaiah Likely for a touchdown just as he was about to step out of bounds. Marlon Humphrey then engineered the turning point of the game with a clutch interception off Joe Burrow, marking the Ravens’ first stop of the second half to keep the score 38-35. The Ravens found themselves in field goal range and Tucker nailed a 56-yard kick to tie the game. Tucker converted again from 24 yards out in overtime to complete the comeback win at home.
The Ravens faced a red-hot Washington Commanders in what many dubbed the biggest game in Week 6. It was the battle between two MVP candidates, Jackson and rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels. But it was the league MVP who had the upper hand, outdueling Daniels and leading the Ravens to a 30-23 victory. Jackson and Henry combined for three touchdowns to give Baltimore a 14-point lead but Daniels threw a sublime pass to Terry McLaurin to cut the deficit to a one-score affair in the fourth quarter. But Baltimore responded with a 59-yare drive that led to a Tucker field goal, their fifth straight scoring drive of the game. The kick was enough to secure the Ravens’ fourth straight win.
The Ravens offense showed up again in their Week 7 matchup against Tampa Bay Buccaneers, scoring a season-high 41 points and five touchdowns. Baltimore struggled to get the offense going early on, trailing 0-10 to end the first quarter. But things started to click and the Ravens took a 34-10 lead into the fourth quarter. Tampa Bay outscored the Ravens 21-7 in the fourth quarter thanks to three touchdowns but the damage had been done, with Baltimore clinching five straight victories.
The winning streak was surprisingly halted in Week 8 against a Deshawn Walton-less Browns team. Jackson had an almost flawless performance, passing for 289 yards and two touchdowns while recording zero turnovers, but the Ravens secondary failed to show up again. The Browns had not scored more than 18 points prior to the game, posting only one 200-yard passing game. But against a struggling Ravens’ defense, the seemingly toothless offense scored 29 points and passed for 321 yards.
Playoff Picture
The playoff battle in the AFC continues to heat up as we draw closer to the postseason. Baltimore currently finds themselves in the Wild Card spot on the AFC standings despite their juggernaut offense, a position not many expected them to be in at the start of the season. The Steelers continue their impressive season and lead the way in the AFC North after Week 8.
Across the AFC, the Chiefs remain the only unbeaten team in the league this season, while the Houston Texans hold steady at 6-2. The Broncos have been the most surprising AFC team this season and find themselves in the fifth spot while the Bengals have continued to struggle with five losses so far.
