What Are the Key Questions Ravens Must Answer to Win the Super Bowl?
The Ravens enter Week 1 of the season tied for the fourth-best odds to win the Super Bowl, per Caesars Sportsbook.
There's no doubt the Ravens have one of the most-talented rosters in the league, but after early exits in the playoffs the past three seasons, what will it take for them to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Los Angeles on Feb. 13?
The Baltimore Sun's Childs Walker came up with 20 questions the Ravens must answer to win the third Super Bowl in franchise history. Here's five of them:
Will Lamar Jackson play with greater poise in the playoffs?
"Here we go, the one question to rule them all. Jackson takes absurd criticism from fans and analysts who overlook his many accomplishments as a passer and forget how much he's lifted the Ravens in the NFL's big picture. But he would be the first to say he hasn't played his best football — 68.3 passer rating, five interceptions, 19 sacks, 1-3 record — in the playoffs. It's not all his fault; he needs more help from his offensive line and pass catchers. But he also needs to develop greater mastery of his position so he has answers when a defense clogs his running lanes or swarms his favorite targets.
"In a low-scoring game against the Bills, there were reads he could have made to give the Ravens a better chance. Instead, Buffalo's pressure ruled the day. Jackson is a 24-year-old wizard who understands his legacy will be measured by Super Bowls. Will this be the year he takes his next major step forward? There aren't many more interesting stories in the sport."
It’s now or never for Lamar’s Ravens… “Lamar Jackson’s greatest asset is his running ability. Here’s the problem, his greatest asset is a depreciating asset… They have to win it now before it depreciates too much.” — @EmmanuelAcho pic.twitter.com/oEgWknS6MY
Can the Ravens beat the Kansas City Chiefs?
"The road to the Super Bowl is more difficult on the AFC side. The Bills are formidable as are the star-studded Browns. The Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Chargers are rising. The Titans will light up the scoreboard while the Indianapolis Colts will play sound all-around football. The Steelers can never be dismissed. All of that said, the Chiefs remain the boss you have to fight at the end of the video game.
"Yes, Tampa Bay smacked them around in the Super Bowl, but as long as the Chiefs have Patrick Mahomes throwing magical passes to Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill in an offense designed by Andy Reid and Eric Bieniemy, they'll be problem No. 1. Not to mention they've beaten the Ravens three years in a row and routed them in 2020. Though a Week 2 rematch at M&T Bank Stadium won't give us a final verdict on where the Ravens are headed, a victory would eliminate at least one psychological hurdle on their Super Bowl quest."
Is this the year the Ravens take down the Chiefs in the playoffs? @PFF_Steve’s Bold prediction for the 2021 season pic.twitter.com/Ywzq4dfvey
Can the rushing offense still be the NFL's best without J.K. Dobbins?
"The Ravens will have to replace his production with Gus Edwards and surprise training camp star Ty'Son Williams, who spent most of last season on the practice squad. As good as Dobbins is, Jackson is the one indispensable piece at the heart of Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman's running attack. We've seen him thrive with a rotating crew of backs over the last three seasons, so don't be surprised if the ground game rolls on relatively unaffected, with the 6-foot, 220-pound Williams producing more than anyone could have envisioned two months ago."
Will the offense look notably different in 2021?
"Roman faced criticism from several prominent analysts who said his passing concepts were too rudimentary to free up the team's wide receivers. [John] Harbaugh defended his coordinator's game plans, but pressure will ratchet up if the Ravens run into familiar roadblocks this year. Can Roman adjust, as critics have suggested he did not in previous stints with the San Francisco 49ers and Bills? It's a question fans will ask from Week 1 until January."
Will they survive a tough late-season schedule?
"November was the brutal month in 2020 as the Ravens played their most difficult stretch of opponents at the same time they confronted injuries to essential players and a COVID-19 outbreak. Had they not faced an easier stretch over their last five games, they might not have recovered to make the playoffs.
"They won't have that luxury this time around, with two games against the Cleveland Browns, one against the Pittsburgh Steelers and one against the Green Bay Packers between Weeks 12 and 15. To top it off, they'll close out with the Los Angeles Rams and the Steelers rematch. That's quite a run of rough sledding at a time when rosters are generally frayed by injuries, so the Ravens will need luck on top of everything else to compete for a high seed."
We look at six reasons why the Ravens could win Super Bowl LVI https://t.co/XZyVEwttAC
Kyle Brandt: Lamar Jackson Will Beat the Odds, Win MVP Award
Jackson has made it clear that he's more concerned with winning Super Bowls than MVP awards, but could this be the season the 2019 unanimous NFL MVP does both?
Jackson is Kyle Brandt's pick for MVP on "Good Morning Football." Brandt compared the Ravens quarterback to the indomitable John McClane of the "Die Hard" film franchise.
