The Baltimore Ravens are officially back on top of the AFC North — a big turnaround from a 1-5 start. But even with their defense dominating and a five-game winning streak in the books, the spotlight is now firmly on Lamar Jackson and the offense, which continues to underperform. With a tougher schedule ahead, time is running out for the Ravens to clean up their act if they want to be serious Super Bowl contenders.
Ravens Win Again, but Offense Struggles Continue
Baltimore’s 23-10 win over the New York Jets looked comfortable on paper, but the game exposed a growing concern. Despite holding a two-win Jets team in check, the Ravens’ offense stumbled its way through most of the game. They relied on penalties and a dominant defensive performance to get the job done — not on sharp execution.
Veteran running back Derrick Henry, who moved up to 12th on the NFL’s all-time rushing list during the game, didn’t celebrate. Instead, he openly admitted the offense isn’t where it needs to be. “We didn’t play to the way we feel like we should,” he said. “We’ve got to be better.”
Execution Issues Holding Ravens Back
Baltimore’s red-zone and third-down woes are glaring. Against the Jets, the Ravens went just 2-of-11 on third down and failed to convert three red-zone trips into touchdowns. These struggles aren’t new — they rank 28th in the league in red-zone efficiency this season.
Compare that to last year when the Ravens led the NFL in red-zone touchdown percentage (74.2%) and ranked third in third-down conversions. The drop-off has been massive and costly.
Lamar Jackson summed it up simply: “We’re getting great field position, but we’re not putting points on the board.”
Lamar Jackson’s Health Is a Growing Concern
Since returning from a hamstring injury, Jackson hasn’t looked like his usual self. In four games back, he has just 71 rushing yards on 25 attempts — a far cry from the explosive runner who once posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons.
He’s also been dealing with multiple injuries — knee soreness, an ankle issue, and now a toe problem. While Jackson insists the injuries aren’t holding him back, his play tells a different story. His hesitation to run and increased sack rate (a career-high 25.6% pressure-to-sack ratio) show he’s not moving as freely.
Even in clean pockets, his accuracy and decision-making have been inconsistent, and he’s gone two straight games without a touchdown pass — something that hasn’t happened since 2019.
Defense and Special Teams Are Carrying the Load
While the offense works through its struggles, the Ravens’ defense and special teams have been the team’s backbone. They forced four turnovers against the Jets and haven’t allowed more than 19 points in a game since Week 5.
Special teams punter Jordan Stout also played a big role in flipping field position with punts of 74 and 67 yards. Head coach John Harbaugh gave full credit to the defense and special teams for keeping Baltimore’s playoff hopes alive.
“Special teams kept us in the game. Defense kept us in the game,” said center Tyler Linderbaum. “We got talented players on offense, so we can score. Just glad we got the win.”
The Tough Stretch Starts Now
Baltimore’s next five games are all against tough competition. They’ll face the Bengals (possibly with Joe Burrow back), the Steelers twice, the Patriots, and the Packers. All these teams are either fighting for a playoff spot or playing spoiler — so the margin for error is small.
The Ravens can’t afford to rely solely on their defense. If the offense doesn’t start clicking, their AFC North lead could vanish quickly.
Can the Offense Turn It Around in Time?
Coach Harbaugh remains confident in his quarterback: “Utmost confidence in Lamar Jackson, and I always will. He’s our guy. It’s not always pretty, but it’s us.”
That belief is shared in the locker room, but belief alone isn’t enough. The offensive line needs to improve, Jackson needs to trust his legs again, and play-calling must adapt to what’s working. The Ravens know what’s at stake, and as Jackson put it, “We just need to do that, week in and week out, because those guys [on defense] are stepping up. We need to do the same.”
