The Baltimore Ravens entered Week 2 riding plenty of momentum. Jesse Minter's team looked dominant ina season-opening win over the Indianapolis Colts, and excitement grew about what the Ravens might become after an impressive debut.
Then came Sunday's 24-17 home loss to the New Orleans Saints. Baltimore squandered a 14-3 lead, managed only three second-half points, and watched theSaints score 15 fourth-quarter points to steal the victory. This loss is the kind that tends to leave a lasting impression, especially this early in the season.
As a result, one week after splitting any of the national sports publications, the Ravens are at it again. They're also sliding down several national power rankings.
USA TODAY
The lowest ranking the Ravens received this
week on this list comes from USA TODAY's Nate Davis. Baltimore nearly falls into the league's bottom half, landing at No. 15. The eight-spot drop represents one of the most dramatic reactions to Baltimore's Week 2 collapse.
15. Baltimore Ravens (Ranked 7th last week): John Harbaugh may be gone, but fourth-quarter meltdowns are still as much a Baltimore staple as crabcakes. But it's all "White Noise" outside the building.
ESPN
ESPN rates the Ravens considerably higher than some of its competitors. Baltimore checks in at No. 7, two spots ahead of their AFC North rivals, the Cincinnati Bengals. While ESPN acknowledges the loss, it focuses on Baltimore's offensive line issues rather than viewing the defeat as evidence the Ravens aren't contenders.
7. Baltimore Ravens (1-1)
Week 2 result: Lost to the Saints 24-17Week 2 ranking: 3
One thing we know about the QB1: Lamar Jackson is facing a lot of pressure.
Baltimore's revamped offensive line has struggled in protection. The Ravens' two lowest pass block win rates with Jackson as the starting QB have come in the first two weeks this season. Baltimore had a 38% pass block win rate at the Colts in Week 1 and a 33% win rate in Week 2. Jackson and the Ravens should have a more favorable matchup this week against the Cowboys, who have two sacks this season. -- Jamison Hensley
FOX Sports
Ralph Vacchiano places the Ravens ninth, making them a top-10 team despite the setback. Four AFC clubs still rank ahead of Baltimore: the Buffalo Bills (ranked 1st), Cincinnati Bengals (4th), Denver Broncos (6th), and Kansas City Chiefs (8th). The Ravens remain in the top ten, but the fall from the No. 1 spot shows just how damaging Sunday's result was to national perception.
9. Baltimore RavensRecord: 1-1 (Previous ranking: 1 ↓) - Super Bowl odds: +950
It was never going to be easy without wide receivers Zay Flowers and Ja'Kobi Lane, but that doesn't explain how the defense gave up two long touchdown drives to the Saints in the fourth quarter. That was a tough loss that deserves a big drop in the rankings.
CBS Sports
CBS Sports' Pete Prisco dropped Baltimore five spots and out of the top ten. They land at No. 11. Meanwhile, division rival Cincinnati sits comfortably inside the top five.
11. Baltimore Ravens: Losing at home to the Saints is not a good look. The offense didn't look the same without Zay Flowers, but blowing a second-half lead has to be tough to take.
The takeaway is pretty straightforward. National outlets still believe the Ravens have enough talent to be dangerous, but Sunday's loss raised legitimate questions.
The rankings range from No. 7 to No. 15, which feels appropriate for a team that has shown both extremes through two weeks. Baltimore looked like one of the NFL's best teams against Indianapolis. It looked like a team searching for answers during the second half against New Orleans.
The good news is the Ravens have an immediate opportunity to change the narrative. A Week 3 matchup with the Dallas Cowboysin Brazil gives Baltimore a chance to remind everyone why expectations were so high entering the season. Another strong performance could send the Ravens climbing right back up the rankings. Another missed opportunity would likely push them even further down.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Power Rankings Roundup: Where do the Ravens stand after Week 2?
