Ravens’ AFC North Champions: A Real Possibility or a Far-Fetched Dream?

The Baltimore Ravens have been loaded with talent for much of the last half-decade, spearheaded by 2019 NFL MVP Lamar Jackson at quarterback. Despite Jackson’s ability as both a runner and a passer, the Ravens have struggled to get things done in the postseason.

Part of those struggles stemmed from an ineffective scheme under former offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who left town following the conclusion of last season: Roman’s run-heavy attack and poorly thought-out passing game demanded too much of Jackson, who, while incredible, simply can’t get it done as a one-man show in a team sport with 11 players on each side.

Right now, the Ravens sit first in the AFC North division with a 6-2 record after eight weeks of play, 1.5 games better than the second-place Pittsburgh Steelers, who have a game in hand and a head-to-head win.

While you can’t complain about being in the first place, this is an all too familiar position for Baltimore. We’ve seen the team fall apart down the stretch as injuries began to pile up in each of the past two years, and it’ll be interesting to see if history repeats itself… or if the Ravens can rise above the doubters to claim the division crown and an automatic playoff berth.

Asking the Experts – What does the Odds have to say?

They say that the house always wins, so it makes sense to ask the experts what they think about whether or not the Ravens can win the AFC North this season. Right now, the Ravens are healthy favorites to win their first division title since 2019, listed at or around -135 to do so.

Per the sports books, their next closest competition is the Cincinnati Bengals, listed at or around +325, so they have a healthy lead midway through the NFL season. Be sure to use an ESPN Bet Promo Code once they are available if you want to bet on the Ravens, the Bengals, or any other team or league this season so that you know that you are locking in the best possible odds of winning big.

Perhaps even more intriguing for Ravens fans is the fact that the team has the sixth-best odds of winning the Super Bowl this season, listed at +1100. While it won’t be a surprise for Baltimore to win the division, especially with the Bengals, Browns, and Steelers struggling to put it all together, I think that the team is an excellent sleeper pick to win it all this year. Here’s why.

Taking a Backseat

Jackson’s ability to stand on his head and do it all is remarkable, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the best-case scenario for him to stay healthy or the Ravens to win games. Jackson led the Ravens in rushing yards every year since 2019 — even with him missing several games in each of the past three campaigns, likely because of that heavy workload — but this year, that trend has finally broken.

By taking some of the onus off of Jackson to key the Ravens’ offense with his legs, the team is helping to ensure that he is healthy and prepared for the stretch run. Baltimore sits No. 7 in the league right now with 25.3 points per game this season after being ranked No. 20 and No. 17 the past two years, so it seems like the balanced attack is paying off.

We won’t know the full impact, though, until later in the year, when we’re able to see if the lighter mileage helps Jackson maintain his excellent play.

The Ravens’ offense still isn’t firing on all cylinders, though, as they’ve struggled to finish drives once they reach the red zone. The good news is that they don’t need to.

Dependable Defense

That’s because the Ravens currently have the No. 1 scoring defense in the entire NFL, limiting opposing teams to a paltry 15.1 points per game.

They may not have the jaw-dropping star power of past Ravens teams that included players like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis — although Marlon Humphrey and Roquan Smith are more than capable substitutes — but they’re still loaded with talented playmakers who can get things done in a system that fits them.

They say that defense wins championships, even in this offense-heavy era of football, and, no matter how actual that maxim is, the simple fact of the matter is that the Ravens’ talent on both sides of the ball makes them hard to stop.

With the NFL trade deadline fast approaching, look for the team to try to double down on their dominance, mortgaging a future pick or two to put this roster over the top… not just to win AFC North, but to win the Super Bowl.