The Baltimore Ravens are in a do-or-die situation this year.
Since drafting Lamar Jackson, Baltimore has been a perennial Super Bowl contender. Since 2018, the team has made the playoffs six times, won four divisional titles, finished with the AFC’s number-one seed twice, and made one AFC Championship appearance.
But as the years go on and the team ages, their window to contend might officially close after this year.
After this year, the team faces several major questions, including Jackson’s future in Baltimore. This year, the team is going through a new coach, a new tight end room, a new offensive line, and more. After last season’s failure, the owner Steve Bisciotti had officially hit the reset button.
One Last Try for the Ravens
Baltimore didn’t just change its roster; it put all its chips in for one last try to win it all.
The Ravens’ two biggest moves this season were drafting right guard Olaivavega Ioane with the 13th pick to replace incumbent starter Daniel Faalele, who, according to PFF, ranked 55th out of 81 total people in his position. Second, the team signed former Cincinnati Bengals star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson to a four-year, $112 million deal.
Both of these players were added to strengthen struggling units on both sides of the ball. Hendrickson was Baltimore’s most important addition after the team ranked tied for 30th in sacks, finishing with just 30. The team recorded its fewest sacks in 15 years.
They also brought in defensive-minded coach Jesse Minter to lead the team.
Last year, as the Los Angeles Chargers’ defensive coordinator, Minter had the defense ranked 10th in sacks, tied for 7th in turnovers forced, and allowed the 5th-fewest yards per game, with teams averaging just over 285 yards per game.
All these big moves have added up over the offseason. Now one truth remains for fans to see: The Ravens know their window for contention is closing. They have an aging QB who will turn 30 in January, an ageless wonder at running back, and a few other positions that will need to reset sooner or later.
The front office didn’t make all these changes just because of last year’s failure. They did because they realized the window to win a Super Bowl was closing.
The whole team is feeling the pressure, especially their star QB. As the roster around him has changed, so has the organization. This season ends in one of two ways: a championship or another failure.
Lamar Jackson’s Legacy
For Lamar Jackson, he already has the accolades to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Jackson’s achievements include the all-time QB rushing record, four Pro Bowls, and three first-team All-Pro selections. His legacy will hinge on whether he brings the Super Bowl back home to Baltimore.
He entered the season at 29 years old and as one of the most electrifying quarterbacks in NFL history. Whether it’s fair or not, when his storybook career eventually ends, Jackson’s legacy will come down to whether he won a Super Bowl. With the Ravens reshaping the entire organization around him once more to try to deliver that elusive trophy back to the city for the first time in over 13 years
The pressure he is facing is undeniably strong. He is working with new coaches, a new O-line, new receivers, and a roster that looks completely different from what it did at the start of last season.
While change has come, this is the perfect opportunity to re-establish just how special a player he is. He has a chance not only to silence the critics but also finally chastise those demons.
This year is a big one; he can either be remembered as another all-time great or be known as a Hall of Fame quarterback who could never get it done in the postseason. If the latter is the case, he’ll be joining the likes of Dan Marino and Jim Kelly as Hall of Fame QBs that failed to win the Super Bowl.
Now or Never
Every move Baltimore makes shows the team standing at a crossroads. Baltimore has not only added an aging star defensive player but also many young, promising rookies. The Ravens have a lot riding on whether they can win the Super Bowl. The team put in plenty of work this offseason to restore its past identity.
They were known for the tough-nosed defense. Since Mike Macdonald left to become the head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore’s defense has become a husk of itself, and it often becomes the main reason the team blows leads because it can’t get stops when it needs them.
For Baltimore, it’s not just about going all in; it’s do-or-die.
The mission is clear for the Baltimore Ravens and Lamar Jackson: end the championship drought and deliver to the city the promise that was made on draft night.
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