The Ravens’ season got off to a slow start as they had to overcome some injury issues, but they’ve been getting healthier over the past few weeks and have a good chance to make the postseason at 5-5.
In
the past 11 meetings between the teams, the Jets won just once and Baltimore has won four of the five meetings over the past 15 seasons by 15 points of more, so it’s usually not very close. Nobody is expecting it to be this time either, as the points spread has been hovering around 13 or 14 all week.
Let’s break down the Ravens’ roster going position by position:
Quarterbacks
Lamar Jackson recently returned to the Ravens’ starting lineup after missing three starts, but he still might not be 100 percent as he missed a practice earlier this week due to an ankle issue.
The Ravens are 4-3 in the games he started, although he is leading the NFL in passer rating and touchdown percentage. His production as a runner is way down, though, as he’s averaging a career-low 32 yards per game with just one touchdown.
Tyler Huntley started one game and Cooper Rush started two while Jackson was out. Huntley actually won his lone start but Rush had four interceptions and no touchdowns in two losses.
Offensive Line
The Ravens have had outstanding continuity on their offensive line this season. The only starter to miss any significant time has been Ronnie Stanley, who missed just one start, although he did split reps in three other games. Reserve Joe Noteboom has filled that role when Stanley was unavailable and has proven to be a downgrade.
The other four starters are left guard Andrew Vorhees, center Tyler Linderbaum, right guard Daniel Faalele and right tackle Roger Rosengarten. Linderbaum is one of the best centers in the league and there are no real weak links, although Faalele does lead the team with four penalties.
Vorhees is the only new starter after the other four each played over 1,000 snaps in 2024 too. Vorhees did start three games with that group, but Patrick Mekari was the left guard the rest of the time.
Other than Noteboom, Ben Cleveland and Corey Bullock are available for veteran depth but have played just seven snaps between them this year. Rookies Carson Vinson, a fifth rounder, and Emery Jones Jr., a third rounder, fill out the rest of this group.
Running Backs
Pro bowler Derrick Henry isn’t going to emulate last year’s sensational numbers which saw him rush for over 1,900 yards and a league-high 16 touchdowns but he’s still an extremely productive back with over 800 yards and seven touchdowns. His average has reduced by a yard since last season but is still almost five yards per carry.
Backups Keaton Mitchell and Justice Hill don’t get many touches but they are both averaging over five yards per carry. Hill does contribute as a third down back, with 21 catches.
The fourth running back, Rasheen Ali, has only carried once all year, the same number of times as fullback Patrick Ricard.
Pass catchers
Zay Flowers has been the Ravens’ most productive pass catcher with 53 catches for over 700 yards. He had a thousand yard season and went to the pro bowl last year.
Behind Flowers, the next most productive pass catcher has been Mark Andrews, who has 32 receptions and a team-high five touchdown catches as he has bounced back following a high-profile drop in last season’s playoffs. He also had a key touchdown run last week.
Wide receivers Rashod Bateman and DeAndre Hopkins and backup tight end Isaiah Likely have also contributed. Bateman has been ruled out of Sunday’s game with an ankle injury, though.
Backup receivers Tylan Wallace and Devontez Walker have seen action, as has third string tight end Charlie Kolar. However, they each have less than 10 receptions. Kolar is a good blocker though.
Sixth round rookie wideout LaJohntay Wester has yet to contribute on offense.
Defensive Line
Baltimore has plenty of defensive talent but are surprisingly ranked just 20th against the run and 24th against the pass. They don’t have anyone with more than two sacks, five tackles for loss or seven quarterback hits.
The Ravens operate out of a 3-4 system with John Jenkins and Travis Jones getting most of the work and Brent Urban also listed as a starter. The unit has been weakened by a season-ending injury to pro bowler Nnamdi Madubuike with Broderick Washington also on injured reserve to further affect their depth.
Taven Bryan, CJ Okoye and rookie Aeneas Peebles have also been in the rotation this year.
Linebackers
Teddye Buchanan and Roquan Smith are Baltimore’s starters at inside linebacker with the fourth round pick Buchanan leading the team in tackles, albeit only because the pro bowler Smith missed two games.
On the edges, Kyle Van Noy and second round rookie Mike Green have been starting but Dre’Mont Jones was recently acquired via trade and is listed as a co-starter with Green who leads the team in quarterback hits. Van Noy was a pro bowler for the first time last year.
David Ojaba, Odafe Oweh and Tavius Robinson have all also been in the rotation but Oweh was traded to the Chargers last month and Robinson is on injured reserve.
The main reserve on the inside is Trenton Simpson, who started the two games Smith missed. Jake Hummel is also on the roster but doesn’t play much on defense.
Defensive Backs
The secondary might be where the Ravens have the most talent, as cornerback Marlon Humphrey and safety Kyle Hamilton are two of their five highest paid players this year and the other two starters are their 2024 and 2025 first round picks; cornerback Nate Wiggins and safety Malaki Starks.
Starks and Wiggins have combined for five of the Ravens’ six interceptions this year while Hamilton leads them with five tackles for loss and two forced fumbles.
In nickel packages, the Ravens will usually put Chidobe Awuzie on the outside and move Humphrey into the slot. They also use three safeties at times with recent trade acquisition Alohi Gilman seeing action.
TJ Tampa and undrafted rookie Keyon Martin have seen action at corner but undrafted rookie safety Keondre Jackson is still waiting for an opportunity. Martin has been ruled out with a rib injury.
Special Teams
With Justin Tucker gone, the Ravens seem to have found a solid replacement kicker with their selection of Tyler Loop in the sixth round of April’s draft. Loop has missed just three kicks all year, although one of them was an extra point in a game they lost by one point to the Bills. His longest field goal of the season is only 52 yards.
Punter Jordan Stout is in his fourth year with the team and he’s putting up career best numbers as his gross average is over 50 yards per punt for the first time.
Wester is the team’s punt returner with Wallace listed as his backup. He has an excellent average of over 14 yards per return. Mitchell is listed as the kickoff returner, although Ali has the most returns so far this year and his 43-yard return was the longest anyone on the Ravens has had all season.
Martin and Jackson are both effective gunners with Walker also getting work in that role. Jackson and Walker will presumably be the two gunners this week with Martin out.
Ali and Hummel are otherwise the team’s most productive contributors in kick coverage.
