The Baltimore Ravens enter the 2026 season as one of the AFC’s two strongest teams, with only Buffalo deserving placement ahead of them before Week 1.
The Bills receive the slight edge because Josh Allen and their established core offer more organizational continuity despite naming Joe Brady head coach after firing Sean McDermott. Baltimore replaced John Harbaugh with Jesse Minter, hired Declan Doyle as offensive coordinator and shifted Anthony Weaver into the defensive coordinator role. Until that staff handles regular-season situations together, some uncertainty is unavoidable.
From a roster standpoint, however, the Ravens can compete with anyone.
Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry remain the foundation of an offense with Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman
and Mark Andrews. Baltimore also reinforced its defense by adding Trey Hendrickson to a group featuring Roquan Smith, Kyle Hamilton, Marlon Humphrey and potentially a healthy Nnamdi Madubuike. The defending AFC champion Patriots still demand respect, although their opening loss at Seattle and A.J. Brown’s ankle injury created early concerns. Denver returns an elite defense after reaching the AFC Championship Game, while Houston possesses enough young talent to make another deep postseason run.
Kansas City cannot be dismissed with Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid, but Mahomes is returning from a significant knee injury after the Chiefs missed last season’s playoffs. Cincinnati also becomes dangerous if Joe Burrow remains healthy. Baltimore’s primary questions involve its new coaching staff and an inexperienced interior offensive line. Jovaughn Gwyn will make his first NFL start at center, while rookie Vega Ioane opens at right guard.
Those concerns place the Ravens narrowly behind Buffalo entering the season. Still, Baltimore may possess the AFC’s deepest overall roster. If Minter strengthens the defense and Doyle maximizes Jackson, the Ravens have enough talent to secure the conference’s No. 1 seed and reach the Super Bowl.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Where the Ravens rank among the top AFC contenders entering 2026
