Ravens Clear One Hurdle, But Major Questions Loom Ahead Of Next Season
The Baltimore Ravens' run toward making their first Super Bowl appearance since the 2012 season came to a brutal end at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday in a 17-10 loss in the AFC Championship Game at M&T Bank Stadium.
Baltimore had its chances, but two turnovers in the end zone combined with a slow start on defense proved too much against the reigning Super Bowl champions.
"We're mad," Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said. "I understand Coach [John Harbaugh] is going to give a speech. That's his job, but we're mad. We got to this position. [We were] one game away from the Super Bowl – what I've been talking about and my team has been talking about all season – and we fell short."
Now the Ravens' focus shifts to the offseason. Here are five burning questions ahead of the 2024 season that may determine if Baltimore can finally get over the hump next year.
Lamar Jackson runs through a tackle.
USA Today Sports
Can Lamar Exorcise Playoff Demons?
There's no disputing how good of a quarterback Jackson is in the regular season, but the playoffs are a different beast, and his level of play reflects that.
The questions about Jackson's ability to show up when the lights are the brightest will remain, as he completed 20 of 37 passes for 272 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Jackson's 30-yard touchdown to rookie receiver Zay Flowers in the first quarter was magical. But for as good as that play was, Jackson's interception that was intended for tight end Isaiah Likely and thrown into triple coverage in the end zone in the fourth quarter was equally as bad.
For his playoff career, Jackson has thrown for 1,324 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions and is 2-4 in six games. Across the four losses, the Ravens have averaged 10.5 points per game and have yet to score more than 17 points in a playoff loss with Jackson.
In the regular season, Jackson is among the NFL's elite at the game's most important position. He's seemingly going to win the second MVP of his career in just six years because of it and how he showed up in Baltimore's biggest games in the regular season this year.
But for as good as Jackson has been in the regular season, we've reached the point where that's expected as long as he can stay healthy, and the real focus is how he performs in the playoffs against the NFL's elite. It's one thing to torch a Houston Texans team that's a year or two away from being a bonafide contender. It's another to do that against a team like the Chiefs, and to this point, he hasn't done that in his playoff career.
Even with the playoffs being a year away and there being no guarantee Baltimore will be back next season, this is the question that'll haunt them and every Ravens fan throughout the offseason. If Jackson is going to truly belong in the discussion for the best quarterback in the game, he has to show up in the playoffs. Until he does, this is a question that'll remain.
Does Baltimore Add Another Weapon At Receiver?
Flowers' emergence was a bright spot for the Ravens offense, and the future appears to be more than promising for him, fumble in the end zone and taunting penalty notwithstanding. The rookie led Baltimore in catches (77) and receiving yards (858) and was second in receiving touchdowns (5).
Behind him, things get murky. Odell Beckham Jr., who was second in receiving yards (565), is set to hit free agency. While OBJ's veteran presence played a role in Flowers' development, his best days are behind him, and for a Ravens team that's tight on cap space, keeping him for anything other than a discount will be challenging given their other impending free agents and needs.
Nelson Agholor is also a free agent, and Rashod Bateman has shown flashes but has struggled to stay on the field. The former first-round pick has only played in 34 games through three seasons.
While Baltimore could adjust by having tight ends Mark Andrews and Likely on the field more, the depth at receiver behind Flowers remains a question mark heading into next season. Whether it's signing a free agent or drafting a receiver early, it's something the Ravens will have to address if they want to remain a high-octane offense after being fourth in points per game (28.4) in 2023.
How Does Baltimore Address The Running Back Room?
The Ravens have shown an adept ability to land running backs in the mid to late rounds of the draft. Is that the path they'll take again this season?
Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins are free agents. Edwards ran for 810 yards and 13 touchdowns, but with him set to be 29 years old when next season, anything other than a short deal is risky. Dobbins has only played nine games in the last two seasons due to various injuries.
Keaton Mitchell flashed when he was on the field, running for 396 yards and two touchdowns in eight games, but a season-ending knee injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars would make it dangerous to lean on him to begin next year.
For a Baltimore team in its Super Bowl window, adding a proven running back looking for an opportunity to win could be its best option. Derrick Henry, whom Baltimore was rumored to be close to acquiring at the trade deadline, and Saquon Barkley are both free agents and would be intriguing options. If the Ravens prefer to add another running back on a rookie contract, Michigan's Blake Corum would also be a good fit in the Ravens' backfield.
The running game was the Ravens' bread and butter on offense, as they led the NFL in rushing yards per game (156.5) in the regular season and ran for 229 yards in the AFC Divisional Round against the Texans. If they're going to remain one of the best running teams in the league, adding a running back through free agency or the draft will be pivotal toward maintaining their success.
Can The Ravens Keep Their Defense In Tact?
The Ravens boasted the best defense in football, as they allowed the fewest points per game (16.5), led the league in sacks (60) and was tied for first in turnovers (31). Keeping the best defensive unit in 2023 together will prove challenging for next season will prove challenging.
Defensive tackle Justin Madubuike, outside linebackers Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, linebacker Patrick Queen and safety Geno Stone are among the defensive players set to be free agents. Madubuike was a second-team All-Pro and led the team in sacks (13), quarterback hits (33) and tackles for loss (12). Clowney was second on the team and tied his career-high with 9.5 sacks, and Van Noy had a career-high nine sacks.
Queen was second on Baltimore with a career-best 133 tackles and made the second-team All-Pro, and Stone was second in the NFL with seven interceptions.
With Baltimore currently projected by Spotrac to have just over $5 million in cap space, it'll take some cap gymnastics by general manager Erik DeCosta to keep everyone on the Ravens defense, and even then, they also have important players on offense set to hit free agency as well.
Regardless, if the Ravens' defense is going to string together another elite season, it'll likely have to be done with a different cast of players, which leads right into the last point.
Will Mike Macdonald Return?
Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald was the maestro behind the best defense in the NFL last season. Without him, who knows how the Baltimore defense would have fared.
Macdonald, 36, has a second interview with the Washington Commanders for their head coaching vacancies that'll take place on Monday night, and the Seattle Seahawks also have interest in him for their vacancy. Now that the Ravens' season is over, either team can hire him should they decide he's the man for the job.
In a league that has shifted toward offensive-minded coaches, Macdonald has proven to be one of the best defensive minds in football and has been a nightmare for opposing offenses. Other top head coach candidates, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson's offense was held to six points by the Ravens defense. Houston Texans offensive coordinator Boby Slowik's offense could only muster four field goals across his two matchups against Macdonald and the Baltimore defense.
Even in a loss to the Chiefs, the Ravens pitched a shutout in the second half against them and quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
Macdonald returning next season would be monumental for the Ravens. Even if they lose key contributors to free agency, Macdonald's system and ability to elevate players could minimize those losses.
But should Macdonald leave to become the Commanders or Seahawks head coach, not only will the Ravens' defense take a hit, but it could lead to an exodus of coaches and players who were instrumental in their playoff run following him, which would deal a devastating blow to their chances of making another deep playoff next season.
