Or take the Baltimore Ravens, who have had five blowout losses this season. They’ve matched the most abysmal beginning in their 30-year history with a discouraging 1-3 record. This slow start has all but capped their playoff aspirations. Now fans and analysts alike are wondering what’s next for the franchise. Jackson is currently still out with a hamstring injury. This development further adds to the difficulty of the team’s comeback from their troublesome start.
Philosophically, the Ravens cannot get enough Jackson on the field. Without him, they’ve sputtered to a pathetic 4-10 mark and scored just 16.6 ppg. That’s especially true given how badly this team’s defense has underperformed, giving up 37 or more points in all three of their losses this season. Injuries and underperformance have marred the Ravens for years, culminating in a disappointing start this year. This fight becomes increasingly similar to the team’s fight in the 2005 and 2015 seasons.
Even so, amid all these challenges there is some hope and a major opportunity on the horizon. The Ravens are looking forward to a string of winnable games over the next several weeks. Their first real test will be an interesting matchup against the Houston Texans. Head coach John Harbaugh remains optimistic, stating, “I have confidence in all of our guys, including Zach, our players, our coaches, and I watch our guys every day.”
The Ravens are set up nicely schedule-wise the rest of the season. It would rank 25th in the NFL over those last 14 weeks. Home games against the Texans and Los Angeles Rams before their bye week, and they should be 3-1 headed into the stretch run. This is a huge chance for them to jumpstart their season.
Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton emphasized the need for focus as the team prepares for their next opponent: “We can’t think like that. We have to think about the Texans this week and focus on getting that win, getting to 2-3.” He added, “You can’t get to 3-3 without getting to 2-3,” highlighting the importance of each game moving forward.
Beyond a more favorable slate, history tells us that the Ravens might be due for a turnaround. In Lamar Jackson’s first seven years with the organization, the Ravens registered at least six winning streaks. Each of those streaks included five or more straight wins. This precedent provides a glimmer of hope that they can reclaim that momentum.
Injuries have recently caught up with the team’s success on the field. Seventh injury to eleven different starters on defense and that includes four Pro Bowl defenders. Hamilton acknowledged the impact of these losses on the defense: “Obviously, you’re losing multiple All-Pro guys, and that’s not going to help a defense.” Regardless, he is optimistic about their capacity to change. “I think guys came in [and] had the right mindset,” he stated. Everybody go out there and just play hard, do their job to the best of their abilities and just make a play, anybody at all.
The Ravens came into training camp knowing full well how brutal the schedule would be, but they tried to understate that fact. Now, with their current record and injury issues, they must confront the reality of their situation head-on.
As they look ahead to their Sunday battle with the Texans, Harbaugh’s attention continues to be drawn to his team’s never die mentality. “I’m concerned, but I’m not overwhelmed by it,” he said. This mentality is an important one for a squad trying to bounce back from a shaky beginning.
With a critical game against Houston coming up, the Ravens are hellbent on changing their course and avoiding deepening disappointment. Hamilton encapsulated this sentiment perfectly: “focus on them. Don’t even want to worry about who we play after that. Just focus on the Houston Texans coming to the Ravens and us beating them.”
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