Welcome back to Loose Feathers, where Baltimore Beatdown rounds up the latest Ravens news and analysis you may have missed. In today’s edition, we cover some recent squads that should have made the Super Bowl, career moves by ex-Ravens, and some notes on Baltimore’s defense against the Eagles from Jonny Page at Bleeding Green Nation.
Yes, the 2023 Ravens should have won the Super Bowl
Countdown to the Super Bowl: Best teams ever to fall short – Aaron Schatz (ESPN)
By DVOA, the 2023 Ravens are the best team that didn’t reach the Super Bowl, and the 2024
Ravens are right behind. The 2023 edition ranked fourth in the league in points scored and first in fewest points allowed. The 2024 edition had an even better offense, leading the league in DVOA by dominating the fifth-toughest schedule of opposing defenses.
We all know it. The Baltimore Ravens were the best team in the National Football League in 2023. Lamar Jackson’s second MVP campaign and an elite defense commanded by Mike Macdonald blew through their regular-season schedule with a 13-4 record, a +203 point differential, and the No. 1 seed in the AFC. Baltimore dominated the second half of their divisional round win against the Texans and, well, we all know what happened next. Had the Ravens beat the Chiefs, it’s not hard to imagine them taking down a 49ers team they trounced by two touchdowns on Christmas.
The 2024 squad was not as dominant but still ranked among the league’s top three offenses and top 10 defenses in both points and yards. Even if they bested the Bills, they may not have been able to climb the remaining rungs to the Lombardi Trophy.
Career moves by former Ravens
Roster move: NY Giants add former Baltimore Ravens linebacker – Ed Valentine (Big Blue View)
The New York Giants continued what is turning into a busy day of roster shuffling by reportedly signing former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Chandler Martin to a one-year contract, per Adam Schefter.
Martin, 23, played three games for the Baltimore Ravens last season. He is coming off surgery for a torn ACL and is now cleared. Martin played collegiately at East Tennbessee State and Memphis, and went undrafted in 2025.
Martin was released by the Ravens in January, and spent part of the offseason with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Falcons Sign Za’Darius Smith – Adam La Rose (Pro Football Rumors)
Smith, 34 next month, ended last season on the Eagles’ reserve/retired list. An NFL return recently became something to watch for when the three-time Pro Bowler met with the Browns, however. A Sunday report stated a deal was expected to be worked out in short order. Schultz confirms Smith was “deep in talks” with the Browns, but one day after visiting the Falcons an Atlanta pact is now in place instead.
Ravens praised for pressure vs. Eagles
The Ravens did a good job changing the pressure picture, yet the Eagles often provided their quarterbacks with a viable answer. Tanner McKee did not handle second-level pressure well in this game. The Ravens send pressure here [game clip embedded in linked article], and the Eagles handle the initial rush reasonably well. They slide to the left and end up getting everyone blocked. However, the Ravens send one more defender than the protection can account for. Stowers reacts correctly (something I highlighted as a strength of his post-draft) by making himself available as the quick outlet. McKee has enough information to understand where the ball needs to go, but he holds it and takes the sack.
(Related: Ravens head coach Jesse Minter discusses attacking opposing offenses’ protection schemes)
Justice Hill reflects on blocking Chiefs DT Chris Jones
How important is pass protection for a running back? Ask Jaxson Dart – Ben Baby (ESPN)
WHEN THE 2024 season opener was on the line, Baltimore Ravens running back Justice Hill had one of the most daunting tasks in football: blocking Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones, one of the game’s fiercest pass rushers.
Hill, despite being 8 inches shorter and 115 pounds lighter than Jones, had to keep Jones off Lamar Jackson on back-to-back plays to give the Ravens a chance to win. And Hill did his job. Jackson nearly threw the game-tying pass at the end of regulation in a 27-20 loss.
The clip went viral as Hill received praise for one of the game’s unsung jobs.
“Obviously I’m not the biggest guy, but it just takes a mindset of like, ‘You’re not going to get to my quarterback, and I don’t care how big you are, how small you are,'” Hill said.