"I don't know if he has the help he needs. I don't know if he has the health he needs. But know this. Here's the poster: Eleven tacklers. One hero. The odds are against him. The odds are against Lamar Jackson. And that's just the way he likes it!" Brandt said. "He's back. He's going to do it all himself. I don't care who's hurt. I don't care who's gone. Lamar is back for two MVPs. Yippee-ki-yay, it's going to happen!"
Lamar Jackson is primed for a second MVP award https://t.co/rbljEXuSLP
At 16-to-1, Lamar Jackson currently is tied with Dak Prescott for the fifth-best odds for NFL MVPhttps://t.co/zd4Xy39oQL
On a side note, Jackson was No. 5 in NFL.com's quarterback rankings entering Week 1.
"Since 2018, Next Gen Stats has Lamar Jackson gaining 300-plus more yards over expected than the next-closest rusher, Derrick Henry. Jackson is the primary reason why the Ravens had a historic rushing attack followed by a mortal top-three rushing attack," NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal wrote. "That baseline of excellence is underrated in its impact, giving Jackson such an edge that it's hard to rank him much lower than this if his passing numbers just remain average."
The quarterbacks ranked ahead of Jackson were: Mahomes, Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers, Buffalo's Josh Allen and Tampa Bay's Tom Brady.
Latavius Murray Expresses Interest in Playing for Ravens
Over the past two days, the Ravens added needed depth at running back by signing Le'Veon Bell to the practice squad and Trenton Cannon to the 53-man roster.
Given those additions, would the Ravens consider bringing in veteran running back Latavius Murray, who was cut by the New Orleans Saints earlier this week?
Judging by what Murray told USA Today's Josina Anderson, he would be all for it.
"I'm willing to discuss an opportunity with anyone interested in me. At the same time, Baltimore is a team that was impacted by injuries, has a great chance of winning and a great coaching staff," Murray said. "I just want to get to work."
Sounds like a guy willing to take less money like Justin Houston. #Ravens https://t.co/VCrzQPBjlG
Murray, who was projected to be No. 3 on New Orleans' depth chart behind Alvin Kamara and Tony Jones Jr., was cut after reportedly declining to take a pay cut. Releasing Murray will save the Saints $3.17 million in immediate cap space, according to NFL.com's Nick Shook.
It didn't take long after Murray's release for media members to link him to the Ravens.
Latavius Murray, like Mark Ingram before him, seems like a future Baltimore Raven. https://t.co/xu4af9mTbH
Two teams that should call Latavius Murray -- now. The #Ravens and #Dolphins
After losing J.K. Dobbins and Justice Hill to season-ending injuries, perhaps the Ravens will consider Latavius Murray. The Saints released Murray today, per the NFL's transaction wire.
Despite signing both Le’Veon Bell and Trenton Cannon, our @kriscwong insists the #Ravens should still consider signing Latavius Murray. #RavensFlock https://t.co/Fsu5INFkmv
Murray, 31, rushed for 656 yards and four touchdowns and averaged a career-best 4.5 yards per carry with the Saints last season. With the Raiders, he ran for 1,066 yards and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2015 and rushed for 12 touchdowns in 2016.
Murray has been durable throughout his career. He played 15 games last year and has missed just four games over his seven seasons.
"There should be a market for Murray's services — whether it's the Ravens or any other team who could use a steady, veteran presence in their backfield," Pro Football Talk's Myles Simmons wrote.
Ravens running back depth chart Gus Edwards (Undrafted) Ty'Son Williams (Undrafted) Trenton Cannon (6th round in 2018) Le'Veon Bell (practice squad)
Brandon Stephens Reflects on Unlikely Journey to NFL
As rookie defensive back Brandon Stephens prepares to make his NFL regular-season debut Monday night against the Las Vegas Raiders, the former college running back spoke with The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec and reflected on taking a road less traveled to the NFL.
After spending two seasons as a running back at UCLA, Stephens decided he wanted to be a cornerback and transferred to SMU. His gamble paid off when the Ravens drafted him in the third round.
"Every day I come through the parking lot and go through the gates, I always just think about my journey and how blessed I am to be here," Stephens said last week. "It's been a long road. Still have work to do. The job is not finished."
Stephens said he told his mother on the morning of Day 2 of the draft that he had a premonition he was going to the Ravens.
"Unbeknownst to him, his mother had the same feeling," Zrebiec wrote. "She had bought the flags of two teams she believed her son was most likely to get drafted by. After Stephens spoke to [General Manager Eric] DeCosta and Harbaugh, he turned around to see his mother unfurl a purple flag with the Ravens' logo on it.
'We going to B-More,' Stephens said after the reality had set in. 'They don't even know what's coming.'"
