Opinion
If you read any articles or follow the news, you will have likely heard the narrative surrounding the Buffalo Bills or Kansas City Chiefs, Super Bowl favourites alongside the LA Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But let me introduce you to a dark horse team who quietly flies under the radar every year, that will make the 2022-23 season one to remember: the Baltimore Ravens.
The Ravens have been excellent in the regular season over the past decade when they’re not the most statistically injured team, thanks in part to their head coach John Harbaugh.
Baltimore has struggled in recent times to make an impact in the playoffs and weren’t even able to make the playoffs last season, mostly because of the injuries I mentioned earlier. But this season will be different.
Superstar quarterback Lamar Jackson is in peak physical health after suffering an ankle injury midway through last season. If Lamar can regain his form from his 2019 MVP season, or even just be half as good, the newly built Ravens offence will be unstoppable.
Baltimore has always placed a heavy emphasis on running the ball; last season, they were third in rushing attempts and third in rushing yards despite having a running back room that looked more like a hospital ward.
J.K. Dobbins appears to be steadily recovering from his ACL tear last season, but there is no real timeline for his return just yet. However, Mike Davis looks to be a competent starter, both running and catching the ball from the backfield, so their run-heavy offence will still be electric this year.
Furthermore, the Ravens just signed former Raider Kenyan Drake, who is a very serviceable backup and should fit perfectly into their run scheme.
Also, Lamar Jackson can easily run for 100 yards a game without breaking a sweat and even spoke about how he has added much more muscle to his body in the offseason to be able to break more tackles and recover better from harder hits.
It’s impossible to ignore Lamar’s contract negotiations that are still ongoing with the front office, however, it will make him play better and prove that he is worth being the highest-paid quarterback in the league.
Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
But it’s not the running game that gets me the most excited for the Ravens, and it’s definitely not their slightly above-average wide receiver core of Rashod Bateman and Devin Duvernay. Baltimore’s greatest assets this season are its tight ends.
‘Money’ Mark Andrews is a very clear top-three tight end in the league, and he proved that after an incredible 2021 season. He led all tight ends in receptions, yards and targets last year and has an uncanny ability to win his route against even the best cornerbacks and linebackers.
Opposing teams will have to gameplan for him every week; I wouldn’t be surprised if he were the most double-teamed player next year.
So, let me introduce you to Isaiah Likely, fourth round rookie out of Coastal Carolina. Likely has been incredible in the pre-season, catching 12 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in just two games.
Of every rookie who played in the pre-season, Likely looks the most likely (pardon the pun) to make a massive impact, and he just happens to have the opportunity to learn and grow under the tutelage of Money Mark.
Speaking of rookies, the Ravens had maybe the best first-round selections in the NFL Draft that anyone has ever had, based on the general consensus of draft analysts (myself included) this year. Kyle Hamilton (safety), with the 14th overall pick, and Tyler Linderbaum (centre), with the 25th overall pick, are incredible generational talents that I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if they both ended their careers with gold jackets.
I must admit, I know very little about defensive schemes and structures, but I do know a defensive baller when I see one, and the Ravens have plenty. Calais Campbell is a top-10 defensive end in the league and made so many high-impact plays last season, particularly on special teams. Patrick Queen had 98 tackles last season, while Marcus Peters and Marlon Humphrey make up one scary cornerback room.
No team is ever successful without an excellent special team’s unit (just ask the 2010 Chargers about that), and the Ravens have just that. Justin Tucker, possibly the greatest kicker in NFL history, will be able to finish off drives that Lamar couldn’t, with points, almost every time.
Duvernay is an elite kick and punt returner, and they just signed Jordan Stout to be their punter, a fourth-round pick out of Penn State who averaged almost 45 yards a punt in college.
Rookie punters don’t always make for the most reliable assets, so why even bother using them? Especially when you can convert on fourth down like the Ravens did last season. Their almost 67 per cent conversion rate was the highest in the league, and they attempted to go for it on fourth down the 13th most times.
Harbaugh proved last season that when the game was there to be won, he and Lamar would go out and get it.
And while the Ravens were often unsuccessful on fourth down or 2-point-conversions in the dying stages last season, the fact that they’re willing to do them proves that they will do whatever it takes to win. You might argue that going for a tie and sending the game to overtime is a safer option, but the level of confidence Harbaugh has in his quarterback to go out and win the game is reassuring and will most likely win them more games this season.
(Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
It’s easier to win games if you never have to be in fourth down situations to begin with. The Ravens have the 11th easiest schedule in the NFL this season which involves two games against the rebuilding Steelers and the catastrophic Browns.
According to Sharp Football Analytics, the Ravens are projected to win 9.65 games this year, more than enough to make a deep run in the playoffs.
By now, you’ll hopefully be convinced that the Ravens are at least the real deal in 2022. But I haven’t even mentioned their secret weapon: Tyler Huntley. Back-up quarterbacks are seldom seen in the NFL, and usually for good reason. They often replace competent starters and do a poor job. Some turn out to be all-time greats. Only one back-up quarterback is Tom Brady.
I am not for a second suggesting that Tyler Huntley is Tom Brady; far from it. However, his role is far more important than you might think. Most back-up quarterbacks require a new playbook and offensive scheme. Tyler Huntley is a replica of Jackson and can immediately sub into a game without having to change anything on offence.
No player is going to be able to get through an entire season without at least a small injury, and the ability to substitute in their elite-level back-up quarterback who can run the offence the same way is going to be their strongest asset.
If Lamar ever goes down with an injury, or even if he just needs to take a poo halfway through the game, the Ravens are still a force to be reckoned with, something you simply cannot say for any other team in the NFL in 2022.
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