The Baltimore Ravens fell to 1-3 on Sunday, marking their worst start since 2015, as they looked out of place in a 37-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
It was a rough day for the Ravens as Lamar Jackson
threw for 147 yards and had two turnovers before leaving the game with a hamstring injury.
Defensively, though, is where things are looking concerning on multiple fronts. The Ravens need an exterminator for the injury bug, as Roquan Smith, Nate Wiggins, and Marlon Humphrey all left Sunday’s loss with injuries. In addition, Nnamdi Madubuike was ruled out for the season with a neck injury, while fullback Patrick Ricard, defensive tackle Travis Jones, and linebacker Kyle Van Noy are also dealing with injuries.
But the problems aren’t only off the field. On the field, they’ve been one of the worst defenses in the league so far, allowing the most points per game and the second-most yards per game so far. A whopping 53.3 percent of opponent drives have ended up in a score through four weeks.
In the red zone, things get much worse. The Ravens have allowed opponents to score touchdowns on 75 percent of their red zone trips, and they’ve been one of the worst teams at giving up explosive plays. That has led to them ranking 30th in the NFL in EPA per play allowed.
On the ground, they’re allowing 4.6 yards per carry. They’re getting pressure, but have only four sacks, which is the second-worst in the NFL. Additionally, they have 23 missed tackles and have allowed a passer rating of 102.3 in the air.
The injuries and significant money spent on defensive stars mean the Ravens are relying much more on inexperienced talent and expected backups, who haven’t looked great so far at spots like cornerback and linebacker.
Madubuike’s injury is especially significant because he’s one of the team’s best pass-rushers. Without him, and with Kyle Van Noy’s current injury, the Ravens don’t have much available there, with rookie Mike Green posting quiet lines to start the year.
Yes, the team has faced some tough opponents with the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and Kansas City Chiefs. And they should be 2-2. But, there are serious concerns with this Ravens defense, both with injuries and with how replacements are faring so far.
They need players healthy, but will also potentially need some reinforcements via trade or free agency to bolster a weakened pass-rush if they want to compete in 2025.
What’s your biggest concern about the Ravens right now? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