Wide receiver James Proche II, Stephens' teammate at SMU, does know what's coming.
"You could be around him for 10 minutes and know that he's a Raven. He's that type of guy," Proche said.
The Ravens built a dynamic offense on the cheap. Now they’re having to foot the bill. | ANALYSIS https://t.co/jF30ifLPbo
Which NFL head coaches are making the most optimal fourth-down decisions when the numbers say "go for it" according to Next Gen Stats Decision Guide powered by @awscloud? 🥇 Kevin Stefanski, #Browns 🥈 John Harbaugh, #Ravens 🥉 ??? 📰: https://t.co/M5GD0yfjRL
Two Le'Veon Bell thoughts: -He's made some of the worst business decisions of any player in recent memory. He's like the Anti-Revis. -Ravens evidently disagree but his running style feels like a horrendous fit in Baltimore's offense. Guess we'll find out. 🤷♂️
We grade the Ravens’ practice squad signing of running back Le’Veon Bell https://t.co/svQiAJTJuu
“You obviously have to accept the consequences…”@LRiddickESPN details to @saltersl the challenges unvaccinated QBs may face if they test positive this season pic.twitter.com/OVXQ74OAYY
The #Ravens have signed a perfect Justice Hill replacement in Trenton Cannon. The two players are eerily similar. #RavensFlock (via @JustinTFried) https://t.co/rWYUQKGzlf
New Ravens running back Trenton Cannon has SPEED💨💨 pic.twitter.com/5WBA9YRLBl
We grade the Ravens’ practice squad signing of running back Le’Veon Bell https://t.co/svQiAJTJuu
.@Ravens “Play like a Raven”. It’s more than just words; it’s more than a slogan! It’s a way of life. This play has me jumping out of my seat. @nflnetwork #nfl #ravensflock #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/jTuKIC5dbk
I belieeeeeeveland! Explanation for my 2021 Predictions bracket here:https://t.co/uEPt7CC1px pic.twitter.com/8xz4l3AM5K
🔮 Will the Bucs repeat? 🔮 Will Aaron Rodgers go back-to-back as MVP? 🔮 Which rookie QB will stand out most? 🔮 Can the Chiefs make it three straight Super Bowl appearances? 2021 season predictions from the MMQB staff:https://t.co/Gvtwyzey8L
Here all the full PFT staff picks for 2021 playoff teams, postseason outcomes, and Super Bowl winner. https://t.co/DlwnzcxCcS
Twelve Ravens thoughts ahead of Week 1 trip to Las Vegas: https://t.co/MbkOMlOri3
New at @Ravens: An adult version of a Capri Sun pouch called “Perch Punch” ($12) Gameday Vodka Cranberry Juice Lemonade Blue Curacao (📸 by @AramarkSports) pic.twitter.com/vAFjgDmJ56
James Proche II has risen to the occasion. Chuck Clark is still a steady leader in the secondary. Isaiah Likely is pushing to have a big role.
Jaylon Moore and Slade Bolden had spectacular catches. Devin Duvernay returns to the field. Another outside linebacker leaves practice early. Mark Andrews got yanked from practice after an awkward slide.
Nick Boyle is mentally trying to get back into top form as a blocker. Justin Tucker is happy with Jordan Stout's holding. Ravens are giving rookie Daniel Faalele a look at left tackle.
The offense is showing shades of its 2019 self. Rookie tight end Isaiah Likely is emerging as a real weapon.
Devin Duvernay is listed as the starting wide receiver opposite Rashod Bateman while Mike Davis is the lead running back that's currently on the field.
Pepe Williams has the day's flashiest defensive play with a pick-six. Justin Tucker ends practice early with a walk-off field goal.
Rashod Bateman dealing with minor issue and Devin Duvernay is close to returning. Marcus Williams is impressed with Kyle Hamilton's film study. James Proche II is getting reps as holder.
Players at certain positions are required to wear the Guardian Cap until the second preseason game.
Ja'Wuan James hasn't played an NFL game since 2019, but is accepting the challenge of moving to left tackle from right tackle at Ravens training camp.
Lamar Jackson is ranked No. 1 on a list of 2023 prospective free agents. John Harbaugh is selected as the head coach for CBS Sports' Survivor Squad. Could Joe Flacco take the field against the Ravens in Week 1? J.K. Dobbins is No. 15 in Maurice Jones-Drew's RB1 rankings.
Isaiah Likely enjoyed another impressive day. James Proche hooked up with Lamar Jackson for a deep TD connection. Odafe Oweh is using his athleticism to get low and turn the corner.
J.K. Dobbins could return to practice Monday for individual work, no hurry for others. Odafe Oweh is picking Morgan Moses' brain.
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