Baltimore Ravens

Our team assessment

Article cutoff 2026-10-06

Ravens | 3-1

Baltimore has consistently moved the ball better than its opponents, with useful gains on 52.2 percent of its plays against 41.6 percent allowed. Its 33 long gains are a real offensive weapon, but 23 allowed mean the defense has not removed the same escape route for opponents. The finishing has varied sharply, from 17 points on five threatening possessions in Week 2 to 21 on four Sunday. A separate long field goal supplied the other three points against Tennessee.

Jesse Minter said Baltimore played “more conservative in the second half”. With Lamar Jackson leaving injured and a 24-7 lead becoming a 24-18 finish, the explanation fits the circumstances; it does not turn a scoreless second half into a repeatable plan. Five defensive takeaways against two giveaways have helped, and neither total includes a return mistake. The goal-line stop was valuable, but the following touchdown required a 99-yard drive. Stopping someone and giving the offense a short field are different achievements.

After opponent punts or failed fourth downs, Ravens possessions have begun at their own 27.9, on average, across 18 competitive drives. The weekly average has varied widely, from their own 21.3 to their own 34.7. The latest game averaged their own 21.3. The resulting possession started at midfield or closer to the end zone in 2 of those 18 cases. These are actual starting spots, including punt returns, rather than a measure of the defense alone. The return unit has added 65 punt-return yards over the season. Pre-snap changes before the first run or pass affected 2 of these drives; those changes are excluded from the listed starting spots. Starts following turnovers are counted separately: 5 competitive possessions at their own 49.0 on average.

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