Things got off to an ugly start for the Baltimore Ravens this season. A close loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the opener was piled on with a frustrating loss to the Las Vegas Raiders made matters even worse. But the Ravens continued to chop away at the schedule.
Baltimore only lost two more games after that. Their record now stands at 11-5, the best in the AFC North. The Steelers pose the only threat to the Ravens winning the division title. But the Ravens can lock it up with a win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, January 4, 2025.
“We need to be 1-0 to win the AFC North,” Harbaugh said. “We’re not done yet, because it’s been done, and the next thing is going to be the next game.”
“I know the Browns are probably just as excited as we are to try to not let that happen,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “I want that AFC North. It feels good to get that hat and t-shirt, and hopefully, everybody can enjoy a day or so and then lock back in.”
Baltimore’s 34-17 win over the Steelers was the biggest win this season. It put the Ravens in the driver’s seat for the final two weeks of the season.The Ravens next had an impressive showing on Christmas Day when they dominated the Houston Texans to a tune of 31-2.
The Steelers and Texans games were part of a grueling 11-day stretch.
“These guys took these three games in 11 days and smashed it, obliterated it, tore it up and made into a bunch of smithereens laying around everywhere. I’m proud of the guys [and] how they did it. They did a great job,” Ravens coach John Harbaugh said.
The Chiefs gave Baltimore a nice present by beating Pittsburgh 29-10 in the first Christmas Day game.
Baltimore’s offense is clicking on all cylinders. Derrick Henry’s 5.8 yards per carry is a career-high, even more than the 5.4 average he had in 2020 when he became the eighth running back to rush for over 2,000 yards on a season.
Henry’s rushing prowess has added an element to the Ravens that compliments quarterback Lamar Jackson. His 1,783 rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns are a significant reason why Baltimore is one of the most feared teams going into the playoffs.
But Jackson is a major competitor for the league’s MVP award. Jackson has 3,955 passing yards, 39 passing touchdowns, and only four interceptions. His impact was on full display against the Texans last week.
Jackson ran and threw his way to the end zone on multiple occasions. Houston had no answer for Jackson, like most teams this season.
The 87 rushing yards Jackson finished with last Wednesday put him at 6,110 career rushing yards, breaking the record for quarterbacks set by former Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles star Michael Vick.
“It feels unreal, to be honest with you. I just give God all the glory. I’m grateful, man, because that’s a record that’s been held for a long time with Michael Vick, one of my favorite players. That’s just dope,” Jackson said.
Jackson reflected to the start of the season and how things have gone since. It seems like forever ago that doubt about the Raven’s season started to creep up. But things are looking pretty these days.
“It really doesn’t matter how you start off,” Jackson said. “It’s about how you finish, and I believe we’re finishing pretty well right now.”
