The Baltimore Ravens have had enough time to sit with the disappointment. Four consecutive losses will do that, especially for a team that entered the season expecting to compete for a championship. The mini-bye offered a chance to step away, get healthy, and take a breath, but none of that changes what has happened or what still needs to be fixed.
Now comes the harder part: making sure the time away actually means something.
Derrick Henry understands that the Ravens can't spend the rest of the season looking backward. The results have been disappointing, but there is still football to play, and Baltimore needs to turn its frustration into something productive. That starts with how the team approaches the work ahead, not with what it says about
the past.
Henry's message is less about making dramatic changes and more about getting back to the standard Baltimore expects from itself. The Ravens have talked about their identity throughout the season. After the break, it's time to put it on display. Step number one is a game against the Los Angeles Chargers,
Derrick Henry wants Ravens to return to their identity in all three phases
Asked about his message to teammates after the mini-bye while speaking with the media, Henry emphasized the importance of putting the previous results behind them and focusing on the opportunity in front of them.
"I think it's a team message. We had some time to get away, refresh and get our bodies back under us, and also our mental. Now it is time to approach this and focus on being 1-0 each and every week. The past is the past. You can't change anything about that. But it's about the present and how you approach every day, so when we go out there, we have the right mindset."
That approach sounds simple, but the Ravens haven't consistently put it into practice. Their losing streak has exposed problems on both sides of the ball, while penalties and missed opportunities have made it difficult to put together complete performances. A reset can help clear the mind, but it won't solve those issues on its own.
Henry also emphasized the importance of playing Ravens-style football in all three phases. That's an important distinction. Baltimore can't rely on one side of the ball to compensate for another, nor can it expect to win consistently without playing complementary football. The identity Henry is talking about has to show up in the execution, discipline, and effort of the entire team.
Henry believes Jacoby Brissett's experience can help Baltimore move forward
The Ravens will also have a new quarterback under center when they face the Chargers. Jacoby Brissett's arrival has created a different dynamic for the offense, and Henry appreciates what the veteran brings to the locker room.
"He's a pro. We were in the same draft class and in Year 11 [in the NFL]. He knows how to come in and approach it every day. [He knows how to] step in and lead. That's what he's done throughout his career, so we're excited to have him."
Henry and Brissett entered the NFL in the same draft class, giving the running back a perspective on the quarterback's experience that goes beyond a few practices together. Brissett has spent enough time in the league to understand the demands of stepping into a new situation, and Henry said his demeanor has stood out.
"[Jacoby Brissett]'s just calm. I mean, like I said, he's in Year 11, so he knows how it goes and he's just ready to work."
That experience could be valuable as Brissett gets acclimated to an offense he has had little time to learn. But Henry's larger message applies regardless of who's taking the snaps. Baltimore needs to approach the Chargers game with the right mindset and make its identity visible on the field. For Baltimore, playing complementary football starts with reducing the situations that put another unit at a disadvantage. Offensive penalties can derail possessions, defensive breakdowns can erase a field-position advantage, and special teams mistakes can leave either side with less room to work. Henry’s call for a complete performance places responsibility across the roster as the Ravens prepare for the Chargers.
The mini-bye allowed the Ravens to regroup. It didn't give them a victory, erase the losing streak, or guarantee that the problems are behind them. Henry knows the only meaningful way to change the conversation is to make the next performance look different. For Baltimore, rediscovering its identity has to become more than a talking point.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Derrick Henry challenges Ravens to reclaim identity after Week 9 loss
